What strobe do I have?

[rydfly]

Hello all,

I'm in need of a new wingtip strobe flash tube and could use some help to identify the exact part I need. I have the usual Nav/strobe combo... the baseplate of the light assembly says "Grimes Model E". See the attached pics of my actual parts. You can see that the flash tube has a teardrop shape to it. The flash tube itself has no labels to identify itself.

Looking through my airframe logbooks, I can see where a Whelen strobe kit was installed back in '77 (no detail as to which model), and in '89 another comment says that both wingtip strobes were replaced (again, no details as to model or type).

[rydfly]

The closest Whelen product I can find is the A427, which does have the teardrop shape, but has different metal cladding at the base of the tube. Also, there are no posts visible inside the tube like mine has.

The Whelen A610 has the same looking tube as mine, and the metal posts inside look the same, but the rubber base doesn't appear to have the teardrop shape I need.

Then there's the Aeroflash AF 073-0270 which has the teardrop shape also, but the tube looks entirely different. Note that the Aeroflash costs about 1/2 as much as either of the Whelen products.

This is my first strobe experience, please help.

Thank you!

-Kennet

[c170b53]

Which flashing unit(s) is installed?

[rydfly]

Whelen A413A HDA-CF installed 2 years ago. No detail as to what make/model preceded it.

[c170b53]

I would use the information available here http://www.whelen.com/install/manuals/aviation.html and match the light to the power supply.

[rydfly]

There is very little info regarding the A427 on Whelen's website, but it does say that it was standard equipment on some Cessna aircraft 1971 and later. Stands to reason that's what may have been installed on mine back in '77. As far as I can tell, both the A610 and A427 should work identically with my power supply, but I don't think the A610 would fit without purchasing additional hardware... and then doing it twice if I wanted to keep the left/right wingtips as a matching set.

[GAHorn]

The Grimes nav lite unit original to our airplanes does not perfectly match-up with Whelan wingtip strobes. A perfect match requires Whelan nav lite units also. (This info was given me by the installer of my units, but I did not actually observe the fitment issue before mine was changed out, so I cannot give more detail that that. Sorry.)
The Aeroflash units do not put out the amount of light/power (joules) which Whelan does, and that is why they are cheaper...they're not as good.

[rydfly]

I just ordered the 427 from Whelen. I'll post the results after I attempt the re-install. Thanks.

-Kennet

[rydfly]

Just finished the re-install over the weekend. It appears the Whelen A427 was the correct unit.

-Kennet