Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Thomas Doubek

John F Defenbaugh

Donald G Kilroy

Paul R Drake

Robert H Mierow

An apparatus and method for protecting an AC load from half-wave rectified power detects a half-wave rectified voltage or current, sets a status indication indicating the type of asymmetric fault causing the half-wave rectified power, and selectively turns the SSPC ON or OFF depending on the type of fault. There are two example circumstances that can cause an asymmetric fault: when the SSPC is OFF and a switch is shorted ('SSPC Failed Shorted'), or when the SSPC is commanded ON and a switch remains open ('SSPC Failed Open'). If the SSPC is OFF when the half-wave rectified AC voltage or current is detected, an &#x201c;SSPC Failed Shorted&#x201d; status indication is set, and the SSPC is turned ON to clear the fault. If the SSPC is commanded ON when the half-wave rectified AC voltage or current is detected, an &#x201c;SSPC Failed Open&#x201d; status indication is set, and the SSPC is turned OFF to clear the fault.

Asymmetric fault detection and protection with AC solid state power controllers

An aircraft power system includes a secondary power distribution assembly (SPDA), a programmable solid state power controller (SSPC) disposed within the SPDA and a non-volatile memory disposed within the SPDA and adapted to store configuration information for the programmable SSPC. The configuration information stored by the non-volatile memory may include the name and current rating of the SSPC and whether that SSPC is enabled or disabled.

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Rockford, IL, United States of America

Thomas Doubek