Aircraft Electrical Systems Flashcards
What is the purpose of a circuit breaker?
To protect the circuits and wires from fire. The circuit breaker opens the circuit when an overload
exists.
What are the two principles on which circuit breakers operate?
Thermal and magnetic
What tool is used to measure the size of unmarked electrical wire?
A wire gauge
What are the colors of aircraft position lights and where are they mounted?
left wingtip red light, right wingtip green and a white light
mounted on the tail, visible from the rear of the aircraft.
What are the factors to be considered when selecting wire size for electrical power?
Allowable power loss, allowable voltage drop , and current-carrying ability.
When is a circuit breaker or fuse designed to open?
When an overload or circuit fault exists.
What type of breakers are not acceptable for use in aircraft?
Automatic reset type circuit breakers.
What is a slow-blow fuse?
A fuse that compensates for surges and high flow current by not blowing for several milliseconds.
What are the three most common faults that occur in an electrical circuit?
open circuits, shorted circuits, and low power.
What size electrical conduit should be used for a specific cable bundle?
25% larger than the maximum diameter of the wire bundle.
How should electrical switches typically be oriented in the on positon?
Up or forward.
What color insulator on a solderless connector is proper for a 10-gauge wire?
Yellow.
When should electrical switches be derated from their normal current rating?
When using with high rush-in circuits, inductive circuits, and DC motors.
When do DC electric motors draw several times their rated current?
During starting
What would cause an AC electrical motor to run too fast?
An excessive applied voltage, or the field windings shorted.
