Hey all!I seem to be struggling to work out how to get the planes APU working on the ground so I can do the pre flight checks?!It's my understanding you don't need the battery on to operate the APU! It's driving me insane?Does anyone happen to know where to find the ground ops procedures in the manual?!

It's my understanding you don't need the battery on to operate the APU!

On the contrary. The APU starter needs power to operate. Always switch the battery on first, then the standby power and then the APU. Or, if available, connect the groundpower after the standby power and before starting the APU. Also don't forget that the APU takes a while to become available. When you hit the Start switch at first nothing happens, then the Low Pressure light comes on, After that the EGT gauges rises, peaks and comes down again. Only when the temperature is stable around 4 on the gauge the APU generators are ready for use.

Ok then? i thought the APU operated so the battery didbt need to operate on the ground?What's the deal with the MFS disappearing sometimes?!Well some of it shows up but the background is black?

I'm not sure what you mean by MFS - maybe someone else can answer that. The APU is a small jet engine that is started electrically, so you'll need to have the battery connected to get it running. Once running, the APU can power (some? all?) of the electrical buses, so the battery at least isn't discharging during that time. I believe the APU can charge the battery if the load of the electrical buses is sufficiently low. As Patrick says above, there is no light that says "the APU is on"; you have to infer this from the guage information: (Low Pressure = starting; EGT rise, peak, stabilize = running; APU GEN OFF BUS = available but not powering buses). You can also monitor the APU generator using the electrical multimeter on the overhead upper middle quadrant). Disclaimer: I'm not a 737 systems expert, I'm sure somebody more knowledgeable than I will jump in with the specifics :) I don't have the sim in front of me, can someone confirm: it should be theoretically possible to disconnect the battery if the APU is powering electrical buses - or does that switch do more than take the battery offline?

Ok then? i thought the APU operated so the battery didbt need to operate on the ground?

No. The APU is there to provide sufficient power for all the systems that you need to bring online and to provide the power and bleed air to get the massive engines started.

I don't have the sim in front of me, can someone confirm: it should be theoretically possible to disconnect the battery if the APU is powering electrical buses

It's not. The APU shuts down when the battery is disconnected.

It's not. The APU shuts down when the battery is disconnected.

Thanks for the clarification. I guess this is a safety feature. Edit: NG - battery switch shuts down APU in air and on ground; Classic: shuts down APU on ground only. http://www.b737.org.uk/apu.htm refers. Interesting subject.

Cool seems to make sense!!What about the siren I hear when I'm trying to get everything powered up! It's annoying how when you load the 737 it's auto magically started? Is there anyway we can load it so we have to start the power up from scratch?

What about the siren I hear when I'm trying to get everything powered up!

That siren signals that you are still running on battery and draining it. Don't forget to connect the APU generators when the APU's startup cycle is complete (the two switches next to the blue light that comes on).

Is there anyway we can load it so we have to start the power up from scratch?

Yes, press the MENU button on the CDU (where also the FMC can be found) and go to the PMDG options. If you look around you should be able to find the Startup State Option and set NGX CLDDRK as your default startup state.

Does anyone know how I can view the check lists in fsx rather than minimize the two and swap between them,Also, how do I get the air stairs and ground vehicles on the plane? And the ground power unit?

Does anyone know how I can view the check lists in fsx rather than minimize the two and swap between them,

Print them out and smack 'em on a clipboard. ;)

Also, how do I get the air stairs and ground vehicles on the plane? And the ground power unit?

Have a good look around in all the CDU options and you will find it. Familiarize yourself. Experiment. Don't be afraid to push buttons. I will not go into finer detail, because this is turning a bit too much into spoonfeeding now. I hope you understand.

Does anyone know how I can view the check lists in fsx rather than minimize the two and swap between them, Also, how do I get the air stairs and ground vehicles on the plane? And the ground power unit?

Please have a look in the manuals, they'll tell you.

This tutorial follows the cockpit procedures and explains what you're doing as you go. http://forum.avsim.net/topic/350241-ngx-cold-dark-to-shutdown-checklist/

Thanks,Sorry to be a pain!! :-/There's just alot to print out, wanted to know if there was a quicker way..

Sorry to be a pain!! :-/

You aren't. But it's really easier and faster for you if you just click yourself through all the menus/submenus of the CDU (the computer with the keypad next to the throttle). Most of them are self-explainatory and in the time it takes you to type your question and to wait for the answer you could have found the thing in question three times over on your own. Feel free to ask if you really need to know someting and you can't find it after trying.