Not sure how many of you guys know about this but it's a little practice I was told about when I started learning about towing the triple 7s at work....that as far as I know no one does anymore because I'm sure It's not good for the electrical systems. Anyway if you're too impatient to wait for the APU to spool up or aircraft to slowly come to life in a cold and dark configuration so you can select the GPU from the CDU, go up to the upper overhead panel after turning on the battery, flip open the guard from the Standby Power and select BAT. She'll come to life a little quicker, just don't forget to turn the standby power back to off. Otherwise, far as I understand you'll be running off the standby inverter.

Not sure how many of you guys know about this but it's a little practice I was told about when I started learning about towing the triple 7s at work....that as far as I know no one does anymore because I'm sure It's not good for the electrical systems. Anyway if you're too impatient to wait for the APU to spool up or aircraft to slowly come to life in a cold and dark configuration so you can select the GPU from the CDU, go up to the upper overhead panel after turning on the battery, flip open the guard from the Standby Power and select BAT. She'll come to life a little quicker, just don't forget to turn the standby power back to off. Otherwise, far as I understand you'll be running off the standby inverter.

If you are cold and dark in the PMDG 777, just long-press the MENU key of the FMC CDU, this will allow you to see the screen and select the GPU attachment. Then once you hit BAT and GND PWR ON, the CDU goes blank while everything does the normal power up.

 

I do get what you are saying RE the real world trick.

At what point does the battery have to be turned on? I just loaded the 777, connected the ground power, and restarted under the C&D option. Pressed the ext power buttons on the overhead, and waited about a minute for the displays to power up. Is there any need to have the battery on at this point? I'd obviously turn it on during the pre-flight checklist, but until then the plane appears to be powered up enough.

 

 

At what point does the battery have to be turned on?

 

It's usually batt first, and then other connections to supplement. I don't think there's any harm in leaving it off other than the risk that if the power temporarily drops, you're going to lose everything. It should at least be on before you start transitioning from the GPU -> APU -> GENs.

It's usually batt first, and then other connections to supplement. I don't think there's any harm in leaving it off other than the risk that if the power temporarily drops, you're going to lose everything. It should at least be on before you start transitioning from the GPU -> APU -> GENs.

Yes, I've made that mistake before. Spent time programming the FMC, then turning off the ext power before starting the APU.....AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!

Work flow in the cockpit is best when structured.  APU on at least 5 min before block time so I always reach up and start it when FMC preflight is done (POS ROUTE PERF THRUST and TAKEOFF) and before downloading winds. Then I get the winds and check fuel remaining, set up the ETOPS entry/exit and ETPs in the LEGS and by then it's time to close the door, disconnect ground air and power and get ready for pushback.