Strobe Light Questions

[juredd1]

Bruce,

Now that you bring it up I did notice when I was looking for a replacement part on Aircraft Spruce that the "Aircraft Install Eligibility" column did not list a 170. I'm getting in over my head here. So if this one has some sort of approval where will I found that? Will it be in my aircraft log books or just in the paperwork somewhere? If I don't find it then where do I begin with the field approval?

Not that you don't believe me but wanted to show proof.

IMG_3628.JPG

IMG_3626.JPG

Thanks,
Justin

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Justin,
Appearantly the bulbs are more compatible between systems than I thought. At least you have one that flashes. But not having a complete system one would wonder if what you have is performing as it was designed and approved on an aircraft.

All mods should have a signoff
in your logs. That is what you need to look at first. If you don't find anything your next step should be to talk to your mechanic about how you should proceed to get the paperwork right .

[GAHorn]

The Aeroflash units do not put out the same joules (power) as the Whelen units.
Back in faded memory, at least one model Aeroflash power supply, and some model flash-tubes mfr'd by Whelen had either a mandatory service bulletin or an AD note against them for fire hazard. (It was an Aeroflash unit which exploded the Piper Navajo I posted a pic of some time back.
The Whelen flash tubes, if they have an exposed rivet on their base, must be insulated so as to cover that rivet with heavy duty vinyl electrical tape.

The story, pic, and AD note on the Whelen tube can be seen at :
http://cessna170.org/forums/viewtopic.p ... ajo#p84550

[n3833v]

I just received my power supply back [no charge] and was told by Whelen that they could find nothing wrong with it. Now I will reinstall and see if they fixed something or if I have to check wingtip bulbs. Wiring was checked and OK. Still working on a solution.

John

[juredd1]

Got my Aeroflash powersupply in from AircraftSpruce and put it back together this past Saturday. Everything is working now but since Bruce educated me on the fact that these units are not approved in a 170 I'm having to figure out how to resolve that issue. Thinking now I should have scrapped the other power supply and bought two new Whelen power supplies if I could have just swapped them out since the bulbs were already Whelen products.

I wish ya luck.

Justin

[n2582d]

Justin,
Appearantly the bulbs are more compatible between systems than I thought. At least you have one that flashes. But not having a complete system one would wonder if what you have is performing as it was designed and approved on an aircraft.

This is from the Aeroflash website FAQ:

Aeroflash.jpg

True or just a way to keep one from buying Whelen parts?

[n2582d]

Chances are, the mfr'r has a troubleshooting guide to help you.

First, find out who that is and visit their website.

A simple thing to do is to swap either the lamp, or the power supply from wingtip to wingtip and see if the problem follows. That will isolate the defect.
If no change..then it's likely lack of power to the power supply (of course, you could check that first quite simple.)

If the bulb itself is very dark, then it likely has failed. The exersize above should demonstrate that for you.

Strobe systems which are unused for periods of time often have failed capacitors in the power supply... so if your pwr supply is the problem, send it to the mfr'r for repair. That will likely be cheaper than buying a replacement.

Some folks fly around during daylight (or at high altitudes in Class A airspace) with their strobes off, thinking they're saving them from overuse. That is a mistake.
Strobes last longer with frequent use, and often fail for lack thereof.

See also SE75-17 Strobe Light System Maintenance.

[juredd1]

Way to go Gary, just pour some more salt on the wound. Not only do I have an unsupported AeroFlash strobe system on my 170 but I also have an unsupported/not recommended config within my unsupported strobe system.

I do appreciate the info Gary.

I just figured if it strobed I was set. I still have to dig in and see if I can find the log book entries for this system.

After some further looking I think I'm seeing things. If you check out the bulbs that come with the aeroflash kit they look from the picture just like the ones I have. The base is triangle in shape and if you look at the bulbs listed as Whelen bulbs their bases are more of an oval or circular in shape. Hard to tell from the pictures.

http://www.whelen.com/aviation/product. ... prod_id=42

http://www.aeroflash.com/aeroflash_wing_tip.php

Just wondering if Whelen makes the bulbs for Aeroflash. Is that totally impossible?

Justin

[juredd1]

Just got off the phone with Whelen and one of the sales guys said they don't have a 170 STC for their power supplies that go out in the wingtips. They only have an STC for the central power supply system. Does anyone have a Whelen strobe system with a power supply in the wingtips?

Justin

[bagarre]

Strobe systems are pretty straight forward..most all the lights are the same basic parts as well as the power systems. They're just not that complicated.

In fact, you can buy un-mounted strobe tubes at reputable electronic stores or even ebay and re-build a busted Whelen strobe assembly with RTV for about $10.00. Ask me how I know and I still wont tell.

At some point you just need to stop looking at every little problem and just go fly the thing.
Get it in the air and have fun with it until someone tells you otherwise.

If someone is already telling you that you can't have fun with your airplane 'cuz of the strobes...pull them out and go fly.
If you decide to go the central power supply route, I have one I'll send you. It's a Whelen and will drive 4 strobes.

Mine is the kind that sits behind the baggage compartment and runs the heavy wires to the wing-tips.

[juredd1]

I can do that...thanks for the pep talk David.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

I think Dave has it about right. I was only trying to forward information which now you have and won't be surprised later. I flew with unauthorized Aeroflash units for several years until the opportunity came up to get a field approval. The approval was easy. I told the inspector they were OEM in later Cessna 172 aircraft and that they enhanced safety. The hardest part was writing the instructions for continued airworthiness which was not a problem at all really.

[GAHorn]

I would not encourage anyone to go to the electrnics store and collect parts to build a strobe system for an airplane. A TSO is not req'd by FAR for most things on this thing...but an anticollision system is specified, and unless you install an old rotating beacon ... your modern system MUST meet current regs,...which include that strobes be TSO'd to meet the proper light-output of the FARs. (Not to mention the hazards of other installation problems. Hint: search for the navajo wing pics I posted.)

[falco]

IIRC, that Navajo pilot also noted the smell of avgas before he turned on the strobes... Leaky tanks are a serious concern even if the paperwork for the strobes (and Cleveland wheels) is in perfect order. I don't recall in that incedent that that guy used bootleg parts for his lighting system, just that the tank was leaking and wiring chafed, one of which he was aware of.

[bagarre]

IIRC, that Navajo pilot also noted the smell of avgas before he turned on the strobes... Leaky tanks are a serious concern even if the paperwork for the strobes (and Cleveland wheels) is in perfect order. I don't recall in that incedent that that guy used bootleg parts for his lighting system, just that the tank was leaking and wiring chafed, one of which he was aware of.

Maybe he was running mogas!