AS350B3 ELECTRICAL

SYSTEMS COURSE
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OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE POWER SYSTEM

Distribution Bus Bar PP31 (MCB)

Bus bar PP31 and the associated circuit breakers are

located on the both sides of the center pedestal. Certain
circuit breakers of the 44 Alpha and 16 Alpha are
powered by the PP31 bus. PP31 is connected in parallel
with the power input to the 32 Alpha. Power from the
PP12 bus bar via a 50 ampere fuse which is located in
the 1ALPHA master electrical box is distributed to both
PP9 and PP31 simultaneously.

44ALPHA 16 ALPHA
(PP31) (PP31)

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE POWER SYSTEM

Direct Battery Bus Bar PP15 (MCB)

Bus bar PP15 and the associated circuit breakers are

located on the right side of the center pedestal. This
panel is identified with the designation 16 Alpha. PP15 is
powered via an energized contactor which is controlled
by activating the Battery Master Switch.

With the Battery Master Switch placed to the ON position,

contactor 35P is energized allowing direct battery power
to bus bar PP15. Even with loss of the electrical power
normally supplied from the 1 Alpha Mater Electrical Box,
PP15 will continue to be powered by the aircraft battery
as long as the Battery Master Switch is placed to the ON
position.

16 ALPHA
(PP15)

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE POWER SYSTEM

Direct Battery Shed Bus Bar PP50 and PP46 (MCB)

Bus bar PP50 and associated circuit breakers are located

in the left side cargo compartment. This panel is
identified with the designation 50 Alpha. Bus bar PP46
and its associated circuit breakers are located on the 16
Alpha panel. Both PP50 and PP46 are powered via an
energized contactor 73P, which is controlled by placing
the Battery Master Switch to the ON or SHED position.
During normal flight conditions, both direct battery shed
buses are powered. Activation of the Battery Master
Switch to the Shed Bus position will cause all busses 16 ALPHA
except PP50 and PP46 to lose power. (PP46)

50 ALPHA
(PP50)

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE POWER SYSTEM

Switch Control Panel (SMS)

A switch control panel (designated 30ALPHA) located on

the console permits the aircrew to energize various
electrical circuits of the aircraft as required. Dependent
on the electrical circuit requirement, two styles of
pushbutton switches are utilized; momentary and
latching. Failure of switch contacts or switch illumination
requires replacement of the switch as a whole. There is
no type of approval for the disassembly of the switches
installed in the control panel. Each switch has a specific
part number reflecting the function and switch label. The
control panel may accommodate up to a maximum of 36
switches. Various options installed (or lack of) in the
aircraft may change the total number of switches located
on the control panel. Refer to the aircraft’s FLIGHT
MANUAL for the respective switch arrangement. Circuit
breakers and bus bars installed in the console will be
discussed in subsequent sections of this training manual.

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE POWER SYSTEM

Distribution Bus Bar PP5 (SMS)

Bus bar PP5 and the associated circuit breakers are

located on the left side of the switch control panel
30ALPHA. PP5 is powered from the PP12 bus bar via a
50 ampere fuse which is located in the 1ALPHA master
electrical box. The circuit breakers of the PP5 bus bar are
identified on a hinged fold out panel adjacent to the
circuit breakers.

30 ALPHA
(PP5)

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE POWER SYSTEM

Distribution Bus Bar PP6 (SMS)

Bus bar PP6 and the associated circuit breakers are

located on the right side of the center pedestal. This
panel is identified with the designation “31ALPHA32”. All
circuit breakers of the 31 Alpha are powered by the PP6
bus. PP6 is powered from the PP12 bus bar via a 50
ampere fuse which is located in the 1ALPHA master
electrical box. The power input to this panel is connected
to the X1 terminal on the printed circuit assembly.

31 ALPHA
(PP6)

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE POWER SYSTEM

Distribution Bus Bar PP9 (SMS)

Bus bar PP9 and the associated circuit breakers are

located on the right side of the center console. This panel
is identified with the designation “31ALPHA32”. All circuit
breakers of the 32 Alpha are powered by the PP9 bus.
PP9 is powered from the PP12 bus bar via a 50 ampere
fuse which is located in the 1ALPHA master electrical
box. The power input to this panel is connected to the X2
terminal on the printed circuit assembly.

32 ALPHA
(PP9)

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE POWER SYSTEM

Distribution Bus Bar PP31 (SMS)

Bus bar PP31 and the associated circuit breakers are

located on the right side of the center pedestal. This
panel is identified with the designation 44 Alpha. PP31 is
connected in parallel with the power input to the 32 Alpha
PP9 bus. Power from the PP12 bus bar via a 50 ampere
fuse which is located in the 1Alpha master electrical box
is distributed to both PP9 and PP31 simultaneously.

44 ALPHA
(PP31)

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE POWER SYSTEM

Direct Battery Bus Bar PP15 (SMS)

Bus bar PP15 and the associated circuit breakers are

located on the left side of the center console assembly.
This panel is identified with the designation 16 Alpha.
PP15 is power via an energized contactor which is
controlled by activating a pushbutton switch located on
the switch control panel. An annuciator internal to this
pushbutton switch illuminates reflecting the state of
operation of the direct battery circuit. Two different states
of operation exist for the direct battery circuit:

- With the aircraft’s electrical system energized, the

annunciator will illuminate until the direct battery circuit is
enabled by depressing the pushbutton. As soon as the 16 ALPHA
pushbutton switch is depressed, the annunciator will (PP15)
extinguish.

- With the direct battery circuit enabled, deenergizing the

aircraft’s electrical system will cause the pushbutton
annunciator to illuminate. This annunciation alerts the
aircrew that the direct battery circuit is still energized.

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INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

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1 ALPHA ELECTRICAL MASTER BOX

Introduction

Numerous electrical/electronic components; contactors,

relays, voltage regulator, printed circuit boards and
sensors are grouped together in a functional assembly
known as the 1Alpha. This electrical master box is
located in the aft cargo compartment below the floor
panel. The battery, generator and EPU operational
modes are controlled, monitored and protected by the
1Alpha box.

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ELECTRICAL MASTER BOX 1 ALPHA

Component Identification

K1 RELAY
FUSES

K2 RELAY

TRANSISTOR Q1 4
Z1 PRINTED CIRCUIT CARD
3
MCR SENSOR
5
Z2 PRINTED CIRCUIT CARD
6
FUSES 7
FUSE F4

J1 CONNECTOR

K4 - GENERATOR PP12 MAIN DISTRIBUTION BUSBAR

K3 THRU K7 CONTACTORS
K3 - STARTER
K5 - BATTERY
K6 - EPU
K7 - FAN
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1 ALPHA POWER SYSTEM COMPONENTS

NOTE: Start switch reflects AS350 B2 functionality

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1 ALPHA POWER SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Contactors:
K3…………………... starting contactor
K4…………………... generator contactor
K5…………………... battery contactor
K6…………………...EPU contactor

Pushbutton switches:
EXT PWR/BATT...…cuts in the battery or EPU
GEN…………………cuts in the generator
GEN RESET……….. used to reset the generator after an inadvertent generator cut out
CRANK……………..controls cranking of the engine only
EMERG CUTOFF......cuts out both battery and generator power sources
START……………... controls starting of the engine (AS350B2)

Relays:
K1………………….. inhibits excitation and cut in of the generator during engine start and cranking
K2…………………... inhibits cut in of the battery and generator when the EPU is energized

Printed circuit boards:

Z1…………………... controls generator cut in/out and regulates the generator output voltage at 28.5Vdc +/- 0.25V
Z2……………………in case of over voltage (>31.5Vdc), grounds coil ‘b’ of bi-stable relay which de-energizes K1 and K4

Current sensor:
MCR…………………current sensor which measures the return current to the generator

Indicators:
GEN………………....when lit, denotes cut out of the generator
BATT……….……….when lit, denotes cut out of the battery
T* BATT………….…when lit, indicates a battery internal temperature exceeding 71*C.

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GENERAL OPERATION OF THE DC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Operation with an EPU

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GENERAL OPERATION OF THE DC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Operation with an EPU

When pushbutton ‘EXT PWR/BATT” is pressed, relay K2 is excited and

makes contact.

EPU contactor K6 is energized by K2 (normally open) and the secondary

contacts in K5 (normally closed).

Indicator lights “BATT” and “GEN” are lit as they are energized via the
normally closed contacts of relays K4 and K5.

The voltmeter reads the EPU output voltage.

*NOTE: Certain B2 and all B3 versions display the current and

current on the VEMD.

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GENERAL OPERATION OF THE DC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Operation with the Battery

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GENERAL OPERATION OF THE DC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Operation with the Battery

The conditions for cutting in the battery are:

- EPU disconnected (relay K2 normally closed).
- generator cut out (off line, engine not running or generator failure).

Pressing pushbutton “EXT PWR/BATT”:

- closes the excitation circuit of contactor K5.
- the battery supplies the busbar.
- the “BATT” warning light is off.
- the “GEN” light is on.
- the voltmeter reads the battery output voltage.

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GENERAL OPERATION OF THE DC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Operation with the Generator

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GENERAL OPERATION OF THE DC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Operation with the Generator

Conditions for use of the generator:

- EPU disconnected, relay K2 normally closed.
- pushbuttons “BATT” and “GEN” depressed.
- pushbuttons “CRANK” and “START” released (generator functions is not compatible with the
Starter function).

Excitation:
- pilot releases the ‘START” pushbutton.
- relay K1 is energized and makes contact.
- the 1 second memory on PCB Z1 is reset
- the 1 second contactor closes for 1 second.
- the generator excitation coil is energized by the battery via fuse F2, the 1 second contactor and
relay K1.

Generator cut in:

- engine RPM increases.
- generator output voltage increases until the output voltage exceeds the distribution busbar by 0.5 Vdc.
- PCB Z1 closes the cut in contactor which energizes contactor K4 via PCB Z2, pushbutton “GEN”,
relay K2, rely K1 and fuse F4 to the generator output voltage.
- the generator cuts in and supplies distribution busbar PP12.
- the “GEN” light goes out.
- PCB Z1 via the regulation unit stabilizes the generator output at 28.5Vdc by varying the
excitation current.
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GENERAL OPERATION OF THE DC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Over Voltage and Reverse Current Detection

FOR TRAINING AND INFORMATION ONLY