walkman
Well Known Member
While reviewing my new -8's electrical system and doing some planning I found an inline (barrel/bayonet style) fuse holder coming off the master solenoid and running to the master switch.
Clearly this is intended to protect the line that grounds the solenoid to energize it and power up the main buss. But why? I've never had this on any aircraft I've owned or panels I've built. I don't recall seeing it in Bob N's book either.
If the wire shorts to ground somehow (one of the normal failure modes a fuse is typically intended to protect against) then it powers up the buss as normal. The fuse won't blow in this case as its still handling the same amount of power as if the master switch was turned on. However if the fuse blows/fails for some reason I loose all power (currently no e-buss).
I intend to remove this single point of failure unless anyone can explain why it should stay.
Internally regulated alternator if it makes any difference (I can't see any).
Clearly this is intended to protect the line that grounds the solenoid to energize it and power up the main buss. But why? I've never had this on any aircraft I've owned or panels I've built. I don't recall seeing it in Bob N's book either.
If the wire shorts to ground somehow (one of the normal failure modes a fuse is typically intended to protect against) then it powers up the buss as normal. The fuse won't blow in this case as its still handling the same amount of power as if the master switch was turned on. However if the fuse blows/fails for some reason I loose all power (currently no e-buss).
I intend to remove this single point of failure unless anyone can explain why it should stay.
Internally regulated alternator if it makes any difference (I can't see any).