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RG-380E/40B – Concorde® Turbine Engine Aircraft Battery
Available now on the Airparts.aero Marketplace.
Overview
The Concorde® RG-380E/40B is a premium, maintenance-free, Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) aircraft battery, engineered for the extreme power demands of turbine engine starting. This is the flagship of Concorde's Recombinant Gas (RG®) series, which utilizes advanced Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) technology. This flight-critical battery is designed as a direct, drop-in replacement for older, maintenance-intensive Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) or flooded lead-acid batteries on a wide range of the world's most popular turboprop and light jet aircraft. With a robust 24-volt system and a 40 Amp-Hour capacity, it provides the massive, instantaneous current required for cool, fast turbine starts, which is essential for minimizing Interstage Turbine Temperature (ITT) and prolonging engine life.
The core of the RG-380E/40B is its sealed, non-spillable design. The electrolyte is fully absorbed in micro-porous glass mat separators, and the battery operates on a closed-loop oxygen recombination cycle. This completely eliminates the need to ever add water and prevents the venting of corrosive acidic gases that can damage the airframe. For operators seeking the ultimate in safety, reliability, and reduced cost of ownership, the Concorde RG-380E/40B is the definitive standard in turbine aircraft battery technology.
Key Features
Genuine Concorde® OEM/PMA Part: The industry-leading VRLA battery, certified by the FAA via TSO and numerous STCs for a vast fleet of turbine aircraft.
Recombinant Gas (RG®) VRLA Technology: A fully sealed, maintenance-free design that operates on an efficient gas recombination cycle, eliminating the need for water replenishment.
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Construction: The electrolyte is 100% absorbed and immobilized in glass mat separators, making the battery completely non-spillable, even if the case is damaged.
Superior Turbine Starting Power: The low internal resistance design allows for the delivery of exceptionally high cranking currents (over 1500 amps) for fast, cool starts, outperforming similarly sized Ni-Cd batteries.
Direct Ni-Cd Replacement: Serves as a cost-effective, direct drop-in replacement for legacy Ni-Cd batteries, dramatically reducing the total cost of ownership by eliminating expensive and hazardous capacity checks and reconditioning.
TSO Certified: Manufactured and rigorously tested in accordance with FAA TSO-C173a, ensuring the highest standards of aviation safety and performance.
Technical Specifications
Part Number: RG-380E/40B
Component Type: Sealed, Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA/AGM) Aircraft Battery
OEM Manufacturer: Concorde® Battery Corporation
Voltage: 24 Volts (Nominal)
Capacity (C1 Rate): 40 Amp-Hours
Max Weight: 85.0 lbs / 38.6 kg
Terminals: Copper alloy M8 threaded inserts.
Certifications: FAA TSO-C173a, FAA-PMA, numerous STCs.
Aircraft Compatibility
The RG-380E/40B is the specified OEM or STC'd replacement battery for a wide range of turbine aircraft, including but not limited to:
Beechcraft King Air: 90, 100, 200, 300, 350 Series
Pilatus: PC-12, PC-12/47E (NG)
Daher (Socata): TBM 700, 850, 900 Series
Cessna Citation: 500, 501, 525 (CJ/CJ1/M2), 550, 551, 560 Series
Piaggio: P.180 Avanti
And many others.
Note: This is a flight-critical component. The Concorde application guide and the specific aircraft's STC are the final authorities for determining installation eligibility.
Applications
Primary Engine Starting: Provides the sole source of electrical power for starting turbine engines on the ground.
Emergency Power: Serves as the essential backup power source for critical and essential avionics and systems in the event of a total generator failure.
APU Starting: On applicable aircraft, provides the power to start the Auxiliary Power Unit.
Why Choose RG-380E/40B?
The Concorde RG-380E/40B offers a clear and compelling advantage over all other battery technologies. Compared to Ni-Cd batteries, it provides superior starting performance, has no risk of thermal runaway, and eliminates the extremely costly, time-consuming, and hazardous maintenance cycles, slashing the total cost of ownership. Compared to flooded lead-acid batteries, its sealed, non-spillable, maintenance-free design provides an immense increase in safety and reliability, completely eliminating the risk of airframe corrosion from acid fumes and spills. For turbine aircraft operators, upgrading to the Concorde RG-380E/40B is a direct investment in safety, performance, and reduced operational costs.
The engineering principle behind Concorde's Recombinant Gas (RG®) technology is the management of the oxygen recombination cycle within a starved-electrolyte system. During the final stages of charging, the electrolysis of water begins, generating oxygen gas (O2) at the positive (PbO₂) plates. In a conventional flooded battery, this gas would be vented. In the RG-380E/40B, the highly porous Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) separators are intentionally only ~95% saturated with electrolyte, leaving an open, gaseous path between the plates. The O2 gas diffuses through this path to the negative (Pb) plates. Here, it reacts directly with the freshly charged sponge lead and sulfuric acid, which are then immediately reduced by the charging current, with the net reaction being the recombination of the oxygen with hydrogen to reform water (H2O). This highly efficient, closed-loop oxygen cycle (>99%) prevents water loss and the venting of flammable hydrogen, which is the key to the battery's maintenance-free design, its ability to be installed in any orientation, and its superior safety profile compared to all other lead-acid technologies.
Note: The RG-380E/40B is a flight-critical component. Although maintenance-free in terms of adding water, it requires periodic inspection and capacity testing in accordance with FAA regulations (e.g., FAR 91.413, Part 135) and the aircraft manufacturer's maintenance schedule. It must be serviced with a charger/analyzer specifically designed for VRLA/AGM batteries. Installation must be performed by a certified A&P/IA mechanic in accordance with the applicable STC and aircraft maintenance manual.
Documentation
Concorde® Battery Corporation Website: Full documentation, including application guides, STC information, technical specifications, and the Continued Airworthiness Maintenance Manual for all Concorde® batteries are publicly available for download from the official Concorde® Battery website.
