MGL Avionics ECB
Electronic circuit breaker module
This flexible module provides up to 8 individual circuit breakers that can be configured for trip currents up to 10A. Breaker doubling and tripling options allow for trip currents of up to 30A.
This module can operate completely stand alone and does not require any form of external device such as an EFIS system or laptop computer for configuration - however, using an MGL EFIS does extend the configurability to detail level.
Connected EFIS systems can show breaker states, control breakers and reset faulted breakers. Alarms can be issued on a faulted breaker. The EFIS can also show the individual current flowing through each breaker.
Up to 8 of these modules may be used in a single, connected system giving up to 64 usable breakers.
Advanced functionality includes landing light “wigwag” (alternate flashing of landing lights) as well as strobe implementation able to drive high brightness LED lamps directly.
The ECB implements a highly robust and fault tolerant design allowing full use of latest “high side” semiconductor switches with built in protection circuits and devices making them effectively indestructible.
Owing to low cost the ECB for the first time presents a viable alternative to old fashioned mechanical breakers while greatly enhancing reliability of the aircraft electrical system and allowing decentralized power distribution. It is no longer required to bring high current wiring to the panel.
Download the ECB user and installation manual from this link.
If required, download the ECB interface application for Windows. This connects via an RS232 port (USB to RS232 dongles are OK) to the RS232 port of the ECB module (or multiple modules if you have them daisy chained).
This can be used to configure the programmable profile if you are not going to use an EFIS system. This is also a handy tool to verify operation in a “stand-alone” system.
Download ECB interface from this link
You will be downloading the file MGLECB.exe. Copy this file into a folder location of your choice and run the file from that location. Using the COM port setup, choose the COM port you will be using to interface to the ECB. Once connected you should see an image similar to the one on the left.
Source code for interface (Delphi 5)
RS232 protocol document