Aviation Stack Exchange
Aviation Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [electrical-system]

The parts of an aircraft that produce electrical power (such as generators/alternators, batteries, and ram air turbines) and distribute it to the aircraft's systems.

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Why do we still need ammeters?

I just received my private pilot's certificate 2 weeks ago, yay! Earlier today, a fellow at work who has 700ish hours walked in and asked my office-mate-electrical-engineer "why do we still need ammeters, cars did away with them years ago,…
Travis Griggs
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Is aluminum electrical wire used on aircraft?

Aluminum electrical wire got a bit of a bad reputation in household wiring due to reacting badly with terminals not properly rated for aluminum. Properly handled, it works fine, but it's so distrusted for small branch circuits that distributors…
Harper - Reinstate Monica
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How common are 400Hz supplies in aircraft?

I understand that 400Hz, 26Vrms power is found in a lot of aviation equipment. But how common is it? Is it in every plane and every instrument or is it restricted to certain sectors, like military, commercial, or private planes? Is it used a lot in…
Dave
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What is the difference between frequency wild AC system and other AC systems?

What is the difference between a standard AC system and an "AC wild" system? How does the latter work?
Andrea Ghilardi
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How does an aircraft recharge its batteries?

I assume aircraft have batteries that power up all electronic devices on board. But how are these batteries recharged? When the aircraft is on the ground, it can be connected and recharged in the airport, but mid flight? Is there a way to charge the…
user20249
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Do small airplanes have AC power?

I know that DC power is essential for avionics and that in medium and big airplanes AC (28 V, 400 Hz) is used with DC (28 V). Small airplanes have a starter-generator that provides DC, but do they have an inverter too, to provide AC? If yes, then…
Gianni Alessandro
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Ground Power KVA when on stand

How much power from a GPU would a jet, say a Boeing 737, require when boarding passengers or just sat idle on the air bridge? I’m guessing the Aircraft would only consume the full 90kVA ground power rating when starting the aircraft’s…
Chris_NZ
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How does the Piper Archer III electrical system work?

I can't seem to understand how the electrical system works: What does the ammeter display? What is said on my POH is that the ammeter displays the alternator output. My question is what output is that? In amps? Does the battery power the DC bus? It…
nyorkr23
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Alternator vs Battery Power

What provides electricity to the electrical system of a Cessna 172? Is the alternator connected to the electrical components directly and battery is only used in the event of an alternator failure? If the battery is only used as a backup solution,…
14407
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Charging system in a Lancair Columbia 350

The bus volts indication on my G1000 is pegged at 29.2 volts for both the left and right bus. I have a 24 volt system. What might that mean?
steve
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Why do jet generators produce a higher frequency power then household electricity?

I know in most homes your local transformer provides a 50Hz or 60Hz power source. So all your hairdryers, dishwashers etc. are built to consume 50Hz or 60Hz power at 110 volts or 220 volts, depending on where you live in the world. On the aircraft…
esé
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Will reducing the electricity power in an aircraft save fuel?

I was wondering if I reduce the power consumed by the aircraft, would the generator produce less power and if that would save some fuel.
Inah Guimarães
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Field and Alternator Breakers

I under stand how the field and output breakers work within the electrical system. Monitoring the voltage output, I have a constant 13.5 volts at idle. During run up, the voltage will climb to ~13.8-14 volts while showing a constant +40 on the…
Harmless
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