Shield Grounding and EMI Protection

March 5, 2018 Michael Traskos

The push for more electric aircraft is driven by weight savings and the availability of reliable electrical components. This is made possible with greater power generating capacity, however, this comes with an increased challenge of ensuring reliable data transmission. More power flowing through the aircraft means higher levels of electromagnetic interference (EMI). Aerospace environmental test […] Read more

Correcting Bad Wire System Guidance

February 20, 2018 Michael Traskos

Consider a common aircraft wire: how many requirements and standards must be considered during its design and fabrication? A simple back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests at least 30 various requirements and standards. For an aircraft wire harness, that number can easily jump to 50. Without a doubt, between each of these standards and requirements, there can be […] Read more

Circuit Protection Selection Guidance

February 13, 2018 Tristan Epp Schmidt

Circuit protection devices have existed since 1864; one would think that selection of circuit protection would be a straight forward task. However, it is not. NASA developed a seven-step process for circuit protection selection and both EN3179 and AS50881 provide some guidance. In a past article, Lectromec began to consider the differences between two major […] Read more

What is an EWIS Qualified Wire?

February 2, 2018 Michael Traskos

This is a question that Lectromec regularly receives. The reason for this question is that a parts-supplier or system-integrator is looking to find wires in compliance with EWIS requirements. Since there are so many ways to evaluate any component, the important question to consider is if a defined requirements list for aerospace wire exists? Here, […] Read more

Connector Failure Rates – Part #2

January 26, 2018 Michael Traskos

In Lectromec’s previous article, we introduced a basis for estimating connector failure rates. The framework utilized the failure information available from military handbook MIL-HDBK-217. In this article, we continue to review the parameters of the failure rate function and implications on how slight changes in the environment can have a dramatic impact on a connectors […] Read more

Connector Failure Rates – Part #1

January 17, 2018 Michael Traskos

Coming up with failure rates of electrical components is always a difficult task. Historically, when failure modes and effects analyses were created for aircraft systems, the level of detail of EWIS component failures were severely lacking. Some organizations would create a single failure number for an entire circuit, regardless of the wires or connections made […] Read more

What Are You Missing from Your Risk Assessment?

January 8, 2018 Michael Traskos

Creating maintenance action plans for vehicle sustainment is a heavily detailed process involving the collaboration between multiple groups. If any group has a less detailed (or flawed) analysis, the potential impact could be felt for years/decades to come. A structured process for assessment is outlined in the mechanical subsystems integrity program (MECSIP) outlined in military […] Read more

Happy Holidays from Lectromec

December 22, 2017 Administrator

Lectromec’s lab did one last set of tests before the 2017 holidays. We bring you a polyimide Christmas tree powered by 270VDC. Read more

AS50881 and EN3197 Harmonization

December 14, 2017 Tristan Epp Schmidt

Working from a common knowledge base is critical for part interoperability. Take a standard screw; to install it requires a screwdriver (Phillips or Flathead), lining the screw up with the hole, and rotating clockwise to drive the screw. The screw works the same in Europe as it does in America, though the measurements might be […] Read more

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