To Shield or Not to Shield – A Question on High Voltage DC Cables

June 21, 2024 Michael Traskos

Shielding on aerospace cables offers several benefits but can introduce some drawbacks that must be considered. In this article, we explore the pros and cons of using shielded cables on aircraft. Read more

Creepage and Clearance

October 13, 2023 Chris Wollbrink

High voltage systems on aircraft will be more commonplace as the eVTOL market “takes-off.” One safety aspect that often comes up is the separation of the high voltage; often, this comes down to creepage and clearance distance of these systems. Read more

A Brief Explanation of Thermal Runaway

July 25, 2023 Laura Wishart

In this article, Lectromec provides a basic summary of thermal runaway and the specific challenges it poses in aircraft, specifically regarding the shift toward more electric vehicles and the historically limited available space available for electronics on aircraft. 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

AIR7502 and Future Implications for Aviation

July 8, 2022 Laura Wishart

The AIR7502 defines voltage levels for HV aircraft and components. The extent to which AIR7502 is incorporated into the aerospace industry remains unsure, but the implications of the document are worth considering even before the document’s use is determined. Read more

High Voltage Arc Tracking Requirements (Part 2)

June 18, 2022 Michael Traskos

In part 2 of this article series, we continue to discuss how arc track resistance testing as we know it must be re-evaluated as more HV systems with unique testing requirements lead the aviation industry moving forward. Read more

High Voltage Arc Tracking Requirements (Part 1)

June 6, 2022 Michael Traskos

Arc track resistance testing has been a staple of the aerospace industry for nearly 40 years. This originated from the issues raised in the 1980s with polyimide insulated wire. Since that time, test methods have evolved to assess and quantify the susceptibility of wires to carbon arc tracking and the ability to withstand electrical arcing events. Read more

EWIS High Voltage Certification

April 14, 2022 Michael Traskos

With the gradual industry implementation of high voltage EWIS systems in aviation, the demand for HV-specific safety standards is rapidly growing. High voltage OEMs currently use available industry standards, as applicable, but are still left with the task of developing and justifying their own system requirements. The SAE’s AS50881 standard, often considered the ‘go-to’ standard for OEMs, could benefit from proposed updates made to address the gaps for high voltage systems. Read more