A PA28T PLT EXPERIENCES AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE RESULTING IN LOST COM WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE PLT DIVERTED VFR TO UNV.

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ON JUL/WED/04; I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN WITH NYC AT 5000 FT MSL; HAVING DEPARTED 79N ARPT AT XA35 AM. I WAS ABOVE SCATTERED CLOUDS ON THE 141 DEG RADIAL OF PSB ABOUT 35 DME WHEN I CHANGED OVER TO HAR VOR. AT THAT TIME I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR. MY HAND-HELD GPS WENT ON ITS BATTERY PWR. I IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED A 180 DEG TURN AND PUNCHED IN UNV ON THE GPS. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO CALL NYC ON MY SPORTY'S A300 RADIO. I COULD HEAR THEM BUT EVIDENTLY THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME. I PROCEEDED TO DSND BELOW THE SCATTERED CLOUDS AND FINALLY MADE CONTACT WITH UNV UNICOM. SINCE THE LNDG GEAR IS ELECTRICALLY OPERATED I HAD TO LOWER IT WITH THE EMER LEVER. NOT BEING SURE IT WAS DOWN UNV CONFIRMED THE GEAR WAS DOWN. I THEN PROCEEDED TO LAND SUCCESSFULLY AT XB35. I KNOW THAT UNDER IFR YOU SHOULD CONTINUE UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES TO DEST AND CONTINUE YOUR APCH AFTER ETA. BUT I FELT THAT BEING IN VFR CONDITIONS IT WAS BETTER TO GO TO UNV RATHER THAN DISRUPT A COMMERCIAL ARPT AT MY DEST OF MDT. I WILL NEVER AGAIN TAKE OFF IN ANY ACFT UNTIL I PLACE A LARGE AMPERE LOAD ON THE ELECTRICAL SYS TO SEE IF IT IS CHARGING. LOOKING BACK; I DON'T THINK MY AMMETER WAS SHOWING A CHARGE WHEN I DID MY PREFLT CHKLIST.