Electronic Services Glossary

This page is designed to help you learn and understand the different functions that individual parts have on aircraft.

Battery Charge

A battery charger is a device used to put energy into a secondary cell or (rechargeable) battery by forcing and electric current through it. The charge current depends upon the technology and capacity of the battery being charged .Output current depends upon the battery's state. An intelligent charger may monitor the battery's voltage, temperature and/or time under charge to determine the optimum charge current at that instant. Charging is terminated when a combination of the voltage, temperature and/or time indicates that the battery is fully charged .A typical intelligent charger fast- charges a battery up to about 85% of its maximum capacity in less than an hour, then switches to trickle charging, which takes several hours to top off the battery to its full capacity. Example of Battery Charge Part Number 2-301-3

Bus Power Control

The bus power control unit provides control of external power application and protects the synchronizing bus from external power faults. The BPCU also determines quality of external power and provides an indication of good power on the over head control panel.Part Number 915F213-3 and -4 (BPP) is designed for ground power protection and includes the functions required to protect the utilization equipment against over voltage, under voltage, and negative sequence voltage faults.

Generator Control Unit

The Generator Control Unit (GCU) provides the voltage regulation, control and protection functions, and built-in-test provisions of the AC Electrical power system.Each generator has a corresponding generator control unit which is located in the electrical equipment rack. All generator functions and all generator protection features are performed by the GCU.Part number reference 976J931-3

Inverter

This small, lightweight DC to AC solid-state inverters are designed to provide a reliable source of 26V, 400 Hz and AC power for boot strap syncro in your HSI. Ideal for enabling the HSI to provide Heading  Output Signal from your HSI to your Argus Moving Map or Insight Strike Finder. Smoothed square wave output reduces electromagnetic interference while providing high efficiency. 28VDC.

Navigation Light

Navigation lights are a set of color-coded signals intended to indicate the presence, orientation, and relative direction of aircraft at night, and thereby reduce the possibility of midair collisions. It has a red navigation light located on the left wingtip leading edge and a green light on the right wingtip leading edge. Example of Navigation Light Part Number 30-0627-4

Panels

Control panel are used in all aircraft cockpits in general aviation, commercial aviation and military application. There are different types of control panels using different technology of lighting that include NVG, NVIS, LED, and incandescent lighting and electro-luminescent lighting- All per military standard of 7788. Control panels are applicable in any hostile environment such as fire, water, heat etc.

Power Supply

Power supply is designed to provide stable DC voltage for devices in cabins of aircraft, it is a reference to a source of electrical power. For example the EMBS139 rechargeable battery power supply consists of a plug-in battery pack, a battery charger and a logic section. The system is an emergency battery power system that provides power for emergency lights. The logic section determines the source of power to the emergency lights; the aircrafts auxiliary AC line, the aircrafts 28 VDC line, or if neither is available, the system internal battery power is supplied to the lights. The battery furnishes power to the emergency lights for a period of 27 minutes. The system battery is maintained in the charged state at all times during operation in the armed or standby condition. Once the battery capacity has been exhausted, the system will self restore (battery) in a period of not over 2 hours after being connected to a primary power source.

Relay

A Relay is an electrical switch that opens and closes under the control of another electrical circuit. For example Power relays are designed to withstand the current of the electrical circuit into they are inserted and to cut off the electrical circuit under load. Power relays are usually constructed in the arc extinguishing equipment, are built separately, and the relay as a whole is subsequently assembled from such subassemblies. Electromechanical relays comprise one or more electrical contacts having a mechanical movement, these being coupled to a moveable element of the magnetic circuit of an electromagnet. Because a relay is able to control an output circuit of higher power than the input circuit, it can be considered to be, in a broad sense, a form of an electrical amplifier.

Strobe Light

Strobe lights are used on aircraft for collision avoidance measures. Due to the intensity of the brilliant white light source, the intended use for strobes is during daylight hours of operation. Strobes should really not be used in inclement weather, in the clouds or on the ground as this can cause flicker vertigo. We want to be seen and we want to be safe so use your strobes in a proper manner for those in the air and on the ground. Anti-Collision light system consists of two synchronized red flashing lights which are installed on top and the bottom of the fuselage, the associated power supplies and the connecting cables. The power supplies provide the required electrical energy of the light units. They have an input for external dimming of the lights to a level of 15% of the nominal light intensity. The FAA has specific guidelines as it concerns strobe light location and area of coverage. Be sure to select the correct strobe(s) for the type of installation you are going to use.

Windows Heat Control

A Windows Heat Control is a vision apparatus that helps enhance a pilot's ability to fly an aircraft by providing increased visibility. The window heat control (Article) has capable of controlling window temperature, which consist of analog and digital circuit. The amount of power supplied to heating elements that are laminated into the window. The window temperature is detected by the resistance of sensor element embedded in the window. The unit is equipped with a overheat protection system that isolates power from the heating elements when overheating is sensed. Example of Window Heat Control Part Number 83000-05602

We will be adding more information to this section shortly.