For the electrical system I’ve read and re-read Bob Nuckolls’ book, The AeroElectric Connection, and applied a ton of Bob’s mojo into my system architecture. In addition, I spent a lot of time discussing it with my ‘Electrical Systems Mentor,’ Eric Jones, who has a lot of cool, unique and—IMO—necessary electrical system products at Perihelion Design.
I’ll be utilizing Bob’s Z-13/8 dual-layer architecture (Main Bus & Endurance [back-up] Bus), while leaning towards his original precursor to that architecture: the Z-8. The Z-8 simply uses more traditional components (for example: an aircraft voltage regulator with built-in overvoltage protection versus a Ford auto voltage regulator requiring an external overvoltage module) rather than slightly more, shall we say, eccentric or esoteric components.
14V Electrical System utilizing a Z-13/8, 4-bus architecture:
- 4 Busses: Main Bus, E-Bus, Battery Bus, X-Bus (ATC fuse blocks)
- Battery Bus to E-Bus B&C S704-1 Relay
- Super Schottky Diode (Main Bus to E-Bus feed)
- Tyco Circuit Breakers x 5
- B&C “Forest-of-Tabs” Grounding Bus x 2
- Avionics Ground Bus (Aeroelectric)
- Odyssey PC680 16 AH Battery
- LRC-14 14V B&C Voltage Regulator
- Gigavac GX-11 Master Battery Contactor
- Lamar Super Switch SS1-POS Solid State Starter Contactor
- 8A B&C SD-8 Backup Alternator
- B&C Lightweight Starter
- 40A L40 B&C Alternator
- TCW IBBS battery backup system – 3AH
- Buly Oil Pump for Oil Heat System
Lights:
- AeroLEDs Sunray Plus Landing Light (nose)
- Soraa MR16 11.5W Dimmable LED 20° Narrow Flood Taxi Light (Nose)
- AeroLEDs Pulsar NAV/Position/Strobe Wing Lights
- AeroLEDs Microsun Wigwag/Taxi Lights (wings)
- Pilot Map Light
- GIB Map Light
- Instrument Panel Lighting (Blue LED Panel Lights)
- LED Lights Dimmer Switch