Matronics Email Lists :: View topic

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

ZTRON LABS ZL-BP4/8

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

bakerocb

Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 727
Location: FAIRFAX VA

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:36 pm Post subject: ZTRON LABS ZL-BP4/8

10/28/2011



Hello Bob Nuckolls, I am interested in your reaction to this product:



http://www.ztronlabs.com/products/bp8/brochure.pdf



Thank you,



'OC' Baker Says: "The best investment we can make is the time and effort to 

gather and understand knowledge."

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:28 am Post subject: ZTRON LABS ZL-BP4/8

At 04:30 PM 10/28/2011, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



10/28/2011



Hello Bob Nuckolls, I am interested in your reaction to this product:



http://www.ztronlabs.com/products/bp8/brochure.pdf


	


     I have no doubt that they perform as

     advertised. But unlike the legacy breaker/

     fuse + switch combinations, the features

     give rise to new questions.



     First, what deficiencies in the design,

     installation, maintenance and cost of ownership

     for breaker/fuse+switch are eliminated or at

     least mitigated by the new product? In

     other words, are there demonstrable, compelling

     performance gains for adopting this product?



     Are they more reliable? In other words, has

     history offered cases where the B/F+S combination

     has failed to perform it's intended task?

     Are the new devices less likely to repeat any

     such events assuming they exist? Their

     parts-count is higher . . . and certainly part

     vulnerable to external stimulus for which

     DO-160 was crafted to explore.



     If not a reliability trade-off, then are

     they less expensive to own, operate and

     service? $190 for eight controlled positions

     works out to nearly $25 per position. Certainly

     competitive with B+S but not with F+S

     configurations.



     Convenience? Hmmm . . . you cut a big

     hole in the panel to mount a big electro-

     whizzy that shares form, fit and function

     with no other product like it. Suppose

     you only need 6 of the positions . . . or

     need 9? These controls do not offer the

     flexibility of multi-function toggles

     with spring loading and progressive

     transfers.



     Unlike the toggle with immediately recognizable

     position, these devices use lights. Are

     they sunlight viewable?



     This device is not a drop-in replacement

     for all protected and controlled circuits

     in the airplane . . so your almost sure

     to have alternative hardware tucked away

     on the panel anyhow.



     Then there is the question as to how well

     the designers understand the legacy aircraft

     environment. Maybe they didn't do DO-160

     verification but were they cognizant of the

     design tools and processes that go to passing

     a DO-160 verification?



     Everyone needs to make up their own mind

     as to what features of reliability, convenience,

     cost and STYLE goes to meeting personal

     design goals on their project. I'll suggest

     that there are few technical and even fewer

     economic incentives for adapting such a

     product to an OBAM aircraft. But when it

     comes to style, there's no accounting for

     taste.

   Bob . . .

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

user9253

Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 1938
Location: Riley TWP Michigan

Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:23 am Post subject: Re: ZTRON LABS ZL-BP4/8

A fuse holder costs much less and models are available to hold up to 20 fuses.

http://www.amazon.com/Bussman-holder-Truck-electrical-application/dp/B0026BK6GY/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1313369427&sr=8-10

I have had trouble operating capacitance type switches when my fingers are cold and dry or when wearing gloves.  If one of those 8 switches goes bad, the whole unit will have to be removed for repair or replacement.  If the company goes out of business, it will be a challenge to fill the hole in the panel with some type of replacement.  An aircraft builder has the skills to replace a fuse or switch, but might not be able to repair electronic switches.  There are nice looking discrete illuminated switches available.

Joe

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

_________________
Joe Gores

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum