Tag: RTCA DO 160

MIL-STD-1275 Revision E just released on DC Power Input for Military Ground Vehicles

MIL-STD-1275E, “Characteristics of 28 Volt Dc Input Power To Utilization Equipment in Military Vehicles,” has just been released and is available from Document Center Inc. in either paper or pdf format.  This Interface Standard defines the operating voltage limits and transient voltage characteristics of the 28 VDC electrical power at the input power terminals to the utilization equipment connected to the electrical power distribution system on military ground vehicle platforms.

The new revision describes the nominal 28 VDC voltage characteristics, common across military ground vehicles, at the input power terminal of the utilizing electrical and electronic assemblies directly connected to the distribution network. This lays the groundwork for commonality across vehicle platforms.  The vehicle’s design authority is responsible to ensure that the 28 VDC delivered to the input power terminal of the utilization equipment meets these requirements.

MIL-STD-1275 is not a power source or a power system standard.  It focuses on utilization equipment and the conditions under which it is expected to operate.

Changes from the previous MIL-STD-1275D are extensive, so there are no lines in the margins to highlight areas that have been modified.  The standard replaced MIL-STD-124 back in the 1960’s.

FYI:  In aircraft applications, the most common power requirement is MIL-STD-704, “Aircraft Electric Power Characteristics,” for military applications and RTCA-DO-160, “Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment,” for commercial.

Mil Specs and Standards, both current and obsolete, can be purchased on Document Center’s website, www.document-center.com.  Or you can contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’re here to assist you with both the purchase and management of your standards collection.

New ARP 5412 and ARP 5416 Updates available for Aircraft Lightning Tests

New Revisions have recently been released for two important SAE aircraft lightning test practices, ARP 5412 and ARP 5416.   They are available now from Document Center Inc. in either paper or pdf format.  The two documents are critical to evaluating lightning susceptibility in aircraft.  They are ARP 5412 Revision B, “Aircraft Lightning Environment and Related Test Waveforms,” and ARP 5416 Revision A, “Aircraft Lightning Test Methods.”

ARP 5412B defines environment and test waveforms using the best lightning data and analysis currently available.  It was released to update the certification lightning environment and to address various issues brought up by members of the aerospace community.  Areas modified include the lightning parameter information and standards waveforms.

Within this document, standardized voltage and current waveforms have been derived to represent the lightning environment external to an aircraft. These standardized waveforms are used to assess the effects of lightning on aircraft.

ARP 5416A on the other hand is a compilation of test methods which have been updated to reflect the need for clarification to ensure consistency across test organizations, particularly with regards to high voltage tests and integrated system functional upset tests.  Also, originally some methods relied on the use of Polaroid film which is becoming obsolete, so photographic methods using modern camera technologies have been included in this revision.

This document describes how to conduct lightning direct effects tests and indirect system upset effects tests.  It presents test techniques for simulated lightning testing of aircraft and the associated systems.  Each test method is set out in a uniform format, describing the test purpose, test object, test setup, test waveforms (voltage and/or current), measurements and data recording, test procedure and data interpretation.  Guidance is provided on how to select the appropriate test or series of tests, and how the test results can be assessed.

You may also find these standards to be of interest:

  • RTCA-DO-160, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment
  • MIL-STD-461, Requirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems and Equipment
  • MIL-STD-464, Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Requirements for Systems
  • IEC 61000-4-5, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Part 4-5: Testing and Measurement Techniques – Surge Immunity Test

All SAE standards, including many obsolete editions, can be purchased at Document Center’s webstore, www.document-center.com.  Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We have expert staff available for you to assist with both standards purchases and the various questions and support services that the use of this compliance information requires.

RTCA DO 160 New Revision G on Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment

The New Revision G for the widely used RTCA DO-160 on Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment has just been released.  The document is available for purchase from Document Center Inc.

DO-160G provides standard procedures and environmental test criteria for testing airborne equipment for a wide range of aircraft, from light, general aviation planes and helicopters to “jumbo jets” and SST’s.

The standard covers tests for vibration, power input, radio frequency susceptibility, lightning and electrostatic discharge.   It has 26 sections and three appendices.  The new edition replaces RTCA-DO-160F and all other previous editions.  However, the obsolete revisions are available from Document Center Inc. if required.

As a measure of the wide acceptance of the document, it is coordinated with EUROCAE, with EUROCAE/ED-14G being identical to the  RTCA/DO-160G. And it is also adopted as the international standard ISO-7137.

You can get this document by going to the Document Center website at www.document-center.com.  Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’ll be happy to provide you with copies of this and many other publicly distributed standards or answer any standards questions you may have.