Start/service aircraft battery system

1. A start/service aircraft battery system comprising:

a housing on wheels/dolly for convenient movement to a space adjacent an aircraft to be started/serviced, an electrical output cable carried by the housing and attachable to the aircraft to be started/serviced;

a control panel on the housing including a start/service switch having a start position and a service position;

a starting battery and a larger service battery carried by the housing, the starting battery being coupled to the electrical output cable through the start/service switch in the start position and the larger service battery being coupled to the electrical output cable through the start/service switch in the service position; and

the starting battery being removably attached to the start/service aircraft battery system for individual starting operations.

2. The start/service aircraft battery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing further includes a charging system.

3. The start/service aircraft battery system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the charging system includes a power source input electrically coupled to the starting battery and through a two stage charger to the larger service battery.

4. The start/service aircraft battery system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the control panel includes a bulk charger switch with electrically coupled associated relays, and the two stage charger includes a service charger and a topping charger electrically coupled to the service battery through the bulk charger switch and associated relays, the bulk charger switch and associated relays having a first position in which the service battery is electrically coupled to the service charger and a second position in which the service battery is electrically coupled to the topping charger.

5. A start/service aircraft battery system comprising:

a housing on wheels/dolly for convenient movement to a space adjacent an aircraft to be started/serviced, an electrical output cable carried by the housing and attachable to the aircraft to be started/serviced;

a control panel on the housing including a start/service switch having a start position and a service position and a bulk charger switch with electrically coupled associated relays;

a starting battery and a larger service battery carried by the housing, the starting battery being coupled to the electrical output cable through the start/service switch in the start position and the larger service battery being coupled to the electrical output cable through the start/service switch in the service position;

the housing further including a charging system having a power source input electrically coupled to the starting battery and through a two stage charger to the larger service battery, the two stage charger being electrically coupled to the larger service battery through the bulk charger switch with electrically coupled associated relays; and

the starting battery being removably attached to the start/service aircraft battery system for individual starting operations.

6. The start/service aircraft battery system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the two stage charger includes a service charger and a topping charger electrically coupled to the service battery through the bulk charger switch and associated relays, the bulk charger switch and associated relays having a first position in which the service battery is electrically coupled to the service charger and a second position in which the service battery is electrically coupled to the topping charger.

7. A method of starting and servicing an aircraft including the steps of:

providing a start/service aircraft battery system comprising:

a housing on wheels/dolly for convenient movement to a space adjacent an aircraft to be started/serviced, an electrical output cable carried by the housing and attachable to the aircraft to be started/serviced;

a control panel on the housing including a start/service switch having a start position and a service position;

a starting battery and a larger service battery carried by the housing, the starting battery being coupled to the electrical output cable through the start/service switch in the start position and the larger service battery being coupled to the electrical output cable through the start/service switch in the service position; and

the starting battery being removably attached to the start/service aircraft battery system for individual starting operations;

moving the housing adjacent an aircraft to be started/serviced, placing the start/service switch in the start position and connecting the electrical output cable to the aircraft; and

once the aircraft is started, moving the start/service switch to the service position.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the step of providing a start/service aircraft battery system includes providing a control panel on the housing including a bulk charger switch with electrically coupled associated relays and the housing further including a charging system having a power source input electrically coupled to the starting battery and through a two stage charger to the larger service battery, the two stage charger including a service charger and a topping charger, and the two stage charger being electrically coupled to the larger service battery through the bulk charger switch with electrically coupled associated relays.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 further including the steps of placing the bulk charger switch in a service charge orientation and connecting the power source input to an external source of power and moving the bulk charger switch to a topping orientation when the service charger is done charging.