At the end of each year, we look back at the most popular Lectromec articles. This year, Lectromec generated a wide range of content ranging from cable testing to corrosion protection. This range of topics was covered in more than published 31 articles, 2 whitepapers, and presentations on the results of multiple internal research efforts. Here are the top five articles of 2017.
1. HOW MANY CABLES SHOULD BE SHIELDED?
This is the most popular article of 2017. A common question when designing an aircraft EWIS is which of the cables should be shielded? Standards, such as MIL-STD-461, provide an excellent basis for topics and testing that should be considered.
We reviewed options for protecting systems from EMI. These options include: shielding only the signal wires, shielding only the power wires, and shielding both. Read More.
2. BASICS OF CONNECTORS
The second most popular article looks at connector basics. Circular connectors have been a part of the aircraft industry for nearly 90 years. Clearly, because of this long history, many lessons have been learned on the construction and use of these connectors. But before anyone can really consider how to use the connector, there are basics that must be understood. This article reviews some of the basics of circular connectors and provides a useful connector type reference sheet. Read More.
Finding the right connector for your application is important. Testing can ensure you are getting quality products into your system.
3. IMPACT OF CORONA ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
The next most popular article describes the impact of corona on aircraft electrical systems. Corona is an area of electrical systems that many have some knowledge, but often only to the point of knowing that there is a voltage that should not be exceeded. It is common knowledge that factors, such as pressure, have an impact on when and how corona will happen, though the source of corona is not. This article describes what is corona and how to assess the susceptibility of materials designed to protect your aircraft electrical system. Read More.
4. AS4373 – TESTING AEROSPACE CABLES – PART 1
The fourth most popular article dives into testing aerospace cables. When testing aerospace wire, there are several test standards that might be considered; however, the one that is most commonly referenced is the SAE AS4373 “Test Methods for Insulated Electric Wire” which covers a wide range of mechanical, electrical, environmental, and workmanship tests. In this first article of a two-part series, we describe the tests that are included in the method and how they can be used to determine wire performance. Read More.
5. 2016 EWIS FAILURE ANALYSIS OF COMMERCIAL AIRLINES WHITE PAPER
Finally, once every couple of years, Lectromec reviews the FAA’s service difficulty reporting (SDR) system to determine the number of EWIS failures in the American commercial airline fleet. We have reviewed the data, performed a thorough analysis, and placed the conclusions into a white paper. This WHITEPAPER provides details the process and the frequency of EWIS failures. Read More.
The data on EWIS failure rate by age of aircraft looks random until you dig further into the details. Download the white paper to find out more.
Overall, aviation remains extremely safe and the EWIS failure analysis should not be construed as an industry on the edge of ruin. Rather, we hope that this information will be used to help identify the scope of the problem and help aircraft operators best to focus their attention when it comes to the EWIS within their fleets.
Coming in 2018
In 2018, we will continue to cover topics related to EWIS that, we hope, will help to make better designed platforms and more reliable. Feel free to CONTACT US if there are topics you would like for us to cover or expand upon.
This article was written by the Lectromec technical team. Aircraft wiring is our passion and we strive to make a contribution to the field by sharing our expertise through blogs, podcasts, and videos. We hope you find this information helpful. We also encourage you to submit comments and spur discussions.