The 400 Hertz Dilemma

Abstract

Since the advent of the modern combat system and use of sophisticated avionics test equipment, there has evolved an ever increasing problem in interfacing these loads to the normal Type I/Type II shipboard power system. This paper addresses past initiatives which led to a proliferation of motor‐generators in the fleet; the current major interface problems which have led to degraded performance of the ship service power system as well as the systems serviced, and makes recommendations to reverse the incompatibility. In order to ensure that the interface problem is understood, several specific current system problems are described and impending future potential problems assessed. The by‐product of this dialogue should be a better understanding of the interface problems which can occur in electrical and electronic systems and subsystems when early attention is not given to overall ship system design of both the power generation system and mission‐oriented payload systems and subsystems.