BATTERY CONTACTORS AND CONTACTOR CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR AIRCRAFT BATTERIES

A propulsion system (20) for an aircraft (1000) includes a battery (64), an electrical distribution system (66), a first control channel (110, 114), and a second control channel (112, 116). The battery (64) includes a plurality of battery strings (72). The electrical distribution system (66) includes at least one string contactor (132, 142) for each of the plurality of battery strings (72). The at least one string contactor (132, 142) includes a first gate (138, 148) connected to the first control channel (110, 114) and a second gate (140, 150) connected to the second control channel (112, 116). The at least one string contactor (132, 142) is operable to a closed position with a first control signal present at the first gate (138, 148) and a second control signal present at the second gate (140, 150). The at least one string contactor (132, 142) is operable to an open position with one or both of the first control signal absent at the first gate (138, 148) or the second control signal absent at the second gate (140, 150).