ATA 24 ELECTRICAL

GCU (Generator Control Unit)

Teaching Points
1. The VFSG generator control units (GCU):
- Control related VFSG output voltage
- Give protection
- Monitor the VFSGs for faults.
2. GCUs also control these contactors:
- Generator circuit breaker (GCB) - connects a VSFG to its 235v ac bus
- Adjacent bus tie breakers (BTB)
- Related ATRU and ATU contactors
- Related generator neutral relay (GNR).
3. GCUs receive commands from the bus power control units (BPCU) in relation to electrical system demands and
configuration.
4. The GCUs get power from a permanent magnet generator (PMG) in the related

VSFG (Variable Frequency Starter Generators)

- They can get power from a 28v dc bus if the related PMG does not operate.
5. There are 4 VSFG GCUs:
- 2 in the P100 (left)
- 2 in the P200 (right).
Student Notes
1. The GCUs are software loadable.
2. The VSFG GCUs are the same part number as the APU generator control units (AGCU).
Variable Frequency Starter Generator
Teaching Points
1. The 4 variable frequency starter generators (VFSG) are the main source of airplane electrical power.
2. Each VFSG has these ratings:
- 250 kva
- 235v ac
- 360 to 800 Hz (variable frequency with N2 shaft speed).
3. There are 2 VFSGs on the engine gearbox.
- They attach with a quad ring.
4. The VFSG has:
- Oil lubrication
- Oil cooling - uses fuel/oil heat exchangers (FOHE) and air/oil heat exchangers (AOHE).
5. The VFSG has these external components:
- Quad ring attachment
- Oil level sight glass
- Oil pressure fill and overfill ports
- Disconnect reset handle
- Case drain plug
- Filter (bowl cover).
6. Internal Components:
- 3 permanent magnet generators (PMG)
- 2 for generator control/excitation,
-1 for flight control electronics (FCE)
- Input shaft with shear section
- Electric/thermal disconnect
- Remote oil level sensor
- Electronic chip detector (output to CDN).
7. Each VFSG has:
- Oil low pressure switch - to the DRIVE light on the P5 panel
- Oil level sensor - quantity shows on the maintenance page
- Chip detector - EICAS status message shows when it finds metal chips.
8. Units are heavy and special lifting equipment is necessary for removal and installation.
Student Notes
1. Each VFSG has 3 permanent magnet generators (PMG).
- 2 of the permanent magnet generators supply the necessary power for the generator control unit operation and
VFSG excitation.
- 1 PMG supplies the flight control electronics (FCE).
- The PMGs are electrically and physically isolated from each other.
- The generator control unit (GCU) can use the PMG output for frequency or speed sensing.
2. The shear section prevents damage to the gearbox output spline and contamination of the gearbox oil system if there
is a shaft shear.
3. The VFSG has an electrical/thermal disconnect device.
- This lets the generator mechanically disengage from the engine gearbox drive shaft manually or automatically.
- Manual operation is from the disconnect switches on the flight deck electrical
P5 panel.
4. A remote oil level sensor shows low oil level in the VFSG when the generator
is not in operation.
- Each GCU has a VFSG remote oil level sensor interface.
- The sensor shows that a VFSG has correct servicing.
5. The VFSGs weigh 203 lb (92 kg).

APU Starter Generator

Teaching Points
1. There are 2 APU starter generators (ASG) on the APU gearbox.
2. Each ASG has these ratings:
- 225 kva
- 235v ac
- 360 to 440 Hz (variable frequency).
3. The APU oil system supplies cooling and lubrication for the ASGs.
4. Units are heavy and special lifting equipment is necessary for removal and
installation.
Student Notes
1. Each ASG weighs 122 lb (55 kg).
2. The Boeing MMEL permits dispatch without ASGs if all VFSGs operate
normally.