The electrical system is primarily a 28-volt direct current system, supplying the majority of airplane

electrical services. DC power is produced by two engine-driven DC starter generators and two
Transformer rectifier units. The power sources are supplemented by three nickel-cadmium batteries. The
115-volt alternating current variable frequency system is powered from two engine driven AC
generators. External ground power connections for the AC and DC system are provided. The electrical
system is controlled from the DC and AC control panels on the overhead console and is indicated on the
MFD electrical system page.

The AC variable frequency generating system provides 115 volt three-phase power for AC systems that
are not frequency sensitive, such as heaters, fuel pumps and hydraulic pumps. Two generators supply
power via a bus contactor to the related left or right bus systems. The generator control units regulate a
constant output of 115 volts with a frequency output that varies from 340 Hz to 560 Hz, depending on
propeller speed.

The AC generator output power is a three-phase, 115 volt, variable frequency generator, with normal
capacity of 34,6 KVA, and an overload capacity of 42 KVA. The output frequency of the generator varies
with propeller speed, and ranges from 340 Hz to 560 Hz. Engine oil provides cooling and lubrication of
the generator, an overtemperature switch within the generator stator windings closes and causes the AC
GEN HOT caution light to illuminate in the caution and warning lighting panel.

Each generator is governed by a generator control unit (GCU), which monitors output voltage of the
generator, the feeder current, the internal generator current and generator speed. These signals are
used to vary the excitation field current of the generator to regulate generator output of a constant 115
volt per phase. The GCU also provides a protection for over-voltage and under-voltage, under-frequency,
and bus fault protection. Operational status information from the other GCU is also provided.

The AC electrical system can be monitored on the MFD Electrical page. The voltage and the loads are
displayed for each AC generator. The voltage indication shows the AC bus voltage for each phase while
the load indication shows the AC generator output load in numbers of percentage of the total rated
output for each phase. A 1.00 indication is used to show 100 percent. A + symbol before the numbers is
used to show an overload condition of the AC generator. It is out of view when the load is in less than
100 percent. When the voltage or load data malfunctions, the digits are replaced by white dashes.

AC power is available once the condition levers are out of START & FEATHER in the MIN/850 to
MAX/1020 range, and the GENERATOR 1 and GENERATOR 2 switches are set to ON, the AC generators
are connected via their bus tie contactor to their related AC buses for normal operation. The current
transformers in the AC generators supply current data to its related AC GCU to control its AC generator
output. Whenever the AC GCU senses a source fault, for example, an AC generator malfunction, it will
automatically reconfigure the electrical power flow by closing the bus tie contactor to connect its bus to
the other AC generator. The caution light of the failed generator comes ON and the galley load shedding
relays open to de-energize the galley buses.
Note: When source or bus faults occur, the contactors open, and stay open until the ac GCU is reset to
prevent a reconnection to a fault condition. The GEN toggle switch on the ac control panel is set to the
OFF position and then back to GEN to reset the ac GCU.

The AC generators are protected from bus faults by the GCUs that detect any excessive load that might
result from a short circuit on a bus. Once a heavy load is detected, the GCU isolates the bus and turns on
the appropriate Left or Right AC BUS caution lights. The # 1 AC GEN HOT or # 2 AC GEN HOT caution
lights come on whenever an AC generator overheats. In this situation the AC generator must be switched
off.

Note: When source or bus faults occur, the contactors open, and stay open until the ac GCU is reset to
prevent a reconnection to a fault condition. The GEN toggle switch on the ac control panel is set to the
OFF position and then back to GEN to reset the ac GCU.

The AC external power energizes the 115 VAC variable frequency system if no aircraft power source is
available via the AC external power receptacle located on the inboard side of the right engine nacelle.
The Electrical Power Protection Unit (EPPU) monitors the AC external power source that supplies AC
electrical power to the 115 VAC system. When the AC external source is supplying electrical power to the
aircraft and the external power switch is set to the EXT PWR position, the EPPU will close the two cross
tie contactors and the two bus tie contactors to connect the external power source to the AC busses and
to the Transformer Rectifier Units to feed the DC electrical system.

The AC external power system can be monitored via MFD electrical page. The message AC EXT POWER is
displayed only when the following conditions are met: The AC external ground power is connected to the
AC external power receptacle. The AC external power is good. The AC external power switch is set to the
EXT PWR position and the AC external power source is energizing the AC busses. The external power
voltage is displayed in the AC generator voltage displays.

The DC power system provides 28 volt DC power for operation of the aircraft DC electrical services, and
also provides the starting power for the engines. The sources of DC power are two DC starter-generators,
two-transformer rectifier units, and three batteries for supplementary power and engine starting. The
system can also be supplied by a ground power unit or an APU with starter generator. The system is
controlled from the DC control panel and can be monitored at the MFD electrical page.

The DC starter generator is used for engine start and to generate DC power. An internal 4 blade
aluminum fan provides cooling through the air inlet on the non-driven side, and exhausts the air at the
driven side. A thermostatic switch in the generator activates the generator hot caution light in case of an
overheat condition. The Generator Control Unit (GCU) provides automatic control and monitoring for the
voltage/ current regulation and start cycle control of the starter-generator.

The DC power system is controlled from the panel in the overhead console. The panel contains the
battery switches and the generator switches. With the main bus tie switch, the main feeder buses can be
connected manually. In case of a bus fault, they may be reset with the bus fault reset switch. External
power can be selected via the external power switch, when external power is connected and the switch
is selected to on, the "DC external power ON" annunciator is displayed on the MFD electrical page.

On the MFD electrical page, the voltage of the buses can be monitored. The battery annunciation area
indicates the load and the temperature of the Main, AUX and Standby batteries. The battery load display
is expressed in a percentage factor. A readout of 1.00 indicates full load and equals 100 percent load. A +
or - sign indicates whether the battery is in overcharge ("+" displayed) or in discharge ("-" displayed). The
battery temperature display indicates the battery temperature in + or - degrees Celsius when the
temperature is within normal limits. When the temperature is in the range (+50 degrees C to +65
degrees C) the digits turn yellow. When the temperature exceeds 65 degrees Celsius the digits are
displayed in red.

The DC bus voltage annunciation area indicates the voltage of the left and right essential bus, the main
bus and the secondary bus. Generator 1 and 2, TRU 1 and 2 and when installed, the APU loads are
displayed in their respective displays and are expressed in a percentage factor. A readout of 1.00
indicates full load and equals 100 percent load. A readout of 0.50 indicates half load. A reading of 1.20
indicates a twenty 20 percent overload. An overload condition is also indicated by a positive sign.

The DC power bus system consists of the main feeder buses and secondary feeder buses which are
located in the DC contactor box. The essential buses and the main and secondary distribution buses are
located in the flight compartment. The main feeder buses are powered by the respective generator and
the secondary feeder buses are powered by the TRUs. The feeder buses are connected to their
respective distributor buses, where the power is distributed to the electrical systems of the aircraft. If no
other supply is connected and the BATTERY MASTER switch is set to the ON position, contactors will
close, and all three batteries will supply power to the essential busses.

By selecting the STANDBY BATTERY switch to ON, the standby battery is connected to the left main
feeder bus. Selecting the AUX BATTERY switch to ON, the auxiliary battery supplies power to the left
main feeder bus. And, by selecting the MAIN BATTERY switch to ON, the main battery supplies power to
the right main feeder bus. During an emergency DC Main Bus Fault condition, contactors will open to
disconnect the standby, auxiliary and main batteries from their related main feeder busses so that only
the essential distribution busses stay energized.

With both engines running, and selecting both generators switches to ON, the generator bus contactors
will close. The main and essential buses are powered by their associated generator. The batteries are
charged by the main feeder buses. Three diodes prevent charging from the essential buses into the
batteries. The secondary buses are powered by the TRUs and their contactors.

With both engines running, and selecting both generators switches to ON, the generator bus contactors
will close. The main and essential buses are powered by their associated generator. The batteries are
charged by the main feeder buses. Three diodes prevent charging from the essential buses into the
batteries. The secondary buses are powered by the TRUs and their contactors.
In case of a generator failure, the GCU opens the generator contactor and closes the main bus tie. The
remaining generators will load both main buses. In case of a second generator failure, the second
generator contactor and main bus tie opens. The main to secondary bus tie closes on both sides. The left
buses are now powered by the left TRU and the right buses by the right TRU. If in this situation a TRU
failure also occurs, the main to secondary bus tie will open and the secondary bus tie will close. The
secondary buses will now be powered from the remaining TRU, and the main buses will be de-energized.

When one TRU fails, the associated TRU contactor opens and the secondary bus tie closes. The
remaining TRU now powers both secondary buses. When the second TRU fails, the associated TRU
contactor and secondary bus tie open, and the main to secondary bus tie closes on both sides. The left
buses are now powered from the left generator and the right buses from the right generator. When in
this situation a generator failure occurs, the main to secondary bus tie opens and the main bus tie closes.
The main buses are powered from the remaining generator and the secondary buses are de-energized.

The EPCU and the DC GCUs protection function protect the DC subsystem against short circuits on the
main and secondary buses. If a main bus fault occurs, the EPCU prevents the main and secondary feeder
bus ties from closing to isolate the bus. The DC BUS caution light comes on to warn of the fault
impending condition. If the fault persists after approximately 5 seconds, the EPCU sends a TRIP signal to
the GCU, isolating the affected generator. The EPCU will also open and lock out the contactors
connecting the batteries to the affected main bus. The affected BATTERY caution light and related DC
GEN caution light will come on as a result. All main DC services on the faulted bus side will not function.

NOTE: Manual operation of the main bus tie through the MAIN BUS TIE switch is not possible once the
EPCU has reacted to a fault.

Two external power systems are provided in the Dash 8. A 28 volt DC external power system and a 115
volt AC external power system. The systems are controlled by switches on the DC and AC control panels.
When external power is available and the systems are switched on, a green annunciation "EXTERNAL
POWER ON" will illuminate on the MFD electrical page. Both connectors are enclosed by hinged access
doors.

When the battery master switch is selected ON, DC external power is connected and is switched ON, 28
VDC electrical power is supplied to the left main feeder bus. The DC GCUs receives a DC external power
signal from the EPCU to cause the bus tie contactors to disconnect the DC starter/generators from the
left and right main feeder busses. The main feeder bus tie contactor closes to energize the right main
feeder bus and the secondary/main feeder bus tie contactors close to energize the secondary feeder
busses.

After the engine start sequence, with the DC starter/generator switches set to the GEN1 and GEN2
positions, the DC GCUs will prevent the DC starter/generators from connecting to the main feeder
busses. The DC external power switch must be set to the OFF position to cause the DC starter/generator
bus tie contactors to close. This connects DC starter/generator power to the right main feeder bus and
left main feeder bus.
The EPCU incorporates external DC power protection from too high or too low supply of external DC
power voltage. If the external voltage is more than 31+0.5/-0.75 VDC, or less than 22 ± 1 VDC, an
over/under voltage condition will cause the external ground power to stop supplying electrical power to
the aircraft. The left and right essential busses stay energized because the battery operation is
independent of the EPCU. If the external power over/under voltage is rectified, the external power
source can be reselected by moving the DC EXTERNAL POWER switch to OFF and then to EXTERNAL
POWER.

DC External Power Voltage Indication can be monitored via the MFD electrical page. The DC bus voltage
indication shows the DC bus voltage for the essential, main, and secondary busses. In case of a voltage
data malfunction, the digits are replaced by white dashes. When external power is selected, the #1 DC
GEN or #2 DC GEN caution light comes on to show that the generator is not connected to its’ bus
because an external DC power source is energizing the left and right main feeder busses.

Note: There is no indication for a condition where the DC external power source is connected to the
aircraft and a DC external power switch selection is not made

The AC external power system supplies 115 Volt AC electrical power from an external ground power
source to the aircraft 115 Volt AC variable frequency busses. When the AC external source is supplying
electrical power to the aircraft, the BATTERY MASTER is selected ON and the AC external power switch
on the AC control panel is set to the EXTERNAL POWER position. The EPPU will let the external power
source connect to the AC variable frequency busses.

The EPPU automatically controls operation of the cross tie contactors by monitoring output voltage,
frequency, and phase rotation of the AC external power source. When the EPPU senses an external
power malfunction, it will cause the cross tie contactors to move from the external power position to de-
energize the AC busses.

The AC GCUs control the bus contactor operation. When the AC GCU receives an AC external power
signal it causes the bus tie contactors to move to the external power position. When the AC busses are
energized by the AC external power, the AC generators are disconnected from the AC busses.

AC External Power Voltage Indication can be monitored via the MFD electrical page. When selected ON,
the AC external power annunciation is displayed and the AC bus voltage indication shows the AC bus
voltage for each phase in white numbers. In case of a voltage data malfunction, the digits are replaced by
white dashes. When external power is selected, the #1 AC GEN or #2 AC GEN caution light comes on to
show that the generator is not connected to its bus because an external AC power source is energizing
the left and right busses.

Note: There is no indication for a condition where the AC external power source is connected to the
aircraft and an AC external power switch selection is not made.

The APU DC generation system provides 28 volts DC to the main, essential and secondary DC buses while
the aircraft is on the ground. The system consists of a DC starter generator, a generator control unit, a
control panel and the associated relays and monitoring circuitry. The generator is mounted on the
reduction drive housing of the APU. Generator cooling air is drawn from the intake by an integral fan in
the generator and is dumped overboard through the generator exhaust duct.

When the APU power switch is selected on, the APU power relay energizes and the APU RUN relay is
armed. As soon the APU reaches 95 percent, the APU run relay energizes. By selecting the generator
switch to ON, the GCU switches to generator function and closes the APU bus contactor. APU power is
now supplied to the right main feeder bus. The GENERATOR ON light will illuminate. The main bus tie
and the main to secondary bus ties are energized by the bus control relay to supply the whole system.
The GCU regulates the output voltage and current by varying the field input.

With the APU generator supplying the DC system and external power connected and selected ON, the
APU GCU receives a DC external power signal from the EPCU and opens the bus tie contactor to
disconnect the APU DC generator from the right main feeder bus. When the DC busses are energized by
the two DC starter/generators and APU power is selected, the APU bus-tie contactor closes to connect
the generators in parallel.

System monitoring can be performed via the MFD electrical page. The DC bus voltage annunciation area
indicates the voltage of the left and right essential bus, the main bus and the secondary bus. The APU
load is displayed in the digital display and is expressed in a percentage factor. A readout of 1.00 indicates
full load and equals 100 percent load. A readout of 0.50 indicates half load. A reading of 1.20 indicates a
twenty 20 percent overload. An overload condition is also indicated by a positive sign.

APU Faults:

The APU system can detect a fault, isolate the APU and supply protection. The system will

protect and shut down the APU.

The APU system monitors:

• Overspeed

• Underspeed

• Start Failure

• Accelerate Failure
• EGT overtemperature

• Low Oil pressure

• High Oil temperature

• Failed Sensors

• Failed Valves, relays, circuits

• Internal failure

If an APU fault is detected, the:

• APU automatically shuts down

• FAIL segment of the APU PWR switchlight (amber)

• APU FUEL VALVE CLOSED advisory light (white)

• APU FUEL VALVE OPEN advisory light (out)

• APU caution light (amber)

Whenever the APU generator reaches temperatures above 149 degrees Celsius, the APU will be
automaticlly shut down, the generator HOT caution light and APU FAIL light comes on.