1. Define the principle of Thermocouple and its application aircraft.

Ans.
a) Thermocouples are widely used as temperature sensors. They are cheap and
interchangeable, have standard connectors, and can measure a wide range of
temperature
b) Thermocouples are constructed of two dissimilar metals, such as Chromel and
Constantan. A metal cage surrounds the thermocouple to give mechanical protection
c) This pair of two wires of dissimilar metal are joined at least at one end, which generates
a voltage between the two wires that is proportional to the temperature of the
junction. This is called the Seeback effect
d) If both the junctions are heated at the same rate, no voltage results. If there is a fire,
the hot junction heats more rapidly than the reference junction
e) It was also noticed that a different metal combination have a different voltage
difference
f) Thermocouples are used to measure Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT), Exhaust Gas
Temperature (EGT) and Inter-turbine Temperature

2. Describe the different type of interior lights with location on aircraft.

Ans.
a) Commercial aircraft has lighting system that illuminates the main cabin and
independent lighting system
b) The emergency lighting on the floor to aid the aircraft passenger during flight
c) Instrument Lights –
I. These lights are installed on the face of instrument panel
II. All the instrument should be shielded in such a manner that it should not
distract the pilots vision
III. For dimming the intensity of light transistorised circuit is used

d) Warning Lights –
I. It alerts the pilot about operating conditions
II. Red lights are used for indicating danger amber for caution and green/ white for
safe condition
e) Flight Compartments Light –
There are four categories of flight compartment light
I. One of those is flood light. It consists of two sets of fluorescent flood lights one
mounted on captain’s shield other at Co-pilots shield.
II. Incandescent flood light mounted on the sealing of cockpit
III. The flight compartment consist of dome light mounted on the sealing
IV. Panel lights are used in the flight compartment to illuminates the individual
instrument panel lettering
f) Passenger Compartment Lights –
I. It is also known as cabin light, cabin fluorescent ceiling light with variable
intensity
II. Sign lights, No Smoking, Fasten seat belt, Lavatory, Passenger reading lights are
also located over head, galley stations are also included
 3. What are the different types of resistors available?
4. Describe the effect of resistor available in series and parallel
5. Explain Kidde type of continuous loop fire detection system.
Ans.
a) Two wires are imbedded in an inconel tube filled with thermistor core material
b) Two electrical conductors go through parallel of the core one conductor has ground
connection to the tube, and the other conductor connects to fire detection control unit
c) As core temperature increases, electrical resistance to the ground decreases
d) If the resistance decreases to the overheat set point, an overheat indication occurs
which is of typically 10 sec
e) When the fire or overheat condition is gone, the resistance of the core material
increases to the reset point and the flight deck indication disappears
f) The rate of change of resistance identifies an electrical short or a fire
6. Describe the different types of exterior lights on aircraft with location.
7. Explain the principle and operation of smoke detector
8. Explain different types of fire zones of aircraft with type of fire extinguishers.
9. Explain construction and principle of Nickel Cadmium battery.
Ans.
a) Active material in Nickel Cadmium cell
Anode – Nickel Hydrate (NiOOH)
Cathode – Sponge Cadmium (Cd)
Electrolyte – Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)
b) All the cells are linked and connected as a rigid assembly. The plates are generally made
up by a sintering process and the active materials are impregnated into the plates by
Chemical deposition
c) This type of construction allows the maximum amount of active material to be
employed in the electrochemical action.
d) After impregnation with the active materials the plates are stamped out and are built
up into positive and negative plate groups, interleaved and connected to terminal post
in a manner similar to the lead acid type of cell
e) A space above the cells provides a ventilation chamber which is completely enclosed by
a lid held in position by a pair of bolts anchored to the aircraft battery compartment
f) Chemical reaction of Nickel Cadmium battery is as follows

State of Charge Positive Plate Negative plate Electrolyte

Charged Ni2O2 and Ni2O2 Cd KOH (Potassium

(Nickel Oxide) (Cadmium) Hydroxide)
unaffected by
Discharged Ni(OH)2 Cd(OH)2
state of charge
(Nickel Hydroxide) (Cadmium Hydroxide)

10. Explain construction and principle of Lead acid battery.

Ans.
a) Lead acid battery is a secondary cell battery
 Anode - Lead Peroxide (PbO2)
Cathode – Lead (Sponge Pb)
Electrolyte – Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) : (H2O) [30:70]
Typical Lead acid battery consist of 6 lead acid cells in a case each cell= 2V, battery
produces 12V
b) A cell is constructed with many plates. All positive plates are connected together as well
as all negative plates
c) A porous separator keeps positive and negative from touching and shorting out of cell
d) The separator has vertical ribs on the side facing the positive plate
e) Cell is sealed in a hard rubber casing through the top of which are terminal posts
H2SO4→2H+ + SO4-

 At Cathode
Pb+ + SO4- → PbSO4 (and makes Pb more negative)
 At Anode
2H+ + O- → H2O (and makes anode more positive)
f) When connection is made, current flows from negative to positive and continues until
sulphate is deposited on both electrodes as resistance increases current stops
g) Due to SO4- this type of type of battery doesn’t withstand during discharge condition
also H2O increases
11. Explain the method of charging the battery
Ans. Batteries are charged by either the constant voltage or constant current method.
 Constant Voltage
a) In the constant voltage method, a motor generator set with a constant, regulated
voltage forces the current through the battery
b) In this method, the current at the start of the process is high but automatically
tapers off, reaching a value approximately 1 ampere when the battery is fully
charged
c) The Constant voltage method requires less time and supervision than does the
constant current method
 Constant Current
a) In the constant current method the current remains almost constant during the
entire charging process
b) This, method requires a longer time to charge a battery fully and, towards the end of
the process, presents the danger of overcharging, if care is not exercised

12. How are the charged and uncharged condition of Nickel Cadmium and Lead acid
battery determined
 Nickel cadmium:-
a) Charged:-Positive: Nickel oxy-hydride (NiOOH),
Electrolyte: - KOH [30%] + water [70%] by wt.
Negative: Metallic cadmium
b) Discharged: - Positive: ¿ ( OH )2
Electrolyte: - KOH + water
 Negative: Cd (OH )2
c) Gassing takes place during overcharge
d) We cannot determine the state of charge of the battery through the specific gravity
of electrolyte as it remains constant
e) Specific gravity -1.3
 Lead acid battery:-
a) Charged:-Positive: PbO 2 ,
Electrolyte:- H 2 SO4 [30%] + H 2O[70%] by vol. {Concentrated}
Negative: - Spongy lead
b) Discharged:-Positive: PbSO 4
Electrolyte: - H 2 SO 4 + H 2O
Negative: PbSO 4 {Diluted}