← Standards & Specs
The Toolbox — Standards
Electrical
Electrical system standards and LiPo battery safety specifications.
Electrical Standards
| Specification | Value / Notes |
|---|---|
| US household voltage | 120V AC RMS / 240V AC RMS (split phase) |
| US power frequency | 60 Hz |
| Aircraft DC standard (most commercial) | 28V DC |
| Aircraft AC standard (most commercial) | 115V AC, 400 Hz, 3-phase |
| Marine 12V system nominal | 12.6V (fully charged) / 11.8V (50% discharged) |
| Marine 24V system nominal | 25.2V (fully charged) / 23.6V (50% discharged) |
| Maximum recommended voltage drop (DC wiring) | 3% of system voltage |
| Maximum recommended voltage drop (critical loads) | 1% of system voltage |
| GFI trip threshold | 5 milliamps imbalance |
| GFI trip time | Less than 1/40 second (25 ms) |
| AWG 12 max ampacity (chassis wiring) | 20 amperes |
| AWG 14 max ampacity (chassis wiring) | 15 amperes |
| AWG 16 max ampacity (chassis wiring) | 13 amperes |
| Recommended wire fill (conduit) | 40% maximum cross-sectional area |
LiPo Battery Safety Standards
| Specification | Value / Notes |
|---|---|
| Cell nominal voltage | 3.7V per cell |
| Cell fully charged voltage | 4.2V per cell (standard) / 4.35V (HV LiPo) |
| Cell storage voltage | 3.8V – 3.85V per cell |
| Cell minimum safe voltage | 3.0V per cell — do not discharge below |
| Cell critical low voltage | 3.5V per cell — land immediately |
| C rating definition | Maximum continuous current = C rating × capacity in Ah |
| Charging rate (standard) | 1C maximum for longevity |
| Charging rate (fast charge) | Up to 5C for supported packs — reduces lifespan |
| Operating temperature range | 0°C to 45°C — performance degrades below 10°C |
| Fire risk temperature | Thermal runaway begins above approximately 70°C |
| Charging supervision | Never leave LiPo charging unattended |
| Internal resistance — new pack | Below 5 mΩ per cell |
| Internal resistance — retirement threshold | Above 20 mΩ per cell — retire from flight use |