Portable Power is Crucial in Aviation
An integral part of the startup process for both a helicopter and an airplane is a starting unit. This aircraft maintenance equipment piece plays a crucial role in supplying critical power needed to be able to start the initial sequence. Its portability and amount of power that it generates makes it one of the most important tools to have in an airport.
Battery Types
Portable power units range when it comes to the amount of volts it produces. Some of the more common devices will have between 24 volts to 28 volts. In certain cases, a helicopter starting unit will work in tandem with another independent unit to get a larger craft up and running. This is due to the internal structure’s high demand for a large amount of power.
Lithium or Lead-Acid?
There are two common battery types that are continuously used in the aviation industry today. One of them is lithium, a battery that offers a significantly longer life than a standard lead-acid battery. It’s smaller in size and there isn’t any sulfation that one has to worry about. The other is a lead-acid battery, which is one of the standards in the industry because of the high dedicated voltage that it supplies to an aircraft. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference when choosing a starting unit. They both provide their own advantages and disadvantages but they do share one thing in common, and that’s maintaining the high standard of portable power to aircrafts that people ride today.
