Design of Boeing 777 electric system

The electric power system for the Boeing 777 is comprised of two independent electrical systems, the main and the backup. The main electric system includes two engine-driven integrated drive generators, a generator driven by the auxiliary power unit, three generator control units, and a bus power control unit. The backup electric system includes two engine-drive generators and one integrated converter/control unit to provide the redundancy of electrical sources equivalent to a three-engine airplane. Automation of the system is achieved by the use of state-of-the-art, microprocessor-based control units that perform system control, protection, and built-in-test functions. Each control unit has redundant two-way communication through an ARINC 629 communication bus that requires significantly fewer discrete wires than similar systems, allowing considerable reduction of the interface circuits and reduction in weight