Ground Bond Testing for Production and Maintenance

1. Ground Bond Testing for Production and Maintenance

2. Summary • Why measure bonding resistance ? • RCP2A Presentation • RCP2APro software • RCP2A advantages • Customer targets

3. The effects of lightning strikes ? • Lightning : a danger for planes! • On average every civil transport aircraft is struck by lightning in flight once a year • The risk of strikes by lightning is increased in rainy zones, at approximately 4000 meters and between -5°C and +5°C • During a strike by lightning, the lightning does not stop on the plane but sweeps it to continue its way in the atmosphere with a point of initial entrance and a point of final exit

4. Direct effects of lightningStrikes • They are caused by the effect of the discharge or by the conduction of the lightening strike current (up to 200 kA!) • Types of the damage: • Thermic with perforation of walls by fusion • Dynamic with rise of pressure which generates a destructive shock wave for the cabling and the dissimilar and composite materials. • Electromagnetic which perturbs the on board equipment

5. Direct effects of lightning Strikes

6. Why measure the bonding resistance ? • A plane with a structure and a metal envelope (aluminium) constitutes an excellent protection against lightning strikes provided electric continuity is insured • Connection of dissimilar materials can cause a weakness in the electric conductivity and prevent the effective discharge of electric loads received by the plane • The bonding of these surfaces becomes indispensable and thus the control of this bonding and the continuity

7. Bonding resistance measurement with new Sefelec Milliohmmeter RCP2A RCP2A > The right solution for bonding resistance measurement according to all current aircraft specifications

8. RCP2A The milliohm meter RCP2A is a measuring device of resistances from 100 µ to 6  with currents of 0.1 A, 1 A or 10 A. Presented in a fibreglass and resin polyester box of small dimensions (340x120x220 mm) with a weight of 4 kg, its ergonomics allows the user to use it either placed on the ground or across one’s shoulder or chest. A wide back-lit LCD display combined with an intuitive keyboard ensure simple and easy operation.

9. Specifications • RS232 interface • 1000 measures with 10A • Removable battery pack • Remote control at distance • Suite case • A wide range of accessories

10. Front panel Red/Green light LCD sreen Joystick Batteries Start/Stop Function keys Enter key Measure Measure terminals

11. Extraction handle RS232 socket Locking screw Charger socket Locking screw Removable battery module Measurement press button

12. Measurement method In order to make low resistance measurement with a high precision, the RCP2A uses the 4 wire Kelvin method. • 2 wires are used to connect a constant current source to the resistance to be measured • 2 additional wires are used to measure the difference of potential directly to the terminals of the device under test. • With this method, the resistance of the measuring leads does not introduce any error.

13. RCP2A Accessories (leads etc.) Bonding resistance +I RLead +U Ux Ic Rx -U Rx = Ux / Ic Kelvin Method RLead RLead RLead -I RLead = Lead resistance

14. RCP2APro software

15. RCP2A Software / Sequence mode • RCP2APro is a powerfull, easy-to-use and user-friendly software that creates the interface between RCP2A and PC • It allows to program test sequences using EXCEL™, according to Ground Test Instructions. A sequence describes the points of bonding to be tested, along with test parameters (current and maximum resistance)

16. RCP2A Software / Sequence mode • In this modele example, Mr DUPONT has been programing 15 points for 4 different sections of an A380, with the below specifications

17. RCP2A Software / Sequence mode • Through RS232 or USB interfaces, the EXCEL™ sequence is loaded into the RCP2A with the RCP2APro graphic interface

18. BAT. : 80% RCP2A RANGES: BAT. : 80% NOZE LEFT WING RIGHT WING MANUEL SEQU TEST CONF TAIL LEFT WING S : 150.0 mΩ I : 10A BAT. : 80% END 020 : - - - - mW POINT ABSENT VALID CONF END RCP2A Software / Sequence mode • The user clearly sees on the LCD Display the loaded sequence and the list of points he has to measure

19. LEFT WING S : 150.0 mΩ I : 10A BAT. : 80% 032 : 98.3 mW POINT ABSENT VALID CONF END RCP2A Software / Sequence mode • Once the points have been measured and stored in the RPC2A, the PC can upload all the measurements, for direct saving, and results traceability

20. RCP2A Software / Sequence mode • In this result example, Mr DUPONT has been testing 15 points from 4 different sections of an A380, with the below results

21. RCP2A advantages • Measurement specifications • Ergonomics > small weight and volume • User friendly interfaces • Replaceable batteries of big capacity • Measurement traceability through the SEQUENCE mode • Remote control with LCD display • RS232 interface with PC download/upload facility • Wide accessory range • Measurement up to 100 meters • Approval of the equipment by Airbus • Partial testing (possibility to upload started results to the PC, and then download them again to the RCP2A to finish the tests)

22. RCP2A typical customers Manufacturers of civil and military aircrafts • AIRBUS • BOEING • DASSAULT • EUROCOPTER • EMBRAER • FOKKER • X.A.C., …

23. RCP2A typical customers The subcontractors • SOGERMA • TURBOMECA • HISPANO SUISA • INTERTECHNIQUE, BF GOODRICH, …

24. RCP2A typical customers Airlines & maintenance companies • AIR FRANCE, LUFTHANSA TECHNIK • AIA • LABINAL • JAL, AIR CHINA, KOREAN, INDIAN airlines, ALITALIA, AUSTRIAN, THAI, TAP, SR TECHNICS, …