Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/96284
Un d e r t h e C o w l Selecting Your Aircraft Voltage 14 or 28? By Dick Koehler Recently I received an e-mail with the following question, "Looking at avionics components and wondering why components that are 14 volt are more expensive, two times the price of ones that are 28 volt. Why? Are most systems 14 volt as opposed to 28 volt?" I thought my answer might be helpful to many readers. The basic voltage of your system defines all the electrical equipment you will use, and it is not a trivial decision. Let's look at some of the consider- ations so you can apply a bit of logic to making the decision. Most small planes are 14-volt systems, but there is a definite weight saving associated with a 28-volt system, and the savings get significant as the size of the plane increases. That's why most larger planes are 28-volt systems. There are exceptions, of course. The weight advantage on small planes from lighter wire is usually trivial, compared to the convenience of being EAA EXPERIM ENTER 33