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Aircraft Electrical Systems
By Jake Heindselman
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Electricity A form of energy associated with stationary ormoving electrons, ions, or other charged particles
Electricity provides electricalpower throughout the aircraft
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Sources, Switches, and Wiring Circuits
Battery
Alternator/Generator
Circuit breakers/Fuses
Voltage regulator
Ammeter
Master switch
Electrical System
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Battery
Stores electrical energy
Provides electrical power to
start the engine
Stores a limited supply of
backup power if alternator or
generator fails
Recharges when engine is
running (turning Alt/Gen)
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AlternatorProduces alternating current(AC) which is converted to
direct current (DC)
Belt driven (engine-driven)Recharges battery whileengine is running
Creates sufficient current tooperate entire electricalsystem, even at low EngineR.P.M.
Electrical current is moreconstant throughout differentengine speeds than agenerator
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Generator
Produces direct currentelectrical charge (DC)
Belt driven by theengine
Doesnt produceenough current at lowR.P.M. to operate entireelectrical system
Aircraft with generators
use battery power at lowengine R.P.M.
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Magneto Self contained ignition
unit that provides pulsesof electricity to the twospark plugs
Used in internalcombustion ignitionengines
Doesnt require a
battery to function
Each spark plug has aseparate magneto system
Converts mechanicalenergy to electricalenergy
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Spark Plugs
Receives sparkelectricity from magneto
Ignites compressedfuel/air mixture insideengine cylinder
Aircraft engines have twospark plugs (two magnetosystems) per cylinder
Electricity travels frommagneto to magneto sparkplug in heavily insulatedwires HIGH VOLTAGE
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Circuit Breaker/Fuses
Protects the electrical systemfrom electrical overload
Overload can cause damage to
components in the electrical
system
Fuses have an internal metal
wire or strip that melts when too
much electrical current flows
through it
Circuit breakers have a switch
that trips if too much electrical
current flows through it
The switch can be manually
reset instead of replacing it
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Voltage Regulator
Controls the rate of
charge to the battery
Stabilizes the generator
or alternator electricaloutput
Compares thegenerator/alternatorvoltage output to the
battery voltage
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Ammeter Monitors the performance ofthe electrical system
Shows if thealternator/generator isproducing an adequate supply
of electrical power
Indicates whether or not thebattery receives an electricalcharge
Not all airplanes are equippedwith an ammeter
Some airplanes have awarning light to alert the pilot ofan electrical system problem
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Master SwitchTurns Electric system on or off
Controls entire electrical systemexcept for Magneto Ignitionsystem, including
interior/exterior lights,
radios, fuel gauges, pumps, - and engine starter motor
Some airplanes equipped withbattery switch and alternatorswitch (split switch)
Alternator switch (ALT)disconnects alternator fromelectrical system in case ofalternator failure (ALT=OFF)
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Ground Power Unit (GPU)
Provides aircraftwith power fromexternal power supply
Very useful forstarting engine in cold
weather
Some GPUs built
into airport jet-ways toreduce wear on a/csystems and toprovide immediatepower for ground ops
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SummaryComponents
Battery Alternator/Generator Magneto Spark Plugs Fuses/Circuit Breaker Voltage Regulator
Controls/ Tools
Master Switch
Alternator Switch Ammeter Ground Power Unit (GPU)
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References
Wikipedia, (2009), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity, 2-1-2009
Aeronautical Knowledge Handbook, (2009),http://ma3naido.blogspot.com/2007/11/aircraft-electrical-system.html , 2-1-2009
Wikipedia, (2009), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuse_(electrical), 2-1-2009
Aircraft Technical, (2009),http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/flight_training/tech/elec.htm , 2-2-2009
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricityhttp://ma3naido.blogspot.com/2007/11/aircraft-electrical-system.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuse_(electrical)http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/flight_training/tech/elec.htmhttp://www.pilotfriend.com/training/flight_training/tech/elec.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuse_(electrical)http://ma3naido.blogspot.com/2007/11/aircraft-electrical-system.htmlhttp://ma3naido.blogspot.com/2007/11/aircraft-electrical-system.htmlhttp://ma3naido.blogspot.com/2007/11/aircraft-electrical-system.htmlhttp://ma3naido.blogspot.com/2007/11/aircraft-electrical-system.htmlhttp://ma3naido.blogspot.com/2007/11/aircraft-electrical-system.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity -
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The End