Vertical Power solid state electrical systems for experimental aircraft

Introduction
The VP-200 Climate Control System (CCS) gives you the ability to “set and forget” the temperature in your cabin. It works with the VP-200 system, providing an integrated display for control, system monitoring, and alerting functions. Dual cabin temperature sensors are used to regulate the cabin temperature.

A color graphic display shows the status of the overall system as well as the individual fans and sensors. You can see how much current each fan is drawing, and when a fault occurs you have a clear picture of exactly where the fault lies. Dedicated switches, which you can mount anywhere in the cabin allow you to select the desired cabin temperature and manual or automatic fan operation.

The CCS controls the air conditioning fans and compressor as well as the servos which open and close the hot air valves. A small CCS Control Unit mounts in the back of the cabin and provides power control and circuit protection to the air conditioning fans and hot air servos. A serial data line connects the CCS Control Unit to the VP-200 Display Unit.

Advanced Cabin Temperature Sensing & Control
Two inside air temperature (IAT) sensors accurately measure the cabin temperature. The CCS then controls the fans and heater valves to regulate the temperature to your desired setting.

Unlike older analog systems, the CCS controls both hot and cold air systems and allows you to vary the system’s sensitivity to match your needs. If you want automatic air conditioning and manual heater valves, you can connect manual control cables to the heater valves and simply disable that function in the setup menus.

One or two heater valves can be controlled. Note: heating functionality not available in software until late 2008/early 2009.

Integration with the VP-200
The VP-200 system and the CCS are designed to work closely together, and many functions on the CCS are controlled in the same manner you control any other electrical device.

The following are some examples:

•	You have the ability to turn the CCS on and off automatically by mode (phase of flight). You can have the CCS turn on automatically after engine start, turn the air conditioning off during takeoff and then back on for cruise, then shut off when the engine shuts off.

•	The air conditioning shuts off automatically when emergency procedures are activated and electrical load-shedding occurs.

•	The same user interface controls all the electrical devices on your airplane including air conditioning.

•	The remote control can be used to turn on and off the CCS while the aircraft is parked and plugged into a GPU. Electric compressor must be installed.

•	The CCS uses the same visual and aural alarms as those used for engine and electrical system alarms.

•	You can manually control CCS functions (fan speed, compressor control, etc.) with soft keys as well as external switches, just like any other electrical device.

•	The VP-200 master warning light can be triggered by the CCS.

Advanced Fault Detection
When trouble occurs, the VP-200 CCS display tells you exactly where the problem lies. By comparison, antiquated, manual air conditioning control systems simply stop working and can be difficult to troubleshoot.
(Image of AC screen with a fault displayed, right)

The display shows the operational status of each fan, pressure switch, and temperature switch in the system. You can graphically see the position of the heater valves. If you’re using an electric compressor from Flightline AC, it even has a computer link and the system will display those fault codes in plain language.

When a fault occurs, you can see clearly where the fault lies.
(Image of fault on screen, showing a locked rotor problem, right).

For each fan, the CCS monitors for over-current, short circuit, or no-current-draw faults. It also senses for IAT sensor faults, internal faults, and communication failures (with the VP-200 Display Unit). When a fault occurs, you get both visual and aural alarms.

Specifications:

CCS Control Unit	6.2” L x 6.0” W x 2.0” H Detailed dimension drawing available here.

Power	10-32 volts DC

Weight	TBD

Mounting	Four 8-32 or 10-32 screws on flat surface inside cabin pressure vessel

Connectors	One 16-pin power connector One 37-pin d-sub connector Other connectors on Control Unit not used

Operating Temperature	-25 to +80 deg C

Storage Temperature	-30 to + 85 deg C

Cabin Pressure Alarm
The CCS Control Unit also includes a cabin pressure sensor which reports cabin pressure to the VP-200 Display Unit. You can select a cabin pressure alarm limit, and when the cabin altitude limit is exceeded you receive both visual and aural alarms. The cabin altitude is also displayed on the Display Unit.

Compatibility
Developed in conjunction with Flightline AC, the VP-200 CCS can be used with either the engine driven compressor (14v or 28v clutch) or the electrically-driven compressor (28v only).

Lancair air conditioning systems (new or retrofit) are in test. Please call us for details.

Components
The VP-200 CCS includes the following parts:

•	CCS Control Unit

•	Two inside air temperature sensors and insulation

•	Wiring harness (specify if you need heater servo wires)

•	20A relay (specify 14v or 28v) for compressor clutch

•	Insulated crimp terminals

Availability
The VP-200 CCS will ship in Q3 2008. The wiring harness and empty CCS Control Units (for fit) are available beginning April 2008.

Software Updates and Setup
CCS software updates are performed as part of the VP-200 software update using a USB flash drive. Setup is performed using the setup menus on the VP-200.

Interfaces
The VP-200 CCS interfaces with the VP-200 Display Unit using an RS-422 data bus (4 wires). An RS-232 serial data bus (2 wires) is used to interface with the Flightline AC electric compressor.

For more information
Please see the documentation page here for detailed manuals and drawings.

Disclaimer
All specs are subject to change until product has completed testing and is released for production.

For additional information on Vertical Power products click on these links below


VP-50 Product Information	VP-100 Product Information	VP-200 Product Information

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