Questions re Start-up

[hassata]

I've finally grown a pair and decided to take a stab at start-up. Dumb question first--I understand that you flip the Inverter switch to Standby to provide AC power to the Engine Instruments and the Igniters, but why is that called going to Standby? Shouldn't it be ON or PWR or something along those lines?

 

My second questions is after powering up the Battery, putting Inverter in Standby, powering up the APU Generator and finally turning on the APU, you then start the left engine. After it is turning (with AC Gen on of course), do you then turn off the Inverter, the APU Generator, and the APU (and if so, in what order)? I'm guessing the battery stays on until shut down.

 

Thanks

Edited October 28, 2010 by hassata

[MTFDarkEagle]

I suggest you watch the producer's note regarding this subject, or the training session, both of which wags has uploaded to his youtube account

[WarriorX]

As I was shown by Wag's in the tutorial, I start both engines then APU Generator off, then I shut down the APU.

Here is a checklist I put together to help me memorize the cold start procedure. There are much better ones than mine with pictures inserted that other members have made, so check them all out.

[Scabbers]

The inverter is left in standby for emergency power to instruments in the event of a 2 engine loss in flight. this will enable you to maintain essential systems indications. It also allows quick access to bringing the APU online to try a windmill start in flight.

After the left and right engines are online. Set the APU Start switch to OFF and Set the APU GEN switch to off. Leave the inverter switch in standby for the above reason.

[WH_Boomer]

...I understand that you flip the Inverter switch to Standby to provide AC power to the Engine Instruments and the Igniters, but why is that called going to Standby? Shouldn't it be ON or PWR or something along those lines?

My second questions is after powering up the Battery, putting Inverter in Standby, powering up the APU Generator and finally turning on the APU, you then start the left engine. After it is turning (with AC Gen on of course), do you then turn off the Inverter, the APU Generator, and the APU (and if so, in what order)? I'm guessing the battery stays on until shut down.

The reason it’s called Standby is in redundancy of the systems. When you first turn on the battery, you are energizing the DC system and the Inverter will provide AC power for instrumentation.

From TO IA-IOA-I A-10A Flight Manual

Once the APU Generator is online, the inverter reverts to the standby mode and the APU generator picks up the load formerly carried by the inverter (AC essential, auxiliary AC essential, and instrument transformer busses). At this point, the entire electrical system is powered by the APU generator. After engine start, the first engine driven generator to come on the line powers the entire system and locks out the APU generator. When the second engine driven generator comes on the line, the two share the total load. The left generator powers the left AC, AC essential, auxiliary AC essential, and instrument transformer busses, and the left converter. The right generator powers the right AC and AC armament busses, and the right converter. Together, the left and right generators provide power, through the converters, to the DC essential, auxiliary DC essential, and battery busses. In the event of a failure of either engine driven generator, the load of the failed system will automatically transfer to the operating system. If both engine driven generators fail, the system can again be powered by the APU generator. Turn off nonessential electrical equipment. If the APU generator then fails, essential AC and DC power will be provided by the battery and the instrument inverter. If the converters fail, the battery will supply the DC essential, auxiliary DC essential, and battery busses.

As for shutting down the APU, from the A-10A Checklist in the same manual:

43. APU generator switch -- OFF/ RESET (prior to APU shutdown).

44. APU switch -- As required.

Above 75°F the ECS and APU should be operated to provide adequate cooling for INS system.

CAUTION

• Allow at least 2 minutes after ENG

START CYCLE light goes off, before APU shutdown.

So with the possibility of random system failures, it stands to reason that prematurely shutting down the APU, could lead to INU failure.

[hassata]

thanks people.

 

Edit: Awesome info in the RL manual-think I'll start reading that concurrently with the DCS manual. I was worried I'd need an aeronautics degree to understand it, but it seems no.

Edited October 28, 2010 by hassata

[rddaos]

Why is it that during the start up procedure, I have to use ALT + HOME to advance the left throttle to idle, i.e. why can I not simply advance the throttle on my joystick? Once I have used ALT + HOME to start the left engine, and CTRL + HOME to start the right engine, the throttles become unlocked, and I can use my joystick to move them, but prior to that, the only way to budge them is using the above key combinations? Any ideas? Thanks...

[Nickhawk]

Why is it that during the start up procedure, I have to use ALT + HOME to advance the left throttle to idle, i.e. why can I not simply advance the throttle on my joystick? Once I have used ALT + HOME to start the left engine, and CTRL + HOME to start the right engine, the throttles become unlocked, and I can use my joystick to move them, but prior to that, the only way to budge them is using the above key combinations? Any ideas? Thanks...

 

that is because you have to move the throttle from off to idle, if that function would be on your throttle axis then every time you move your throttle to minimum your engines would go off.

 

but if i were ED i would make the throttle clickable, for those who dont own a TM Warthog HOTAS. So just a click/or move with the mouse would move the throttle from off to idle instead a key combo.

[hassata]

Edit I: That LoL (beat me to it).

 

Edit II: Can't you assign any joystick button or even one of the mouse buttons to the move from detente action in options?

 

Initial movement in the real aircraft involves pulling the throttle up and over a detente (that is what injects fuel into the engine and ignites it). ALT+Home represents you doing that. Then the throttle can move freely. With the TH WH Throttle, this is simulated, and you actually lift it up and over a gate. With other joysticks, you have to assign a button, or do so by the keyboard.

Edited December 13, 2010 by hassata

[Scabbers]

Edit I: That LoL (beat me to it).

 

Edit II: Can't you assign any joystick button or even one of the mouse buttons to the move from detente action in options?

 

Initial movement in the real aircraft involves pulling the throttle up and over a detente (that is what injects fuel into the engine and ignites it). ALT+Home represents you doing that. Then the throttle can move freely. With the TH WH Throttle, this is simulated, and you actually lift it up and over a gate. With other joysticks, you have to assign a button, or do so by the keyboard.

 

Yes you can assign it. but it already has a key command so why not assign that command to your joystick insted. Why reinvent the wheel?

[Scabbers]

thanks people.

 

Edit: Awesome info in the RL manual-think I'll start reading that concurrently with the DCS manual. I was worried I'd need an aeronautics degree to understand it, but it seems no.

 

As an author of said manuals. they are written at the level of an 8th grade education. :)

[hassata]

:D

[BTTW-DratsaB]

but if i were ED i would make the throttle clickable, for those who dont own a TM Warthog HOTAS. So just a click/or move with the mouse would move the throttle from off to idle instead a key combo.

 

+1 to that, I'd rather not use the keyboard

[Scabbers]

+1 to that, I'd rather not use the keyboard

 

Then save your pennies, mow lawns.... second job whatever and get a TM: WH.

 

I am saving.....

[the_duality]

One thing that I always wondered about with regards to EAC - the startup sequence and the tutorial on the subject says that you move your IFFCC switch to test to run the startup BIT while the EGI is still aligning - but when you run the startup BIT for the IFFCC, it says "LASTE: Set EAC switch in ARM", implying that EAC should be enabled at that point.

 

Why is this the case? If the EGI needs to be fully aligned to switch on EAC, why do the aircraft's own systems suggest differently? Just seems kind of odd to me.

[Laud]

The inverter is left in standby for emergency power to instruments in the event of a 2 engine loss in flight. this will enable you to maintain essential systems indications. It also allows quick access to bringing the APU online to try a windmill start in flight.

After the left and right engines are online. Set the APU Start switch to OFF and Set the APU GEN switch to off. Leave the inverter switch in standby for the above reason.

 

Old thread, but I have a question left: In the Dash-1 there is the "Electrical System and Power Distribution" diagramm, which says: "With Inverter Switch in OFF no power is supplied to the AC essential buses from any source". The diagramm also shows that the Inverter needs to be at STBY to allow the L+R AC Buses to distribute power to the AC essential buses. That would mean Inverter OFF -> AC essential buses off power - no matter which systems are running or not.

 

???