The CCR power input
Everything the CCR delivers starts at its input. The supply must be inside the CCR rating and tolerance, protected from surges and backed up where required.
1Rated supply
Each CCR is built for a stated supply voltage, frequency and number of phases, with a tolerance band, and for a rated output (kW or kVA, depending on the specification). Running outside that band can cause warnings, a trip or damage. The rating is on the nameplate and in the manual.
2Protect the input
An input breaker isolates the CCR and clears overloads and faults. Surge protection fitted after it diverts spikes from the supply and from lightning to earth, so it needs a short, low-impedance earth connection. A supply monitor reports loss of supply, low or high voltage, or a missing phase.
3Standby and quality
Where the lights must stay on, a standby source such as a generator or UPS is switched in by a changeover. The maximum switch-over time depends on the facility and category (ICAO Annex 14 Volume I, Chapter 8 sets limits such as 1 second or 15 seconds), so confirm it against the current edition and the project specification. A generator with a changeover gives a short break; a UPS normally carries only the control equipment through it, and the lights ride through only where a no-break supply is provided. Thyristor and IGBT based CCRs draw non-linear current, which adds harmonics and lowers the power factor on the input, most noticeably on a generator supply.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Supply | Voltage, frequency and phases as rated on the CCR nameplate |
| Rating | kW or kVA sized for the connected circuit load plus losses |
| Protection | Input breaker, then surge protection with a low-impedance earth |
| Monitoring | Loss of supply, voltage out of range, phase fault |
| Standby | Generator or UPS through a changeover; switch-over time per Annex 14 and the project specification |
| Check | Supply within tolerance, tight terminals, surge protection status indicator and earth connection |
| Reference | IEC 61822 · FAA AC 150/5345-10 · ICAO Annex 14 Vol I Ch 8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What supply does a CCR need?
The supply stated on its nameplate: a given voltage, frequency and number of phases, within a tolerance band. Check it against the manual before energising.
Q2Why does a CCR have surge protection on its input?
Supply spikes and lightning surges can damage the electronics. Surge protection diverts the spike to earth before it reaches the regulator, so its earth connection must be sound.
Q3What happens when the supply fails?
The CCR output stops, the lights go out and the supply monitor raises a loss-of-supply alarm. Where required, a standby source takes over through a changeover, and the CCR restarts when its supply is back inside tolerance.
Q4Can the supply affect the lights?
Yes if it goes outside the CCR tolerance. Within tolerance the CCR keeps the output current constant, which is its job.
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