bakerocb
Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 727
Location: FAIRFAX VA
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 Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject: Aircraft electric question |
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10/31/2009
Hello Al, You wrote: "When wiring for the systems that are controlled by
switches in the cockpit
such as lighting, flaps, pitot heat, do you run the full amperage through
the 20A switches or should the switches trip relays to handle the larger
current?"
If the switch is capable enough to handle the load it is simpler, and with
less parts count, to control the items directly with the switch. So you
start out with the switch rating and the current draw (including surge) of
the item to be controlled.
If you reach the point where the switch rating is inadequate then it is time
to start thinking in terms of relays. Of course the wire guage and circuit
protection device (fuses or circuit breakers) must also be appropriately
sized.
I know that there is a tendency among builders to shy away from the
electrical aspects of the building for a long time. It has been my
experience that once a builder gets his feet wet in this arena he almost
invariable realizes that this electrical stuff is fun, educational, and very
satisfying to work with.
If you don't already have a copy of Bob Nuckoll's book "The Aeroelectrical
Connection", -- see here:
https://matronics.com/aeroelectric/Catalog/pub/pub.html#P-Book
you should buy one or borrow one locally. You may rebel at first look and
say that this is far more than I need to know or want to know about this
subject -- fair enough, then treat it as reference material. It is not a
cook book per se, but that book plus the folks on the matronics
aeroelectric-list will do more towards keeping your electrical system on
track than any two other sources in the world.
I am going to shoot this over to the folks on the aeroelectric-list and see
how they react.
'OC' Says: "The best investment we can make is the effort to gather and
understand knowledge."
PS: Please let me display one personal bias here. There are various magic
electrical boxes available commercially. The fundamental theme seems to run
along the line of "if you buy our box then all of your electrical problems
will be solved and you don't really need to learn anything or do anything
except just connect it up." Frequently the customers who go that route wind
up concluding that the magic box does not do exactly what they want it to
and they fish around for some sort of modification.
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