Power Solutions for Aerospace Electronics

Electronic equipment installed in aircraft and satellites must be reliable even under harsh conditions. Rigorous evaluations in accordance with international standards and various test requirements are essential to ensure the highest levels of safety and reliability.

The frequency of power used in aircraft differs significantly from standard commercial power (Japan: AC 100 V, 50/60 Hz). The AC power systems operate at a standard high frequency of 400Hz. Single-phase systems use 115V at 400Hz, while three-phase systems use three-phase four-wire 230V at 400Hz. Due to these specifications, ground maintenance and evaluation of onboard systems require dedicated AC power sources capable of delivering single-phase or three-phase 400Hz output.

In recent years, high variable frequencies ranging from 360 Hz to 800 Hz have also been used.

Aircraft are equipped not only with AC but also with DC power buses. Voltage levels vary depending on aircraft size. Large commercial aircraft typically use a 270V DC bus for high-power equipment and a 28V DC bus for avionics equipment. In small and medium-sized aircraft, the 28V DC bus serves as the primary power source. These power systems consist of multiple independent power sources, which ensure safety even if one of the systems fails. Emergency backup batteries further enhance overall reliability.

Satellites and other space-related equipment employ systems that use DC/DC converters to adjust the DC voltage from solar panels to levels optimized for individual devices. These systems require high-precision power control to handle the power fluctuations and temperature cycles unique to the space environment.

Kikusui Electronics provides comprehensive solutions that meet the complex power requirements unique to the aerospace and aviation industries. From 400 Hz AC to various DC power supplies, our equipment enables power quality assessments and temperature rise tests, supporting product development, quality assurance, and maintenance operations.

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Item	Standard power supply (Japan)	Aircraft Power Supply
Single-phase AC (commercial power supply)	AC 100V / 50Hz or 60Hz	AC 115V / 400Hz*
Three-phase alternating current	Three-phase, three-wire AC 200V / 50Hz or 60Hz	Three-phase 4-wire AC 200V / 400Hz*
DC power bus	Not typically used	270V DC, 28V DC (supplied to electronic equipment and control systems)
Application	General-purpose equipment for household and industrial use	Avionics equipment, cabin facilities (galley, etc.)

※When operating at Constant Frequency

Convenient and Easy-To-Use Testing Solutions That Can Fit on Your Work Desk
Excellent for Supplying Power to Small Components

Accurately Replicates Aircraft Power Supply Noise and Ripple Waveforms!
～DO-160 Section 18 ～

Supports a Broad Operating Range

Compact Wide-Range DC Power Supplies
PWR-01 Series

For DC Line Power Fluctuation Testing

Intelligent Bipolar Power Supplies
PBZ Series

A Single Model Can Evaluate Motors, Batteries, and Converters.
Excellent Choice for the Power System Simulation of Electric Aircraft and Large Drones!

20KW Capacity in a 3U Chassis

Bidirectional High-Capacity DC Power Supplies (CV/CC)
PXB Series

Compact AC Power Supplies With a Frequency Range of 40 to 500 Hz
Excellent Choice for Verifying the Quality of Individual Components!

High-Performance Power Supplies Capable of AC and DC Power Input Testing
The Only Japanese-Made Power Supply Compliant With Do-160 Section 16

Supports a Frequency Range of 40–500 Hz

Compact AC Power Supplies
PCR-MA Series

Up to 36 kVA in a Single Unit

Ultra-Compact AC/DC Programmable Power Supplies
PCR-WEA/WEA2 Series

Power Input Standard Testing of Avionics Equipment

Covers both the civilian standard DO-160 (Section 16) and the military standard MIL-STD-704

Using avionics testing software enables power supply compliance testing of aircraft electrical systems in accordance with standards such as RTCA/DO-160 and MIL-STD-704. To conduct a test, simply select test items from the applicable standards.

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standard name	Revision/Category	AC test					DC test
standard name		SAC	SVF	TAC	TVF	SXF	LDC	HDC
MIL-STD-704A	Rev.A	✓	–	✓	–	–	△*1	–
	Rev.E	✓	–	✓	–	–	△*1	✓
	Rev.F	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	△*1	✓

*1 LDC103, LDC104 not supported.

standard name	Revision/Category	AC test	DC test
	SAC	SVF	TAC	TVF	SXF	LDC	HDC
MIL-STD-704A	Rev.A	✓	–	✓	–	–	△*1	–
Rev.E	✓	–	✓	–	–	△*1	✓
Rev.F	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	△*1	✓

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standard name	Revision/Category	AC test					DC test
standard name		A CF	A NF	A WF	A	D	B	Z
RTCA/DO-160 Section 16	Rev.F	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
RTCA/DO-160 Section 16	Rev.G	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
JIS W0812※2	2004	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

standard name	Revision/Category	AC test	DC test
	A CF	A NF	A WF	A	D	B	Z
RTCA/DO-160 Section 16	Rev.F	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Rev.G	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
JIS W0812※2	2004	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Supports Aircraft Compliance Testing!

Avionics Testing Software
SD012-PCR-LE/WE

Compliant with DO-160 AC 230 V Surge Voltage Testing (360 V)!

6kVA Single-Phase/Three-Phase Output Transformer
OT03-PCR-WEA

Evaluation Testing of Satellite DC/DC Converters

While in orbit, satellites operate using electricity generated by solar panels. To ensure efficient power management and maintain operational margins, solar panels are designed to operate at voltages (50–180 V) higher than the power bus voltage (28–120 V).

DC/DC converters are essential for converting high-voltage outputs into a power bus voltage used by onboard devices. Given the stringent reliability requirements of aerospace applications, DC power supplies and electronic loads are crucial for the evaluation and testing of DC/DC converters.