Abstract: An arc fault detection system with a built-in-test includes an arc fault detector having a load noise voltage input, a test current input and an arc fault detector output. The system includes a processing unit having a switch in electrical communication with the test current input and an input in electrical communication with the arc fault detector output. A method for testing an arc fault detection system includes generating a new bit with a processing unit and outputting the new bit to a switch operatively connected to the processing unit to at least one of turn the switch on or turn the switch off. The method includes reading a signal at an input of the processing unit.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB)-mounted contactor including a PCB with planar surface, source and load terminals fixed to the PCB, and a contact. The contact is supported by the PCB and is movable between open and closed positions. Movement of the contact is parallel to the planar surface. Electrical assemblies having PCB-mounted contactors and methods of controlling current flow in electrical systems with PCB-mounted contactors are also described.

Abstract: A power distribution assembly according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a housing at least partially receiving a plurality of hardware modules coupled to a backplane, the plurality of hardware modules including at least one output module and a communications module that communicates information between the plurality of hardware modules and a second power distribution assembly. At least one hardware module of the plurality of hardware modules includes a field programmable gate array that commands the at least one output module to selectively power at least one aircraft system. A method of operation of a power distribution system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A power control module includes a power device having a first side and a second side opposite from the first. The power control module includes a printed wiring board (PWB) spaced apart from the first side of the power device. The PWB is electrically connected to the power device. A heat sink plate is soldered to a second side of the transistor for heat dissipation from the transistor. The PWB and/or the heat sink plate includes an access hole defined therein to allow for access to the transistor during assembly. A method of assembling a power control module includes soldering at least one lead of a power device to a printed wiring board (PWB), pushing the power device toward a heat sink plate, and soldering the power device to the heat sink plate.

Abstract: A system balances current flowing through a solid-state power controller system including at least two output channels connected in parallel. The system delivers a first current to a load via a first output channel to a load, and delivers a second current to the load via a second output channel connected in parallel with the first output channel. The system further determines a first strength of the first current and a second strength of the second current, and adjusts at least one of a first resistance of the first output channel and a second resistance of the second output channel such that the first current strength is substantially equal to the second current strength.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB)-mounted contactor including a PCB with planar surface, source and load terminals fixed to the PCB, and a contact. The contact is supported by the PCB and is movable between open and closed positions. Movement of the contact is parallel to the planar surface. Electrical assemblies having PCB-mounted contactors and methods of controlling current flow in electrical systems with PCB-mounted contactors are also described.

Abstract: A power distribution system includes a solid state power controller (SSPC). The SSPC includes a microcontroller having at least one voltage sense input. The microcontroller is configured to selectively allow a current through the SSPC in response to a common mode voltage to ground and/or a SSPC differential voltage meeting or exceeding a respective pre-determined threshold. A method of operating a SSPC includes determining whether at least one of a common mode voltage to ground or a SSPC differential voltage meet or exceed a respective pre-determined threshold. The method includes selectively allowing a current through the SSPC in response to at least one of the common mode voltage to ground or the SSPC differential voltage meeting or exceeding the respective pre-determined threshold.

Abstract: A system for identifying an arc fault in a wire, the system comprising a controller operably connected to a first load via first wire; the controller configured to supply a current to the first load, wherein the controller is operable to measure and filter the first voltage on the first wire with a bandpass filter having a selected pass band to select and retain spectral content, amplify the retained spectral content, and identify an envelope of the amplified retained spectral content. The controller also operable to measure a first current in the first wire and correlate changes in the first current with a characteristic of the amplified retained spectral content to identify an arc fault, wherein the characteristic includes a buffered envelope as a signal indicative of the amount of energy in the selected passband frequency range.

Abstract: A method of identifying an arc fault in a wire operably connected between a controller and a load. The method includes operably connecting a sense wire to the wire in close proximity to a load supplied by the controller via the wire, measuring a first voltage on the wire at the load via the sense wire, measuring a second voltage on the wire at an output interface of the controller and measuring a current in the first wire. The method also includes identifying any differences between the voltage on the wire measured at the load and the second voltage on the wire measured at the output interface, ascertaining any anomalies in the current measured in the wire, and correlating the differences between the first voltage and the second voltage with any anomalies in the current to identify an arc fault.

Abstract: Embodiments include a technique for eliminating secondary fuses in high power solid state power controllers, the technique includes controlling gate power provided to a field effect transistor array, and detecting a failure mode. The technique also includes disabling the gate power based at least in part on detecting the failure mode, and restoring the gate power responsive to resolving the failure mode.

Abstract: A system for dynamically controlling the functionality of control channels in an electrical system includes a plurality of control channels, each operatively connected to at least one state change device connected to an electrical component. Each control channel is operatively connected to at least one adjacent control channel by a control channel communication line. Each control channel is configured to store grouping information of the state change device. A controller is operatively connected to each control channel such that each control channel can receive the grouping information from the controller. The controller is configured to selectively send grouping information to allow each control channel to directly communicate with adjacent control channels within their respective grouping such that each control channel in a grouping functions together in unison when the at least one state change device in a grouping changes state.

Abstract: A power control module includes a power device having a first side and a second side opposite from the first. The power control module includes a printed wiring board (PWB) spaced apart from the first side of the power device. The PWB is electrically connected to the power device. A heat sink plate is soldered to a second side of the transistor for heat dissipation from the transistor. The PWB and/or the heat sink plate includes an access hole defined therein to allow for access to the transistor during assembly. A method of assembling a power control module includes soldering at least one lead of a power device to a printed wiring board (PWB), pushing the power device toward a heat sink plate, and soldering the power device to the heat sink plate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a circuit board apparatus includes providing a circuit board that has a socket with at least one plated through-hole and providing a connector that has a housing with first and second connector interfaces that have, respectively, at least first and second connector contacts. The first connector interface opens into an interior of the housing such that there is a vapor path through the first connector interface and interior of the housing to the second connector contact at the second connector interface. The first connector contact is inserted through the resilient seal and into the plated through-hole such that the resilient seal intimately seals around the first connector contact to provide a barrier at the first connector interface into the vapor path.

Abstract: A load balancing circuit comprising a first power source, a first field effect transistor (FET) device having a drain terminal connected to the first power source and a source terminal connected to a first node, a first resistor connected to the first node and a second node, a load connected to the second node, a second FET device having a drain terminal connected to the first node and a source terminal connected to the second node, a third FET device having a collector terminal connected to a gate terminal of the first FET device and an emitter terminal connected to the second node, and a second resistor connected to a base terminal of the third FET device and the first node.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a power converter that includes at least one first switch of a first switch type and at least one second switch of a second switch type, includes converting, by the power converter, an input power at a converter input into output power at a converter output for a load. Converting the input power into the output power includes turning on, by a controller, the at least one first switch to conduct current from the converter input to the converter output; and turning on, by the controller, the at least one second switch to conduct current from the converter input to the converter output after a first threshold time period following turn-on of the at least one first switch.

Abstract: In accordance with another aspect, a power switch assembly includes a transistor package including a die case, a source bus tab extending from a first side of the die case, a drain bus tab extending from a second side of the die case, a first power bus rail operatively connected to the source bus tab of the transistor package and a second power bus rail operatively connected to the drain bus tab of the transistor package.

Abstract: A system for testing a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) configured to be coupled between a bus and a first ground or line to discharge a voltage surge on the bus to the first ground or line includes a pulse source configured to generate an electrical pulse. The system further includes a transformer having a first side coupled to the pulse source and a second side configured to be coupled to the TVS and configured to transfer the electrical pulse to the TVS and to transfer an at least partial reflection of the electrical pulse from the TVS to the first side. The system also includes a test point coupled to the first side of the transformer and configured to receive the at least partial reflection of the electrical pulse.

Abstract: A system includes a first circuit board and a first card guide configured to receive the first circuit board. The first circuit board includes a plurality of first board conductive pads arranged in a first board pattern. The first card guide includes a plurality of first guide conductive pads arranged in a first guide pattern. The plurality of first board conductive pads and the plurality of first guide conductive pads mate to provide signal communication between the first circuit board and the first card guide.

Abstract: A system includes a first circuit board and a first card guide configured to receive the first circuit board. The first circuit board includes a plurality of first board conductive pads arranged in a first board pattern. The first card guide includes a plurality of first guide conductive pads arranged in a first guide pattern. The plurality of first board conductive pads and the plurality of first guide conductive pads mate to provide signal communication between the first circuit board and the first card guide.

Abstract: A system balances current flowing through a solid-state power controller system including at least two output channels connected in parallel. The system delivers a first current to a load via a first output channel to a load, and delivers a second current to the load via a second output channel connected in parallel with the first output channel. The system further determines a first strength of the first current and a second strength of the second current, and adjusts at least one of a first resistance of the first output channel and a second resistance of the second output channel such that the first current strength is substantially equal to the second current strength.