How Aircraft Electrical Equipment is Installed and Managed?

While aircraft have continued to improve upon their electronic capabilities and implementation, a restricted amount of space and finite electrical generation capabilities requires consideration of electrical load limits and protection when adding new devices. As such, engineers and aircraft designers are often tasked with how to efficiently install, manage, and protect all of the electrical equipment and power supply system components that are needed for flight operations. In this blog, we will discuss how aircraft electrical equipment is typically installed, allowing you to have a better understanding of the considerations and steps undertaken.

As every electrical equipment piece is reliant on power provided by the aircraft generator or alternator, it is crucial that the circuit as a whole always remains within safe rated limits as dictated by the power-supply system. If there is a particular area in which a new component is to be installed, one should inspect the wires, cables, fuses, and circuit breaker devices to check whether the addition would cause rated limits to be exceeded or not. It can also be highly useful to utilize load limit measurements of the aircraft generator itself as well, as they can better allow one to be aware of power limits. If there is no room for an additional component, the load will have to be reduced in some way in order to connect any more electronics. If there is a battery present on the aircraft, there should also always be enough power to sufficiently recharge it during flight. The only times in which a battery should not be charging is when there is a short intermittent load connected, such as a landing gear motor or radio transmitter.

As there may be multiple personnel who may interact with the power load of a particular aircraft over time, implementing placards that convey load combinations can be useful for making future additions or connections. If the aircraft generator or alternator is limited in current by a regulator system and an ammeter is present within the battery lead, a voltmeter may be used in order to further control and monitor electrical loads. In some cases, a placard or voltmeter may not be desired, and thus workers should always be adamant about maintaining a generator capacity that never surpasses 80% of the rated output. If there is more than one aircraft generator present on the aircraft, the total rated output is combined.

Similar to the electrical equipment and power applications outside of aircraft, circuit protection devices should be used to ensure the safety of sensitive components. With a fuse or circuit breaker placed near the electrical power source bus, current can be impeded in the case of an electrical fault. Depending on the conductor that is used for the transportation of current, varying circuit protection devices may be used to ensure sufficient protection. While automatic circuit breakers are available for use on the market, manual circuit breakers are the only type that should be installed on aircraft for the protection of wires and cables.

When procuring switches for an aircraft’s electrical circuit, one should always ensure that the correct types are used. In areas where a switch malfunction may prove highly detrimental or unsafe, special switches should be used that are more rigid in their design. By implementing a snap-action type switch, contacts can be opened and closed with ease, all while maintaining a low chance of contact arcing. It is also highly recommended to always install switches in the correct orientation, such as having toggles move in the same direction of the movement of the part it actuates. By using a guard component, switches can also be protected from accidental actuation. Relays are also a switching device that can be highly useful for any aircraft electrical system. With a relay, simplified electrical management can be achieved much easier due to the component’s ability to control larger loads with smaller ones.

When you are establishing or managing electrical equipment and circuits for an aircraft, using the highest quality parts will ensure that you maintain reliable operation throughout each flight. At Aviation Parts Online, we can help you secure top quality switches, relays, ammeter components, circuit protection devices, and much more. As a leading online parts distributor for the aerospace industry, all of our parts are rigorously tested for quality assurance and come from top global manufacturers that we trust. Explore our robust part catalogues at your leisure today, and our team of industry experts are readily available 24/7x365 to assist you through the purchasing process as needed.