B737 Classic Ammeter
Thread Starter

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 831
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From: The Roman Empire
B737 Classic Ammeter
The AC ammeters are labelled AMPERES, whyle the DC ammeter is labelled AMPS.
Why exactly the difference?
Is maybe AMPS = AMPeres per Second (if this makes any sense...)?
Thanks
Why exactly the difference?
Is maybe AMPS = AMPeres per Second (if this makes any sense...)?
Thanks

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 775
Likes: 2
From: near EDDF
Different Manufacturer.
See http://www.b737.org.uk/genbuspanel.jpg
See http://www.b737.org.uk/genbuspanel.jpg
Cunning Artificer

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 7
From: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
Its all Jools's fault...
Just wanted to add that batteries have a rating called Amp-Hours abbreviated AH.
A Joule is that amount of energy required to displace a mass of one Newton by a distance of one Meter.
AH = Ampere Hours. Thus, 1 Ampere Hour = 3600 Joules - so now you know how much work your battery can perform.
In theory...

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 628
Likes: 11
From: UK
I think amps and amperes are the same thing - the first is an abbreviation of the second ... the difference comes when you talk about power - in DC systems power can be [and usually is ] expressed in watts - or - in aircraft - kilowatts [KW] which are amps times volts times a thousand. But in AC systems it depends on the phase relationship between the volts and amps and that is why power is often expressed in KVARs {Kilovolt amps Reactive]
I can't remember [it's 40 tears since I learnt this stuff]but I think KW=KVARS only if the AC volts and amps are 90 degrees out of phase
I can't remember [it's 40 tears since I learnt this stuff]but I think KW=KVARS only if the AC volts and amps are 90 degrees out of phase

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Cornwall
Amps=Amperes Something about not liking the French
KVA = Volts x Total Amps
KW realwork =KVA x power factor
Power factor= Cos (Phase angle)
If your Voltage and current are out by 90 degrees you have zero power factor and no real work been done. ie KVA=KVARS
Unity power factor is when voltage and current are in phase and all the incoming power is converted to real work. KVA=KW
KVAR is a measure of how well balanced your power system. It can also be an indicator of faults.
KVA = Volts x Total Amps
KW realwork =KVA x power factor
Power factor= Cos (Phase angle)
If your Voltage and current are out by 90 degrees you have zero power factor and no real work been done. ie KVA=KVARS
Unity power factor is when voltage and current are in phase and all the incoming power is converted to real work. KVA=KW
KVAR is a measure of how well balanced your power system. It can also be an indicator of faults.







