Voltage, Current, and Thermally Rating Connectors

September 13, 2023 Michael Traskos

While electrical component qualification is nothing new to the aerospace industry, the emerging trend toward full aircraft electrification requires every component to be electrically connected; for most equipment, this means incorporation of electrical connectors. Weight, cost, reliability, and performance are the four most common elements initially considered in connector selection, but the finer details of electrical connectors use must also be considered. Here, we discuss how one might go about qualifying an electrical connector, specifically, to address its voltage, current, and thermal limitations. Read more

Copper Hookup Wire

August 15, 2023 Michael Traskos

Aerospace standards like the ASTM B470 or the ASTM B355 provide specific performance characteristics of electrical wire conductors. This article discusses some of the test methods covered in these standards and how their implementation ensures acceptable quality in the development of aerospace wire. Read more

Are New EWIS Regulations Needed for High Voltage EWIS?

June 20, 2023 Michael Traskos

High voltage power has been a hot topic in the aerospace industry for several years now. As programs have been getting closer to a marketable product, regulators are seeking to determine the regulatory basis for these new platforms. One question that has been raised in several committee and industry meetings, “Are New EWIS regulations needed for High Voltage Wiring Systems?” Read more

HV Connector Failures and Part Selection

June 2, 2023 Michael Traskos

With the current shift toward hybrid and electric aircraft, deeper understanding of high voltage connectors and their potential failure modes is required. In this article, we discuss failure modes and selection criteria for high voltage connectors on aircraft. Read more

S&T 2022 Meeting Report

April 6, 2023 Michael Traskos

As in any scientific industry, aerospace across the globe benefits from the sharing of information and research. The annual S&T Electrical Systems and Wiring Inter-Agency Meeting is held each December with exactly this goal. The following are some highlights from the presentations and discussions from the 2022 meeting. Read more

Fluid Immersion Testing of EWIS Components

January 31, 2023 Michael Traskos

From fuel to hydraulic oil to sodas, aircraft wires and cables are exposed to a wide range of fluids and, generally, the insulations must not show degradation that would impact their airworthiness. Material compatibility is important for all parts of the aircraft and the wiring system is no exception. The means to assess material compatibility between fluids and wires/cables is done with fluid immersion testing.

Fluid immersion testing is straightforward but requires a lot of materials, a lot of prep work, and a lot of hands-on attention to detail. The fundamental idea of fluid immersion testing is for components to be submerged in the fluid and observed for any changes to the material or components. Some test details and the impacts of the test results are covered here.

Glycol and Silver-Plated Conductors

September 14, 2022 Michael Traskos

In this article, we discuss silver’s susceptibility to corrosion when exposed to glycol, its impact on aircraft, and ways to mitigate potential degradation. Read more

Which Red Plague Testing is Right for My Application?

August 18, 2022 Michael Traskos

In short, red plague is corrosive galvanic corrosion that occurs between the silver plating and copper core of silver-plated copper wire. This has been a known issue since at least the 1950s and has popped up dozens of times since then with issues identified during initial product inspection. This article dives into the practical applications of red plague testing and how to identify and potentially mitigate the risks thereof. Read more

SAE April 2022 Update

July 25, 2022 Michael Traskos

After two unsuccessful attempts to meet in person, the SAE AE-8A/D committee met to update standards whose progress has been slowed over the last two years. Read more

By: Michael Traskos