DCS spitfire electrical system

Hi, guy!

Question for you, I don't know if the spitfire have a battery or not, but I sure don't see a battery switch in the spitfire cockpit. How did the spitfire airplane get the electricity? Thanks!

Cheers,

Vincent

Yes it had a battery (called accumulator back then). As far as I know it was switched on by the ground crew from outside the cockpit.

Hi, Rangi!

That makes sense! I can start the engine just fine last night, but when i try to start the engine this afternoon the engine won't turn over with or without ground electric power, and I tried reapawning the airplane still the same. Any solutions for this? Thanks!

Cheers,

Vincent

Hi, Rangi!

 

That makes sense! I can start the engine just fine last night, but when i try to start the engine this afternoon the engine won't turn over with or without ground electric power, and I tried reapawning the airplane still the same. Any solutions for this? Thanks!

 

Cheers,

Vincent

Need more info on how you tried to start the engine.

Hi, catseye!

Yes, definitely! I still don't understand why the spitfire airplane systems operate without any electricity? For example, even without the ground electric power, the engine can start, cockpit lights turn on, and many more. Please look into this! Thanks!

Cheers,

Vincent

See there:

12 Volts. ;)

Hi, Billycrusher!

There should be a battery master switch in the spitfire airplane cockpit somewhere! The spitfire airplane avionics are not on unless the pilot is flying.

Cheers,

Vincent

The battery main switch is tied to the throttle. If you advance the throttle far enough the battery will turn on. Then you pull it back for the start.

AOG

The battery main switch is tied to the throttle. If you advance the throttle far enough the battery will turn on. Then you pull it back for the start.

Bingo!

Probable he forget this detail, happens to me other day... until I find strange that fuel pressure lamp are off. :)

Spitfire doesn't have battery switch at all. IRL, dattery should be disconnected by ground crew after personnel after landing and installed/wired before start-up. In DCS assumed that battery was just installed and wired.

Could we pls get an option to tell the ground crew to turn the battery on/off then?

For what purpose?

To be able to turn the battery on and off, like in any other DCS module, as part of the startup/shutdown procedure. I don't see why this should be different to all the other DCS modules, just because the switch is on the outside.

To be able to turn the battery on and off, like in any other DCS module, as part of the startup/shutdown procedure. I don't see why this should be different to all the other DCS modules, just because the switch is on the outside.

But IRL you wouldn't tell the ground crew to do it, it would be done before he helped you into the cockpit.

But IRL you wouldn't tell the ground crew to do it, it would be done before he helped you into the cockpit.

Well, that's a point I guess, if that was the procedure back then.

It's not a part of startup/shutdown procedure. Battery can be leave in place when short time gap between sorties or when warm weather is. And there no any switch outside or inside. Just disconnecting wire/battery terminal.

I see, then it was me misunderstanding how the battery is operated. All good :)

" battery master switch"... " because the switch is on the outside."

In other similar topic in this sub-forum the consensus is that Spit don't use "master switch" - even outside (has plug for external battery on left side ahead cockpit, for avoid use the internal battery *), their battery is always ON.

In ground, if all switches (navigation lights, cockpit, magnetos...) etc, is turned OFF (like in spawn) no battery consumption.

Latter, if need maintenance crew replace the battery for one fully charged.

* IF you want simulate this, ask ground crew for electrical power. But the internal battery last at least 3 startups (I don't test more than this).

And there no any switch outside or inside. Just disconnecting wire/battery terminal.

Interesting, I did not know that, I assumed it was a switch, thank you for the information.

I wondered about this, been looking for the off switch etc ...

"

 

In ground, if all switches (navigation lights, cockpit, magnetos...) etc, is turned OFF (like in spawn) no battery consumption.

 

The landing gear and fuel pressure lamps remain on draining battery. In spawn they're off.

For practical purposes, few are the scenarios (I think) when you want to park the spit for a few hours and be able to start it up again (without ground power).

Actualy magnetos dont use battery power they work as independent systems plane got 2 of those for redundency

So you can have electrical system totaly wasted from battle damage and you still can go home :)

I wondered about this, been looking for the off switch etc ...

 

 

 

 

The landing gear and fuel pressure lamps remain on draining battery. In spawn they're off.

For practical purposes, few are the scenarios (I think) when you want to park the spit for a few hours and be able to start it up again (without ground power).

The little switch below the throttle handles can be bound to.

U/C indicator OFF

U/C indicator ON

or toggle

Those will turn off those lights.

If the dash lights and fuel pump are on, it doesn't take long until battery voltage drops enough that it is too drained to roll the engine over. This is correct behaviour

Thought the lights would drain the battery and hence it didn't make sense that they couldn't be shut off with less than unscrewing the battery terminal. One can see how the throttle push on the switch when moved forward. Had to check if this was a battery on/off switch. It's not. What else runs on electricity? The gunsight, the fuel gauge and the radio. None of which is connected through this switch. They must all be shut off separately.

Thought the lights would drain the battery and hence it didn't make sense that they couldn't be shut off with less than unscrewing the battery terminal. One can see how the throttle push on the switch when moved forward. Had to check if this was a battery on/off switch. It's not. What else runs on electricity? The gunsight, the fuel gauge and the radio. None of which is connected through this switch. They must all be shut off separately.

The gunsight can be turned off as well as the radio. The fuel guage does not use power unless the button is pressed and held.

The generator does not draw power like today's alternators can.

Mags produce their own power.

All power drains can be eliminated.

There is no battery switch in the cockpit until later models.