VAF Forums

VAF Forums (https://vansairforce.net/community/index.php)
-   Electrical Systems (https://vansairforce.net/community/forumdisplay.php?f=43)
-   -   Wiring in a light to fuel pump system (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=96823)

Brantel 02-25-2013 04:09 PM

You guys do realize we are building RV's here don't you? Not Space Shuttles.....

There are a million failure modes to check for, wires that could get broken, bulbs that can burn out, lights that can be the wrong color or too bright, push to test circuits that must be added, etc. etc. etc. This can snowball totally out of control fast!

The original poster is way behind the power curve on all of that...He needed a simple circuit to get him out of the ditch. That is what I gave him....

vlittle 02-25-2013 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krw5927 (Post 747560)
If you use an incandescent light bulb for your "flaps operating" indicator you can wire it in parallel with the flap motor just like Brantel said above. Don't even need to pay attention to polarity. It will light up any time the motor runs, in either direction. A LED indicator would make things a little more complicated, but using 2 LEDs (one for flaps going up, one for down) would be rather easy - install them both in parallel but reverse the polarity of one LED in relation to the other.

I've never seen a "flaps operating" indicator in a panel though. Can you help me understand what the utility would be?

If you want to use an LED instead of an incandescent lamp for the flap run indicator, you'll need to put the LED and a current limiting resitor (510 ohms or so) in series across the + and - terminals of a bridge rectifier, observing proper polarity. The two ~ terminals on the rectifier go to the flap motor poles, which are not polarity sensitive.

Flap run indicators are used because Van's flap motors do not have limit switches and will continue to run even when at their end limits. Many people use an (ON)-OFF-ON DPDT switch instead of the standard Van's switch, which will not automatically shut off when released.

Finally, all of this simple lamp stuff works fine for Day VFR. For night VFR, things get tricky because you'll want to dim the lamps to avoid being dazzled. An annunciator controller makes this easy. See http://store.makerplane.org/annunciator-controllers-il-12a/ for a typical circuit. This is an open-source design.

N941WR 02-25-2013 07:18 PM

Robert, give me a call.

You may not remember but I had a light wired to my pump in my first panel.

N427EF 02-25-2013 07:54 PM

Works for me
 
Here is my pump light wired as per Brantel's schematic.
Your fuel pressure gauge will tell you if it's actually pumping.
Notice it's green, green means good. If you forget to turn it off, no harm done.



You really don't need a flap light just look out the window and get a visual on the flaps.
If you want to get fancy on the flaps get one of these
http://www.tcwtech.com/IFC-1-page.htm

krw5927 02-26-2013 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlittle (Post 747663)
If you want to use an LED instead of an incandescent lamp for the flap run indicator, you'll need to put the LED and a current limiting resitor (510 ohms or so) in series across the + and - terminals of a bridge rectifier, observing proper polarity. The two ~ terminals on the rectifier go to the flap motor poles, which are not polarity sensitive.

Flap run indicators are used because Van's flap motors do not have limit switches and will continue to run even when at their end limits. Many people use an (ON)-OFF-ON DPDT switch instead of the standard Van's switch, which will not automatically shut off when released.

Finally, all of this simple lamp stuff works fine for Day VFR. For night VFR, things get tricky because you'll want to dim the lamps to avoid being dazzled. An annunciator controller makes this easy. See http://store.makerplane.org/annunciator-controllers-il-12a/ for a typical circuit. This is an open-source design.

Thanks, Vern, that makes sense. I guess I hadn't thought of folks using a switch that latched in the "flaps up" direction.

BTW I built a couple of your annunciator controllers and love them! Thank you for sharing the design. The dimming option and "push to test" feature are fantastic!

Robert M 02-26-2013 10:13 AM

[quote=vlittle;747663]
Flap run indicators are used because Van's flap motors do not have limit switches and will continue to run even when at their end limits. Many people use an (ON)-OFF-ON DPDT switch instead of the standard Van's switch, which will not automatically shut off when released.QUOTE]

I think the best thing to do will be to go without the flap run indicator. My switch is an (ON)-OFF-(ON) so there's realy no way it will stay on. My concern was more about the flap motor becoming a runaway if a "weird" short was to cause it to take off without input from me.

The fuel pump light works great by running in parallel as suggested by MikeS. The flap motor run indicator is a bit trickier because of the nature of the wiring. I tried to wire the flap run light as krw5927 and the result was tat the light lit in only one flap operating direction. This is with an incandecent light from AS.

Yes, N941WR, I remember our conversation (LOL) and I am using a green light. Thanks for that insight.

Mel 02-26-2013 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill_H (Post 747632)
To be really picky about it, the circuit shown only indicates that there is power to the indicator light. The branch of the wire to the pump could have a break in it.

I think the original intent here is as a reminder that the switch is on. Simpler the better.

DanH 02-26-2013 11:22 AM

I suspect Mel and I are of the same mind.....KIS!

GrayHawk 03-03-2013 12:37 PM

Green for me:

Greg Arehart 03-03-2013 03:39 PM

I used a lighter rocker switch for my fuel pump.

Greg


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:06 AM.