Designed To Simplify Wiring For Advance Electrical Systems In
LSA's, Experimental Aircraft
Vertical Power has taken the wraps off its new VP-X system,
designed to simplify wiring and provide advanced electrical system
capabilities using Electronic Circuit Breakers (ECBs).
The VP-X integrates tightly with Advanced Flight Systems, GRT
Avionics, and MGL Avionics EFIS products, allowing pilots to
monitor the status of individual devices and the entire electrical
system right from the EFIS. Avionics, lights, trim, and flaps can
all be controlled using standard switches and the EFIS. The
VP-X is for use with experimental and light sport aircraft.
The VP-X replaces 80-year-old thermal breaker technology with
modern solid-state Electronic Circuit Breakers. ECBs can detect
short circuits, over-current conditions, and open-circuit faults.
ECBs are intelligent, configurable, and offer capabilities not
otherwise available with old-style breakers. For example, ECBs can
detect a burned out landing light or disable the starter circuit
while the engine is running.
"The VP-X offers a tremendous amount of capability at a very
affordable price. We're able to keep the price low because the user
interface is an integral part of the EFIS," said Marc Ausman,
President of Vertical Power Inc. "The VP-X is based on the same
field-proven technology used in hundreds of Vertical Power systems
flying today."
The ability to monitor the status of the electrical system is
critical to aircraft with glass cockpits. "We see Electronic
Circuit Breakers made by Vertical Power as a modern alternative to
the old method of mechanical circuit breakers and complicated
wiring," said Rob Hickman, President of Advanced Flight Systems.
"Currently all of our systems display attitude, moving map, engine
gauges, traffic, and weather. We are working on giving the EFIS the
ability to monitor and control the entire electrical system and
even reset circuit breakers in the new VP-X system."
Over 30 power circuits provide enough capacity to wire a
typical RV (including the RV-10), Glastar, Lancair Legacy,
Velocity, Cozy, or other 2 to 4 place experimental aircraft.
Summary of key capabilities:
- Detects short circuits, over-current faults, open circuits (no
current draw), and displays individual current draw for each
circuit.
- The circuit breaker value for each circuit is
user-configurable.
- Flexibility to use any style of panel-mounted switch. Each
switch is configurable to control one or more electrical devices.
The VP-X can turn on and off devices up to 18 amps.
- Solid-state trim motor control for pitch and roll trim. The
trim system includes runaway trim protection, variable-speed pitch
trim based on airspeed, trim motor travel limits, and backup trim
controls on the EFIS.
- Solid-state flap motor control. The flap system includes
intermediate flap stops, the ability to disable the flap down
switch above a specified airspeed, flap over-speed warnings, flap
motor run-on protection, and backup flap controls on the EFIS.
- Landing light wig-wag with adjustable warm-up period. Landing
lights, when turned on, are steady on the ground then automatically
pulse when the aircraft is in the air.
- Backup circuit capability for critical avionics.
- Starter disable when engine running.
Aircraft wiring is greatly simplified using the VP-X. The
builder simply runs wires from the VP-X to each electrical device
such as a radio, transponder, landing light, flap motor, and trim
motor. Then the setup menus in the EFIS are used to configure each
circuit. The system is completely configurable, allowing the
user to set each circuit breaker value and determine which device
or devices are controlled by each switch.
The VP-X supports a single bus electrical architecture (with or
without an aux battery) with a single or dual alternator
configuration. The VP-X integrates with:
- Advanced Flight Systems AF-3400s, AF-3500s, and AF-4500s
EFIS.
- Grand Rapids Technologies HX EFIS
- MGL Avionics Odyssey Mk II and Voyager Mk II EFIS
The VP-X retails for $1,800, and will begin shipping in April
2010. A complete wiring harness including over 600 feet of wire and
connectors is also available.