AVIONICS braking or damping mechanism in a circuit to

avoid over current in the load

 WHAT IS CURRENT
 VOLTAGE
 Electric current is the movement of electrons
 It is an electrical pressure that causes the
through a wire. Electric current is measured in
electron to move through a conductor
amperes (amps) and refers to the number of
measured in volts (V
charges that move through the wire per
second
 What causes current flow?
- Current flow takes place whenever most of
the electron movement in a material is in one
direction.
- This movement is from a (-) charge to a (+)
charge and occurs only as long as a
difference in charge exists and that
difference in charge is called the
POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE.
- EMF or Electromotive Force is the energy
per unit charge that maintains the
POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE.
 Direct Current (DC)
 ETHYMOLOGY OF ELECTRICAL
- Direct current is a method in which electricity
PARAMETERS UNIT
always flows in a certain direction, as
 Alessandro Volta (Volt)
compared to the flow of a river. It refers to
- It is a widely known fact that the Volt is the
the flow of electricity obtained from batteries,
unit of electromotive force and that it is
solar cells, etc.
named after Alessandro Volta who was an
 Alternating Current (AC)
Italian scientist and pioneer of electrical
- Alternating current (AC) is a method in which
science
the positive and negative sides are
- What is a less well known fact about the
constantly switched periodically and the
history of Volta is that he invented the first
direction of the flow of electricity changes
primary battery and in doing so he moved
accordingly. This is the flow of electricity
electrical science from the electrostatic era
obtained from a generator or outlet. The
into electrodynamic age
electricity produced at power plants and sent
 André-Marie Ampère (Ampere)
to homes is also transmitted as alternating
- André-Marie Ampère was a French physicist
current.
and scientist who discovered
electromagnetism. He helped describe the
way to measure the flow of electricity. The
ampere, which is the unit for measuring
electric current, was named after him
 Georg Simon Ohm (Ohm)
- Georg Simon Ohm was a German physicist,
best known for his “Ohm’s Law”, which
 RESISTANCE states that the current flow through a
 It is an electrical physical quantity that opposes conductor is directly proportional to the
the electrical measured in ohms (Ω). potential difference (voltage) and inversely
 NOTE: proportional to the resistance. The physical
- Electrical resistance is analogous to friction unit of electrical resistance, the Ohm (Ω),
in a mechanical system. They both convert was named after him.
energy to heat and dissipate it to the  OHM’S LAW
surrounding environment, so electrical  What is Ohm’s Law?
resistance can sometimes be thought of as a
 - Ohm's Law is used to describe the
relationship between voltage, current and
resistance in an electrical circuit defined by
the algebraic equation V=IR
 Types of Simple Circuit
- Series Circuit
o A circuit is said to be connected in series
when the same current flows through all the
components in the circuit.
o Formula:
- Parallel Circuit
o A circuit is said to be parallel when the
electric current has multiple paths to flow
through. The components that are a part of
the parallel circuits will have a constant
voltage across all ends
o Formula:
AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
 An aircraft electrical system is a self-contained
network of components that generate, transmit,
distribute, utilize and store electrical energy
 ELECTRICAL SOURCES
 Batteries
- Lead Acid Batteries
o Dry Charged Cell (Flooded or Wet
Batteries)
 Assembled with electrodes (plates) that
have been fully charged and dried. The
electrolyte is added to the battery when it
is placed in service, and battery life begins
when the electrolyte is added. An aircraft
storage battery consists of 6 or 12 lead-
acid cells connected in series.
o Valve-Regulated (Sealed Batteries)
 Contain all electrolyte absorbed in glass-
mat separators with no free electrolyte.
The electrochemical reactions for VRLA
batteries are the same as flooded
batteries, except for the gas
recombination mechanism that is
predominant in VRLA batteries.
- Nickel-Cadmium Batteries
o Consists of a metallic box, usually stainless
steel, plastic-coated steel, painted steel, or
titanium containing a number of individual
cells. These cells are connected in series to
obtain 12 volts or 24 volts. NiCd cells
installed in an aircraft battery are typical of
the vented cell type
 Ground Power Unit (GPU)
- Usually consist of a generator powered by a
diesel engine but may found in other
configurations. It can be either a fixed or
mobile unit which can be connected to the
electrical system of an aircraft while on the
ground to provide either 120V AC or 28V DC
power.
 ELECTRICAL GENERATING SYSTEM
 Alternator
- A device that turns mechanical energy into
electricity as an AC (alternating current). A
magnet in an alternator rotates, creating a
current to distribute energy
- AC Output
 Generator
- Can also convert mechanical energy into
electrical energy, but are capable of
producing both AC and DC. A rotor inside
the generator rotates and the rotation of this
rotor builds up electricity, creating a
magnetic field, resulting in the creation of the
needed energy to spin the armature.
- AC Output
- DC Output
 EMERGENCY ELECTRICAL GENERATING
SYSTEM
 Auxiliary Power Unit
 - A small jet engine which is normally located - Designed with the zero point in the center of
in the tail cone of the aircraft but, in some the face and a negative or positive indication
cases, is located in an engine nacelle or in on either side. It is used to monitor the
the wheel well. It can be used, as required, performance of the aircraft electrical system
to provide an additional source of electrical showing if the alternator/generator is
power in the event of the loss of an engine producing an adequate supply of electrical
generator. It can also be used as a source of power. When the pointer is on the plus side,
bleed air for starter assist for an inflight it shows the charging rate of the battery. A
engine relight. minus indication means more current is
 Ram Air Turbine (RAT) being drawn from the battery than is being
- A small turbine that is installed in an aircraft replaced
and used as an alternate or emergency  Voltage Regulator
hydraulic or electrical power source. The - Controls the rate of charge to the battery by
RAT generates power from the airstream. In stabilizing the generator or alternator
emergency cases the RAT will power vital electrical output. As a general rule, the
systems such as flight controls or flight- generator/alternator voltage output should be
critical instrumentation, navigation and higher than the battery voltage
communication equipment. Some RATs
produce only hydraulic power which in turn is
used to power an electrical generator.
 ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
 Fuse
- Is an electrical safety device that operates to
provide overcurrent protection of an electrical
circuit. Its essential component is a metal
wire or strip that melts when too much
current flows through it, thereby stopping or
interrupting the current. It is a sacrificial
device; once a fuse has operated it is an
open circuit, and must be replaced or
rewired, depending on its type.
 Circuit Breaker
- An electrical safety device designed to
protect an electrical circuit from damage
caused by an overcurrent or short circuit. Its
basic function is to interrupt current flow to
protect equipment and to prevent the risk of
fire. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and
then must be replaced, a circuit breaker can
be reset (either manually or automatically) to
resume normal operation.
 Bus Bar
- Used as a terminal in the aircraft electrical
system to connect the main electrical system
to the equipment using electricity as a source
of power. This simplifies the wiring system
and provides a common point from which
voltage can be distributed throughout the
system. Electrical power is supplied to the
various electrically energized components in
an aircraft via these common points.
 Ammeter