AGK Electrics

Lesson 1: Introduction and Basic Principles

Aircraft Electrical System
• Electrics is about the creation, distribution and
storage of power.
• Electronic devices need electrical power in order to
function and electrical systems will require electronic
systems for control purposes.
• Generates electrical energy to be used by
components
• Light training aircraft 14 volt DC system
• Larger twin turbine aircraft 28 volt DC system
• Modern jet airliner 115/200 V AC system
 Electrical Currents
• An electric current is produced when electrons are
encouraged to flow through a conductor.
• Current flow when circuit is complete or closed
• One direction only is direct current or DC.
• When electrons first move one way and then back
the other way is alternating current or AC.
• Direct current - one direction
• Alternating current - changes direction
 The Atom
• An electron is part of an atom. Every
substance we know of is made up of a
number of atoms, different materials
having different make up of their
atoms.
• An atom consists of Protons (which
have a positive charge) Electrons
(which have a negative charge) and
Neutrons which have no charge.
 The Atom
• Each atom has the same number of
electrons as protons therefore making
the atom electrically neutral.
• Electrons surround the nucleus may be
encouraged to move from atom to atom
referred to as ‘free electrons’
• Electrons which resist movement
between atoms are referred to as
insulators.
• Electrons that can be moved from atom
to atom through the structure are
referred to as conductors.
Materials
• Insulators - bound electrons resist
movement
• Conductors - movable electrons
• Semiconductors act like an insulator but
after processing can be made to act like a
conductor.
The Driving Force
• Battery supplies energy to push electrons
through a closed circuit
 Electromotive Force
• Battery has two electrodes separated by an electrolyte.
• Contains many ions.
• Very electrically conductive
Chemical reaction removes electrons from one
electrode and adds them to the other.
Negatively charged electrons in the conductor are
attracted towards the positive terminal.
Produces a positive terminal and a negative terminal.
 Electromotive Force
• The difference in charge between the two
electrodes is the electrical potential.
• Provides the motive force to move electrons around
the circuit
• Closed circuit – current flows, open circuit – no
current flows.
• Negative to positive is called ‘electron flow’
assumed flow from positive to negative
‘conventional flow’