Strobe power supply failure
Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher
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R COLLINS
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2002 9:23 pm
Strobe power supply failure
One of my strobes quit working. It has remote power supplies mounted in the wing tips. I went out to fly yesterday and noticed a yellow chalky substance trailing from the wing tip in the vicinity of where the power supply is located. Is this a obvious indication that the power supply is burned out? I did not have my tools with me, so was unable to remove the tip for verification, but would like to order the parts needed in advance of taking it apart twice. Randal
51 Cessna 170A N1263D
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GAHorn
- Posts: 21291
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
I don't know about your "chalky" substance but that may be indication of an electrical failure/fire of the supply. The capacitors in the pwr supplies are the weak link.
Before ordering a new pwr supply you might send that one back for repair. I've saved money on that before.
You also do not state which brand system you have. The AeroFlash units are cheaper for a reason. They aren't as well constructed and don't put out as much light as the Whelen units.
But just to be fair, I've had a wingtip lamp unit fail on my Whelen. I started to just order another from Spruce priced around $100 when I got curious and removed it and took it apart. Curious as to what's in that white, silicone substance the bulb is mounted in I took my Xacto knife and cut into it. I discovered three wires leading to the lamp-tube, and some small electronics imbedded in the silicone. One of those wires had an obviously shoddy job of soldering to the lamp "neutral" which leads to a bare-wire wrapped around the light-tube. I managed to pull the broken joint closer together and used a scrap piece of wire to bridge the gap and solder it back together.
I cut a cardboard toilet-paper tube about 3/4" long for a mould, and filled it with high-temp RTV and let it cure overnight. Next day the strobe was reinstalled and flashing away, good as new.
My solder job isn't the prettiest, but at least it's hidden in the RTV and it was a good repair. Saved $100.
(Looks bad. Feels good.)
Before ordering a new pwr supply you might send that one back for repair. I've saved money on that before.
You also do not state which brand system you have. The AeroFlash units are cheaper for a reason. They aren't as well constructed and don't put out as much light as the Whelen units.
But just to be fair, I've had a wingtip lamp unit fail on my Whelen. I started to just order another from Spruce priced around $100 when I got curious and removed it and took it apart. Curious as to what's in that white, silicone substance the bulb is mounted in I took my Xacto knife and cut into it. I discovered three wires leading to the lamp-tube, and some small electronics imbedded in the silicone. One of those wires had an obviously shoddy job of soldering to the lamp "neutral" which leads to a bare-wire wrapped around the light-tube. I managed to pull the broken joint closer together and used a scrap piece of wire to bridge the gap and solder it back together.
I cut a cardboard toilet-paper tube about 3/4" long for a mould, and filled it with high-temp RTV and let it cure overnight. Next day the strobe was reinstalled and flashing away, good as new.
My solder job isn't the prettiest, but at least it's hidden in the RTV and it was a good repair. Saved $100.
(Looks bad. Feels good.)
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
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Kyle Wolfe
- Posts: 706
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2003 12:30 am
An alternative fix
Randall, I think we've got a fix. How about getting your two boys to take turns clicking away with your digital camera? The timing might be off, but I bet they'd enjoy wearing out some batteries. Or did that fall you took during the hike at Petit Jean break the flash as well?
Kyle
Kyle
Kyle
54 B N1932C
57 BMW Isetta
Best original 170B - Dearborn, MI 2005
54 B N1932C
57 BMW Isetta
Best original 170B - Dearborn, MI 2005
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R COLLINS
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2002 9:23 pm
George, I have the Aeroflash system, it was on the plane when I bought it. I removed the faulty unit and it was indeed the source of the chaulky substance. It's never simple though, the unit was mounted using rivnuts, and naturally one of those was a little loose and spun in the backing plate. The housing on this unit is riveted together, was yours? I should receive the new power supply "$88" from Spruce today, back in the air tommorrow. 
Kyle, I knew you had to be the one that pushed me, your still exultant about it, and your wife is way too sweet to have done it.
I can not hardly wait to next year to redeem myself. What a blast!
Blue Skies, Randal
Kyle, I knew you had to be the one that pushed me, your still exultant about it, and your wife is way too sweet to have done it.
I can not hardly wait to next year to redeem myself. What a blast!Blue Skies, Randal
51 Cessna 170A N1263D
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GAHorn
- Posts: 21291
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
Randall, I don't have an Aeroflash. I have the Whelen wingtip system. My pwr supply is mounted on a rack behind the baggage bulkhead.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
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Mike Smith
- Posts: 175
- Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2003 2:53 pm
Randall,
I also have the Aeroflash strobe units. I had one quit working last fall and thought it might be the bulb, but by changing the power supplies (moved the right one to the left) I found out that it was indeed the power supply.
Anyway, I called Aeroflash directly and got basically the same price quote for the new power supply. The lady then said they also had rebuilt ones ... at nearly half the price! I ordered one of those for about $47.50 and have been happy with it. It's only been installed since January but I've flown about 30 hours and it still works fine.
The phone number for Aeroflash is on the power supply unit, along with it's part number.
Good Luck
I also have the Aeroflash strobe units. I had one quit working last fall and thought it might be the bulb, but by changing the power supplies (moved the right one to the left) I found out that it was indeed the power supply.
Anyway, I called Aeroflash directly and got basically the same price quote for the new power supply. The lady then said they also had rebuilt ones ... at nearly half the price! I ordered one of those for about $47.50 and have been happy with it. It's only been installed since January but I've flown about 30 hours and it still works fine.
The phone number for Aeroflash is on the power supply unit, along with it's part number.
Good Luck
Mike Smith
1950 C-170A
1950 C-170A
Cessna® is a registered trademark of Textron Aviation, Inc. The International Cessna® 170 Association is an independent owners/operators association dedicated to C170 aircraft and early O-300-powered C172s. We are not affiliated with Cessna® or Textron Aviation, Inc. in any way.