Electronics are often at risk of becoming damaged from overload conditions, even presenting the risk of an electrical fire if proper protection is not in place. Electrical protection devices may come in a variety of forms, though the two most common devices that are regularly implemented in countless spaces are the circuit breaker and fuse. With both devices, wires, appliances, machinery, and even individuals may be guarded from the hazards of a fault or short circuit. Despite serving a similar role in circuit protection, circuit breakers and fuses feature different designs and operational characteristics that set the two devices apart from one another.

A circuit breaker is an electro-mechanical device used to protect electrical circuits from overloads. They are used to protect the wiring in circuits from the risk of fire due to currents exceeding the rated capacity of the circuit. Circuit breakers employ switches that open automatically when excess currents are detected and require manual resetting. Circuit breakers are generally rated based on the amount of current that can be safely carried by the circuit being protected by the breaker. In this blog, we will take a look at the most common types of circuit breakers and their unique characteristics.

An actuator is a machine component responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system by opening a valve or carrying out a similar function. In essence, an actuator is a ‘mover.’ To function, an actuator requires a control signal and a source of energy. The control signal can be electric voltage or current, pneumatic or hydraulic fluid pressure, or even human power, and is relatively low energy. An actuator's energy sources can be electric current, hydraulic pressure, or pneumatic pressure. Upon reception of a control signal, the actuator responds by converting this energy into mechanical motion.

Keeping aircraft in good shape is a critical aspect of ensuring safe flight. As such, aircraft technicians and maintenance crews play a vital role. Their services, which include things like aircraft conservation and repair, require them to have a wealth of knowledge and experience in their work, including the tools used throughout the aircraft repair process. The maintenance process not only requires attention to detail and accuracy, but also the most advanced maintenance tools. In an industry as cutting-edge as aviation, aircraft mechanics have access to some of the highest quality equipment to perform maintenance work with. This blog will cover the seven most essential tools used in aircraft maintenance.

In order to perform proper maintenance and inspection, aviation technicians must be familiar with aircraft jacking. Jacking is the process of using a jack to lift an aircraft so it can be inspected and repaired. This blog will discuss the process of aircraft jacking in detail. However, because jacking procedures and safety precautions vary from aircraft to aircraft, this blog will discuss only generalized jacking procedures and precautions.