Aircraft Electrical Systems Flashcards
- What is the purpose of a circuit breaker?
To protect the circuits & wires from fire.
- What re the two principles on which circuit breaker operates?
Thermal & magnetic
- What tool is used to measure the size of unmarked electrical wire?
Wire gauge
- What are the colors of aircraft position lights and where are they mounted?
Green light - right wingtip
Red light - left wingtip
White light - visible from rear of aircraft
- What are the factors to be considered when selecting wire size for electrical power?
Allowable power loss
Permissible voltage drop
Current carrying ability of the conductor
- When is a circuit breaker or fuse designed to open the circuit?
Before conductor emits smoke
- What type of breakers are not acceptable for use in aircraft?
Auto reset
- What is a slow-blow fuse?
A fuse that compensates for surges & high inrush current by delaying by a few milliseconds
- What are the three most common faults that occur in an electrical circuit?
Open circuits
Shorted circuits
Low power
- What size electrical conduit should be used for a specific cable bundle?
25% larger than maximum wire bundle
- What color insulator on a solderless connector is proper for a 10 gauge wire?
Yellow
- How should electrical switches typically be oriented in the on position?
Up or forward
- When should electrical switches be de-rated from their normal current rating?
High rush-in circuits
Inductive circuits
DC motor circuits
- When do DC electric motors draw several times their rated current?
During starting
- What would cause an AC electrical motor to run too fast?
Excessive supply of voltage or motor field windings shortened
- What would cause an AC electrical motor to run too slow?
Low voltage
Defective wiring
No lubrication
- How is the output voltage of an alternator controlled?
Voltage regulator
- What should be checked before any aircraft electrical load is increased?
Associated wires
Conductors
Circuit protection devices
- What is the main advantage of using AC for aircraft electrical power systems?
Easily changed using transformers
- In AC power systems, how is DC obtained for battery charging?
Using rectifiers
- What warns pilots of overheating batteries?
Thermal sensor in the battery & light in cockpit
- How long should bonding jumper wires be made?
Large enough to handle return current but short enough to prevent increase in resistance
- How are the two items that wear on start generators?
Commutator & brushes
- What power the ELT?
ELT Battery
- What is the purpose of a static wick?
Dissipates static energy from aircraft to avoid damaging electrical systems
