May_2021 - 35

PRODUCT PROFILE

better grip to make it easier to engage and
disengage the connector from the aircraft, "
he notes.
PAGE GSE has been manufacturing
400 Hz single jacketed cable assemblies
for eight years, but only last year did the
company enter the banded cable market.
According to Piety, banded cables are
mostly used on mobile pieces of equipment whereas the single jacketed cables
are used primarily on bridge-mounted
and hangar 400 Hz set-ups. The banded
cables are more flexible and fit in the trays
on mobile equipment easier than the single
jacketed cables.
Piety says PAGE GSE patiently waited
to enter the banded cable market until the
company had a product that could compete
well with others. He mentions before entering a certain market, it is important to pay
attention to it, listen and respond to customer requests, then bring products to the
market that differ from what is currently
available, which is why the 28V DC and
400Hz power banded cables have military
certification.
" We took our knowledge of cable assemblies and challenged ourselves to build the
best one possible, " he continues. " By coming in recently, it allowed us to start with
a clean slate and design the best connector
possible inside and out. "
The cables did not have to meet military
standards to enter the market, but Piety
says they sought military approval to differentiate its power banded cables.
He notes the cables went through certain
testing to achieve this certification. These

" Today, most large
commercial aircraft
operate on
400 Hz AC power.
Smaller regional jets,
corporate aircraft and
some helicopters
still use the 28V DC
load profile. "
- Brian Piety
tests take into account the type of materials used in the cable and what stranding is
used, among other items.
The 28V DC and 400 Hz cables are
also built to SAE (AS5756) standards.
SAE standards are set by industry experts
to ensure end-users receive a safe, quality
component that is built to a high standard,
according to Piety.
" These tests include a vast array of
parameters from hot and cold temperatures, impact tests, electrical performance,
chemical resistance and environmental
exposure just to name a few, " he says.
PAGE GSE sells the 28V DC and 400
Hz cable assemblies to airports, airlines,
ground handlers, fixed base operators
(FBOs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the military all around
the world.

These operators choose between the 28V
DC or 400Hz cables depending on what
aircraft they fly.
" 28V DC power was the original power
produced by aircraft while flying to power
all its electrical demands, " Piety explains.
" As the electrical demands grew, the
need to supply this demand while keeping the generator compact, resulted in a
new power profile of 115/200VAC at high
400 cycles, " he adds. " Today, most large
commercial aircraft operate on 400 Hz
AC power. Smaller regional jets, corporate
aircraft and some helicopters still use the
28V DC load profile. "
Piety says PAGE GSE's customers are
satisfied with the product and the feedback the company has received has been
favorable.
" There have been no requests for even
one change, " he says.
While these cables do not require any
regular maintenance, Piety says operators
should always visually inspect the connector on an ongoing basis to see if it has been
damaged.
He notes cables may be dragged on the
tarmac or even driven over by a tow tractor.
He also mentions users should periodically
verify the sockets within the connector
have the correct grip.
" When it comes to external ground
power cables, " he says, " most customers
understand the environments and harsh
usage these cables endure. "

MAY 2021

AviationPros.com

35
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May_2021

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