Electrical v2: Generator output "freaks out" when overloaded?

Version: SU4 - 1.6.34.0 and SU5 Beta - 1.7.11.0

Frequency: Consistently

Severity: Low/High

Context: Custom C152 variant in all contexts, default DA62, and others.

Bug description:
Expected: When consuming more power than the alternator/generator is configured to supply, the generator supplies 100% of its ability and the battery gracefully supplies the rest, battery starts to discharge.

Current behavior: When consuming more power than the generator is configured to supply, and the generator output voltage is below the battery voltage, the generator supply starts to very rapidly flicker between high load and no load. The battery very rapidly flickers between no load/discharging. Animations and behavior like low voltage lights and low voltage pfd warnings also rapidly flicker.

Workaround: Giving the aircraft a massively overrated generator so it’s never overloaded, like some of the default aircraft. This is unfortunate.

Am I misunderstanding the expected behavior?

Secondary question: I also don’t think the throttle/RPM is affecting the alternator output?

Repro steps:
-
In my privately sent package, load the C152 variant “DUCKY” in ready to take off config. This version is specifically configured with a weaker generator that will reach 100% capacity when all lights are on.

  • Open electrical debug and look at both the battery details and the alternator details, and also look at the right hand side of the dashboard where you find the low voltage light and ammeter.
  • Turn on all lights including taxi and landing lights.
  • Observe components panicking and low voltage light flickering.

- Load the default DA62 in ready to take off config.

  • In the electrical debug disconnect the RH_alternator so only the LH_alternator is powering the aircraft.
  • Push and hold one of the engine starter buttons and observe that the “LOW VOLTAGE” warning on the PFD is rapidly flickering, with the electrical debug view showing the alternator and battery loads are freaking out.
  • Note that this will not happen if the battery voltage is lower than the alternator output voltage at the time of the test. Increase and reduce the battery charge level to observe this.

Attachments:
Testing with privatecontent 152 variant:

Testing with default DA62:

Private attachments: Send a PM to @PrivateContent with the link to this topic and the link to download your content

Hello @WombiiActual

A quick update on this.
The Da62 will be fixed with one of the upcoming SU6 builds. However, the fix has been applied on the aircraft side, making it so the starters draw current from the battery and not the alternators.

We still acknowledge that the behavior when a component is drawing current from multiple sources that cannot match the required tension, is incorrect.
We plan to introduce further changes in later Sim Updates to address this.

Regarding the configuration of the 152, the information I could find mentions a 28V 60A alternator being used, so ~1.68 for the power rating.
Your 0.7 appears to be a bit low?
Or if some variants of the 152 were a equipped with a weaker alternator, maybe the equipment present in our variant is a bit too much for it.
It’s also possible the voltage and amperage for some of our circuits is not really good by default and would need to be adjusted for your variant.
For example, our landing light circuit with 8.9A seems a bit too much?
Anyway, this is to say there is no inherent flaws in the implementation that would force to always increase the alternator power but it is likely adjustments of configuration are required.

This is what the TensionDropRPM parameter is designed for: Modular Electrical System Information

I hope this helps.
We’ll update this thread when the root problem you reported causing the circuit states to flicker is addressed

Regards,
Sylvain

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