D-C arc interruption for aircraft

THE present aircraft electric system uses 24 volts direct current; the future system will assuredly be of a higher voltage as aircraft and their generating systems increase in size. Whether it be direct current or alternating current depends on the relative merits of each.¹ If the new system be alternating current the problem of arc interruption is not difficult. If the new system be direct current and above 24 volts, it has been assumed that the arc-interruption problem at altitude would be quite difficult. There is, however, little quantitative data available to bear this out. An investigation was therefore initiated to obtain preliminary data on arc-interruption problems introduced by the use of higher d-c voltages.