DO-160, EWIS, and EMI

August 6, 2018 Michael Traskos

Designing a circuit diagram for a system comprised of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) is usually a straightforward process: identify the inputs and outputs of the system and connect them with wires and cables. Taking that simple high-level circuit diagram and implementing the physical design into an application can be quite difficult. This requires the proper connectors, optimized the physical routing, and ensuring negligible impact from electromagnetic interference (EMI). From an implementation perspective, it cannot be understated how much EMI can impact system performance ranging from degraded performance to make a system completely inoperable. Thankfully, there are test methods to evaluate the susceptibility of electromagnetic interference of a wire harness design. Read more

Shield Grounding and EMI Protection – Part 2

March 20, 2018 Michael Traskos

EMI, the concept of electromagnetic interference, is a relatively simple one to convey: radiated energy from other sources induces a voltage in another circuit. But like many things, the simplicity of its description belies the true complexity of mitigating it. Shielding of signal wires, wire harness shielding, shielding of power wires, induced noise studies are […] Read more

Shield Grounding and EMI Protection

March 5, 2018 Michael Traskos

The push for more electric aircraft is driven by weight savings and the availability of reliable electrical components. This is made possible with greater power generating capacity, however, this comes with an increased challenge of ensuring reliable data transmission. More power flowing through the aircraft means higher levels of electromagnetic interference (EMI). Aerospace environmental test […] Read more

How you can protect aircraft electrical systems from EMI

December 7, 2015 John Gilroy

Today’s interview is with Dan Schettler, Product Specialist at Micro-Coax. He talks about how to protect aircraft electrical systems from electronic magnetic interference (EMI). Dan’s company, Micro-Coax, has been in business for over fifty years. They have earned a solid reputation for providing custom technical solutions for wires and cable in challenging environments. The environment […] Read more

Dealing with EMI and EMV on radio frequency (RF) cables for aerospace applications

November 5, 2014 Omid Orfany

The aerospace industry has been dealing with Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Vulnerability (EMV) since the early 1900s. EMI can cause interruptions ranging from poor signal quality to an overall system malfunction, which can result in devastating outcomes for any type of plane. EMI is generated by natural phenomena like lightning and static electricity (called […] Read more

Chemical formulas and structures for wire systems

December 18, 2006 Lectromec Team

Elemental abbreviations that may be used for wire systems C = carbon H = hydrogen Cl = chlorine N = nitrogen F = fluorine O = oxygen Structure I Structure II Structure III Structure IV Structure V […] Read more

Forward Voltage

Forward voltage testing involves measuring the voltage drop across a diode or semiconductor junction in a cable when a forward-bias current is applied. An increase in forward voltage drop may be an indicator of an electrical component that is soon to fail. The voltage drop across the test specimen may be calculated by three methods: […] Read more

Protected Harness Design

January 30, 2024 Michael Traskos

Wiring harness protection materials address needs such as fire protection, physical damage protection, chemical protection, and wire management but may also present challenges such as overheating or difficulty of access for maintenance activities. In this article, we elaborate on some of the common uses of added harness protection and address many of the benefits and drawbacks of open vs protected harnesses. Read more

Smoke Toxicity

Toxicity testing of aircraft wire is crucial to assess the potential health hazards associated with the combustion of wire materials, particularly the release of toxic gases. The gases from combustion of materials under test are captured at specified intervals and chemically analyzed for the following gases: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen […] Read more

A Guide to Aircraft Lightning Standards

October 27, 2023 Laura Wishart

Lightning protection requirements are not as straightforward as looking up a numerical value for insulation resistance or verifying the interchangeability of connector pins, and it is not exclusively an EWIS issue. Adequate consideration involves high level evaluation of the aircraft as a whole. In this article we identify several standards and documents that offer guidance in aircraft lightning protection. Read more

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