Vehicle Electrical Systems Overview

Specific Areas of Improvement

• Areas for improvement include: Electrical Power System, CBRN Protection, Diagnostics, Situational Awareness, Fire Control, and Navigation.
• A Digital Vehicle Distribution Box (DVDB) distributes power and provides circuit breaker protection to electrical subsystems.
• The DVDB is located on the left sponson, left of the battery box.

Hull Batteries

• Hull batteries provide +24 VDC of electrical power for vehicle starting and operation when the engine isn't running.
• Hull battery location: two are mounted on the left sponson behind the driver, and four are beneath the floor behind the driver.

Hull Power Box (HBP)

• The Hull Power Box receives power from hull batteries and generator controls.
• It distributes, protects, and isolates power for the Power Control Modules.
• The HBP's location is on the left sponson, left of the battery box.

Turret Reserve Batteries

• Turret reserve batteries primarily assist in preventing power surges and drops during turret and gun firing operations.
• Turret reserve battery location: located in the turret beneath the gunners seat below the floor.

Power Control Module (PCM)

• There are three Power Control Modules (PCMs).
• PCM #1 and #2 are beneath the floor plates inside the turret.
• PCM #3 is located in the hull on the right side of the vehicle directly underneath the hull fan box.
• PCM #1 and #2 are interchangeable, but must be reprogrammed.
• PCM #3 is not interchangeable.
• PCMs serve the same purpose as circuit breakers for the A3 Bradley.

Gas Particulate Filter Unit (GPFU)

• The filter unit is located in the driver's compartment on the left sponson next to, and forward of the driver's left knee.

Drivers Viewer Enhancer (DVE)

• The DVE aids the driver's vision in periods of limited visibility (dust, smoke, darkness, or degraded vision through thermal imagery).
• The DVE can see a full-scale silhouette at 400 meters and a 22-inch object at 125 meters with a 40-degree horizontal and a 30-degree vertical viewing angle.
• The DVE is located just to the right of the driver's hatch along the vehicle centerline.

Driver's Switch & Indicator Panel (DSIP)

• The DSIP provides driver access to hull electrical systems needed for basic vehicle operation.
• The DSIP controls the master power, fire suppression, engine accessories, CBRN system, ramp, horn, cold start, starter cutout override, and warning and caution indicators.
• The DSIP's location is in the driver's hatch to the right, above the driver's right knee.

Vehicular Intercommunication System (VIS)

• The VIS is made up of one Master Control Station (MCS), six Full Function Crew Stations (FFCS), one Loudspeaker (LS).
• The VIS can also have four Monitor Only Stations (MOS) or two Radio Interface Terminals (RITs).

Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System Advanced SINCGARS Improvement Program (SINCGARS ASIP)

• The SINCGARS ASIP is located in the turret, just to the left and behind the Commander.

Turret Cooling Fans

• Three turret cooling fans are located, one on each side of the radio rack, and one on the right side of the turret step.
• The fans turn on when temperatures exceed 85°F and run continuously until the temperature drops below 80°F.
• The fan sensors are located beneath the turret floor plates; one on the gunner's side and one on the commander's side.

Ammunition Stowage

The M2A3 BFV has three ammunition hotboxes under the Hotbox Restraint System (HRS). It consists of three 50-round boxes and reloads ready bins more quickly.

Commanders Tactical Display (CTD)

• The CTD provides menu-based interfaces allowing the commander to access system management, tactical, communications, diagnostics, logistics, navigation, and maintenance information screens.
• It displays malfunctions and system status information and advisory messages.
• The CTD location is directly forward of the commander's seat.

Commanders Data Entry Tool (CDET)

• The CDET provides the commander with the capability to input text into the Commanders Tactical Display.
• The CDET location is directly forward of the commanders seat right under the commander sight control panel.

Squad Leaders Display (SLD)

• The SLD is interchangeable with the Commanders Tactical Display.
• The SLD provides the capability of viewing the CIV video signal, the IBAS video signal, and operational information from the Commander's Tactical Display and DVE (when operational).

Appliqué CPU

• The appliqué CPU is located on the left sponson and houses the software for Force XXI Battle Command/Brigade and Below (FBCB2).

Ethernet Switching Unit

• The Ethernet Switching Unit is located behind the Commander, beneath the Master Control Station (MCS).
• It interfaces with the appliqué CPU and Turret Processing unit (TPU) to allow for digital traffic.

Turret Processing Unit (TPU)

• The TPU houses the fire control processor that verifies the system is ready to fire.
• It inputs proper information for the system to fire, including environmental parameters, boresight, and zero.
• The TPU is located beneath the floor plate on the right side of the turret (below the commander).

Turret Power Box (TPB)

• The Turret Power Box protects and distributes high-current turret loads not controlled by PCM #1 and #2.
• It provides power to the Turret Drive System, 25mm Gun Motor, Sear Solenoid, Feed Select Solenoid, Palm Switches, Turret Cooling Fan Temperature Sensors, Cooling and Exhaust Fans, Turret Lights, and the Diagnostic/Training Power Receptacle.
• The Turret Power Box interfaces with the 1553 data bus and performs BIT.

Gun Control Unit (GPU)

• The GCU controls the selection and firing of the main gun and coax machine gun.
• It monitors the status of the feeder and ready boxes.
• The GPU is located on the left side (below the Gunner) beneath the floor plate in the turret.

Missile Control Subsystem (MCS)

• The MCS guides the TOW missile to the target.
• The MCS is located beneath the floor plate of the turret on the left side and to the front of the gunner.

Lower Target Acquisition Subsystem (L-TAS)

• The L-TAS is the gunner's interface with the TAS.

Periscope Head (P-Head)

• The P-Head consists of dual-axis head mirrors to point and stabilize the FLIR.

Reticles

• The types of reticles are: Default Reticle, Gun Reticle, Air Defense Reticle, and Stadia Lines.

Commander's Independent Viewer (CIV)

• The CIV allows the commander to view either CIV imagery or IBAS imagery.
• The commander switches between these using the IBAS/CIV Switch.
• The IBAS/CIV switch is used to change to different imagery views.

Commanders Interface Unit (CIU)

• The CIU is located in the center of the turret to the rear of the commander and gunner.
• The CIU allows the commander to switch between IBAS and CIV, the gunner to see CIV images through IBAS, and the CIU sends IBAS and CIV images to the SLD and DTD.

Gunner's Handstation (GHS)

• The GCS provides turret and weapon drives control, firing of the selected weapon (HI/LO magnification, FLIR TV, BCIS/LRF, autotrack/autopoint functionality, and nulling).

Gunner's Sight Control Panel (GSCP)

• The GSCP allows for manual range input, focus, reticle brightness, symbology brightness, image contrast, image brightness, FLIR gain and level, manual and auto mode, 30 Hz and 60 Hz scan rates, polarity (White-Hot/Black-Hot), TAS align, and DVO reticle brightness.

System Control Box (SCB)

• The SCB is located between the gunner and the commander.
• The SCB provides turret control and weapon control, as well as status indicators.

Emergency Turret Shutdown Switch

• The emergency turret shutdown switch is located on the right side of the system control box.

Commander's Handstation

• The commander's handstation provides rate and directional control for line-of-sight and line-of-fire movements.
• The commander's handstation switches to fire weapons, adjust sights, designate targets, range targets, activate the BCS (when available), control the cursor, adjust target HI/LO magnification, and null switches.

Commander's Sight Control Panel (CSCP)

• Located to the front of the vehicle commander's seat and below the Commander's Tactical Display.
• The panel allows control of backup Fire Control, stowing/unstocking of the CIV, data deletion, and autotrack functionality.

Inertial Navigation Unit (INU)

• The INU is located beneath the commander's data entry tool.
• It is the main processor component for the Position/Navigation Subsystem (PNS) and provides data for the Fire Control System.

Vehicle Motion Sensor (VMS)

• The VMS is positioned on the left final drive, below the 3 MPH switch.
• The VMS provides input data to the INU related to the vehicle's speed.
• The VMS uses forward and reverse pulses and converts velocity measurements to dampen speed errors.

Driver Tactical Display (DTD)

• The DTD displays the condition of fuel, coolant, oil pressure, battery, and transmission oil.
• It also displays any fault or warning conditions detected.
• The DTD provides the driver with position and navigation information.

Power Unit Access Door

• The power unit access door's location is on the front slope of the vehicle.
• The door allows access to the power unit, fuel, engine filters, and tool bag.

This quiz explores the critical role of the Digital Vehicle Distribution Box (DVDB) in a vehicle's electrical system. It addresses how the DVDB supports key electrical subsystems, enhances safety, and discusses potential failures. Additionally, it covers related components such as the Turret Power Box and Gun Control Unit.