ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1. The primary electrical system of the Model B300/B300C is a 28-volt direct current
system. The power sources for the dc system include one battery and two generators.
The generators are actually starter-generators which are used for engine starting and dc
power generation when the engines are running. The airplane also has provisions for
connecting a 28-vdc external power source to the airplane during ground operation.
Power from these sources is distributed to the individual electrical loads with a multi-bus
system which is shown schematically in the DC Power Distribution diagram. Each
power source is electrically connected to the distribution system through relays and line
contactors. The buses are interconnected with bus tie relays and individual bus relays.
2. Battery. The airplane battery is a 42-ampere-hour, sealed, lead-acid battery. The
battery is used for engine starting and as a final redundant power source if both
generators should be inoperative. The battery is controlled by a battery bus switch and
a battery switch located in the pilot’s left subpanel master switch arrangement. The
battery bus switch is placarded BAT BUS - NORM/EMER OFF and the battery control
switch is placarded BAT - OFF/GND OPS/ON. With both switches OFF, the battery is
disconnected from all electrical loads. The battery bus switch controls a remote control
circuit breaker which functions as a battery bus contactor. In the NORM position, battery
power is applied to the battery bus. This is the normal position since loads such as entry
lights and clocks are pow- ered from the battery bus. When the switch is in the EMER
OFF position, the bat- tery is isolated from the battery bus.
3. The battery switch controls the battery relay and the battery bus tie. When the
battery switch is ON, the battery relay closes to apply power to the triple fed bus and the
battery bus tie closes to apply power to the center bus. In the OFF position, the battery
relay and battery bus tie open to disconnect the battery from all buses except the
battery bus. Battery current and voltage can be monitored with the battery ammeter and
voltmeter located in the overhead instrument panel. To meet the battery duration times
noted in the Dual Generator Emergency procedure, the battery charge current must be
10 amps or less prior to takeoff. Takeoff with a battery charge current above 10 amps is
permitted at the discretion of the pilot.
4. Generators. The engine generators are rated at 300 amps. Individual control
switches are provided in the pilot’s left subpanel. The control switch for the left
generator is placarded L GEN - OFF/ON/GEN RESET. The control switch for the right
generator is placarded R GEN - OFF/ON/GEN RESET. The generators are self- excited
and do not require battery power for operation. To bring the generators on line, the
generator switch should be momentarily placed in the GEN RESET position, then
released to ON. In the GEN RESET position, the generator voltage builds up to 28 volts
and the line contactor is open. When the generator switch is released to ON, the line
contactor is allowed to close.
5. The generators are controlled by generator control units which provide voltage
regulation, differential voltage, reverse current protection, paralleling, cross start current
limiting, and over voltage protection. The voltage regulation circuit controls the
generator to maintain a constant 28-volt output. The differential voltage circuit senses
the generator output and the center bus voltage, then controls the line contactor. When
the generator voltage is within acceptable limits on the center bus voltage, the line
contactor will close.
6. Reverse current protection circuitry opens the line contactor and disconnects the
generator if a reverse current condition occurs. If the condition corrects itself, the line
contactor will re-close automatically. The paralleling circuit provides load equalization
between the generators. The cross start current limiting circuit limits the generator
output during engine cross start operation. The over voltage protection circuit senses
the generator output voltage and de- excites the generator and opens the line contactor
if an over voltage occurs. If the generator is disconnected for over voltage, it will be
necessary to select GEN RESET, then ON to reset the generator.
7. The L DC Generator or R DC Generator or L-R DC Generator CAS message
displayed indicates that the line contactor is open and the generator is off line.
Loadmeters in the overhead instrument panel indicate the load applied to each
generator as a percent of generator rating.
8. External power. The external power receptacle located under the right wing
outboard of the nacelle is provided to facilitate connecting a 28-vdc external power unit
to the airplane electrical system. A control switch, placarded EXT PWR - ON/OFF -
RESET is located in the pilot’s left subpanel and controls the external power relay. The
external power relay will close when the switch is in the ON position. It is recommended
that the battery be on line whenever the external power is in use. Before selecting EXT
PWR - ON, the airplane voltmeter in the overhead instrument panel should be used to
verify that the external power voltage is within acceptable limits (28.0 - 28.4 volts).
Reverse polarity protection and over voltage protection are provided. The reverse
polarity protection circuit prevents the external power relay from closing if the external
power polarity is different than the airplane electrical system. The over voltage
protection circuit opens the external power relay to electrically disconnect the external
power from the airplane if an over voltage occurs. After an over voltage disconnection
occurs, it is necessary to turn off the external power control switch to reset the over
voltage circuit.
9. The Ext Pwr - Cart CAS message is displayed with the battery switch ON to alert
the operator when an external DC power plug is connected to the airplane and the
external power cart is on. The Ext Pwr - Active CAS message is dis- played to alert the
operator when an external DC power plug is connected to the airplane and power is
being supplied.
10. Bus Ties. The generator buses are connected to the center bus with the left and
right bus tie relays. A three-position generator bus tie control switch is located in the
pilot’s subpanel. It is placarded GEN TIES - MAN CLOSE/NORM/OPEN. The OPEN
position causes both the left and right bus tie relays to open and isolate the generator
buses from the center bus. The NORM position allows the automatic closure of the left
and right bus tie relays when either generator, or the external power comes on line. If
the battery is the only source on line, both generator bus ties open to isolate the left and
right generator bus loads from the battery. Equipment which remains operational during
battery only operation is identified with a white ring around the control switch.
Momentarily selecting the MAN CLOSE position during battery operation closes both
generator bus ties to power the generator buses from the battery. However, this will
severely limit the battery duration. The battery bus tie connects the battery to the center
bus. This bus tie is controlled by the battery switch. The battery bus tie closes when the
battery switch is in the ON position, making the battery available for center bus loads or
for recharging.
11. Bus current sensors are installed which sense current to each generator bus
from the center bus and current to the center bus from the battery. If either generator
bus sensor senses a high current condition, it opens the corresponding bus tie to isolate
the bus. If the battery bus sensor senses a high battery discharge current, it opens the
battery bus tie to isolate the battery. The battery bus sensor is defeated during engine
starts and landing gear operation. The bus current sensors are controlled with the three
position bus sense control switch placarded BUS SENSE - RESET/NORM/TEST.
Momentarily selecting the TEST position tests the bus current sensors which cause the
generator bus ties and battery tie to open. Momentarily selecting the RESET position
resets the bus current sensors if they have been tripped either as a result of test or an
actual high current condition.
12. The L Gen Tie Open , R Gen Tie Open ,L-R Gen Tie Open and Battery Tie Open
CAS messages are provided to indicate the positions of the bus ties. Illumination of
these CAS messages indicate that the corresponding bus tie is open. The Man Ties
Close CAS message indicates that the generator bus ties have been manually closed
during battery operation and generator bus loads are applied to the battery.
13. Avionics relays. There are three avionics buses which are electrically connected
to the main distribution system through avionics relays. The relays are controlled by a
single avionics control switch located in the pilot’s left outboard subpanel and placarded
AVIONICS MASTER POWER - OFF. The avionics relays are normally closed relays
and apply power to the avionics buses when the relays are relaxed. Selecting
AVIONICS MASTER POWER - ON opens the control circuit, allowing the relays to
return to the normally closed positions and apply power to the avionics buses. The OFF
position of the avionics control switch applies control power to the relays to disconnect
the avionics buses. Power to control the avionics relays is provided from the AVIONICS
MASTER circuit breaker in the right circuit breaker panel. If the avionics buses become
disconnected as a result of a control circuit fault, the AVIONICS MASTER circuit
breaker can be pulled to restore power.