The Light Weight Engine Houtekietstraat 11
B-8540 Deerlijk, Belgium
EFFECTIVITY
page 33
ALL
19-3-2019
Power Supply
An engine with fuel injection requires for a safe operation a trouble-free power supply. The ECU
receives all relevant data from the sensors, calculates the optimal ignition and injection time, as well
as the required fuel quantity which needs to be injected and the injection duration.
Therefore the ECU, but also the fuel pump, required a continuous and trouble-free power supply.
The ECU controls and provides the ignition coils and the injectors with the required electric power.
Any power supply interruption of the ECU leads to an immediate stop of the motor. A safe function
of the switches and a correct connection of the cables is therefore extremely important.
Control and function test of the power supply
While the engine is running, the integrated generator produces an alternative current which is
converted by means of a digital transformer into direct current in order to charge the 12V battery.
The generator is able to produce at low RPM enough current to provide the required electrical power
for the fuel pump, injectors, ECU and the ignition without discharging the battery, even at idle
regime. The charge condition is surveyed by the digital transformer and limited to 14V. All consumers
are power supplied by the battery and all circuits are separately secured.
The power supply on board is surveyed using the voltmeter and of the loading activities using the
ammeter.
The average current consumption on board, when the engine is running, including the radio,
transponder, glass cockpit and position lights amounts to approximately 10A if the battery is fully
loaded.
NOTE
A decreasing voltage on board is an indication that the generator does not work properly or even has
a total failure. If the generator has a failure all consumers are supplied only by the battery. If the on
board voltage is lower than 8V the ECU stops working and the engine stops running. It is for that
reason recommended to switch off all consumers and to land as soon as possible. The remaining flight
time depends on the loading condition of the battery and of its capacity.
It is not allowed to operate the engine without battery connected to the generator. Aircrafts with
more than one battery (Backup) at all-time one of the batteries must be connected via the
transformer to the generator, while the engine is running.