Aircraft solid state power controller and method of monitoring the temperature of a solid state switch in an aircraft solid state power controller

Abstract

A method of monitoring the temperature of a solid state switch in an aircraft solid state power controller. The method includes: measuring an electric current (I) flowing through the solid state switch; calculating, based on the measured electric current (I), an introduced electric power (P) that is introduced into the solid state switch within the predefined time period (Δt); calculating an increase in temperature (ΔT) of the solid state switch that is caused by the introduced electric power (P); calculating an actual temperature (T) of the solid state switch by adding the calculated increase in temperature (ΔT) to an ambient temperature (T); and comparing the calculated actual temperature (T) with a predefined temperature threshold (T) and determining an overheat condition if the calculated actual temperature (Tt) exceeds the predefined temperature threshold (T).