Avionics News February 2017 - 24
industry
TAKE A LOAD OFF
Easing electrical demand in the age of digital panels
T
S T O R Y
B Y
D A V E
he wonders of the digital age, of computerdriven displays, solid-state sensors and integrated
avionics stacks loaded with electronic flight
instrument systems, brought to aviation many
great benefits - across the spectrum: commercial,
military and general aviation. Aviators and aircraft
owners enjoy many benefits from the changeover
to solid-state sensors from spinning-mass
gyroscopic instruments, analog air-data displays
and so-called "steam gauge" powerplant
instruments.
The modern hardware weighs less while
delivering more information. Greater
reliability also accompanies the
displacement of analog instruments
by digital panels.
The changeover pushed avionics
shops and technicians to enhance
their electronics and electrical skills - and given the
proliferation of digital devices in everyday life, few
complain that the change is a bad thing.
If there's one area of aircraft hardware likely to suffer
from the change, it's the electrical system, particularly the
power-producing device, the alternator.
24
avionics news
*
february
2017
H I G D O N
Yes, plenty of aircraft still use 1940s-era generators, but
alternators supplanted generators as standard equipment
decades ago. Any owner of an elderly generator-equipped
aircraft is likely to upgrade to an alternator alternative
well before - or when in the act of - upgrading a panel
to digital.
Admittedly, the new instrument packages' digital
architecture isn't known to be electrical-power
hogs. But it's simple math.
Swapping in all-electrical digital devices to
replace two air-driven gyro instruments -
powered by engine-driven air pumps - one
electrical gyro instrument and a trio of
ambient-air-driven instruments may raise
the demands on the electrical system.
And the panel still needs power for
communications radios, navigation
radios and global-positioning system
navigators and lights - recognition lights, landing lights,
taxi lights, anti-collision lights and, in many aircraft, the
power to raise and lower landing gear.
Not all alternator-equipped aircraft enjoy the option to
go to a more-powerful alternator. Most do, sure - but even
with more power, the risk exists for pushing the limits of
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News February 2017
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Avionics News February 2017 - Intro
Avionics News February 2017 - No label
Avionics News February 2017 - Cover2
Avionics News February 2017 - 1
Avionics News February 2017 - 2
Avionics News February 2017 - 3
Avionics News February 2017 - 4
Avionics News February 2017 - 5
Avionics News February 2017 - 6
Avionics News February 2017 - 7
Avionics News February 2017 - 8
Avionics News February 2017 - 9
Avionics News February 2017 - 10
Avionics News February 2017 - 11
Avionics News February 2017 - 12
Avionics News February 2017 - 13
Avionics News February 2017 - 14
Avionics News February 2017 - 15
Avionics News February 2017 - 16
Avionics News February 2017 - 17
Avionics News February 2017 - 18
Avionics News February 2017 - 19
Avionics News February 2017 - 20
Avionics News February 2017 - 21
Avionics News February 2017 - 22
Avionics News February 2017 - 23
Avionics News February 2017 - 24
Avionics News February 2017 - 25
Avionics News February 2017 - 26
Avionics News February 2017 - 27
Avionics News February 2017 - 28
Avionics News February 2017 - 29
Avionics News February 2017 - 30
Avionics News February 2017 - 31
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Avionics News February 2017 - Cover3
Avionics News February 2017 - Cover4
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