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11-26-2012, 09:32 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Greeley, Colorado
Posts: 199
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Strobe failure
My strobe flashes several times and then nothing. I switch it off and then on and then it flashes several times and then nothing. I assume there is a shielded power pack somewhere far away from the radios. Where would I look for the unit on a 6A? Was there a recommended install location?
__________________
John D. Artz, EAA 71811, 100+ Young Eagle flts
Adopted Dave's 6A
MXL Ultralight, only bleeding after 3 landings
Scorpion Two Helicopter, big mistake
PA-28 and 210E Centurion
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11-26-2012, 09:44 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: santa barbara, CA
Posts: 1,682
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Look behind the baggage bulkhead
erich
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11-26-2012, 10:06 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Locust Grove, GA
Posts: 29
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This recently happened to me (Whelen system). One of my bulbs was bad. The system would stop after the initial few flashes and one of the bulbs would continue to glow. Replaced the bad bulb and the system works fine.
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Dave Watson
RV-9
Locust Grove, GA (Mallards Landing)
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11-26-2012, 10:54 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas area
Posts: 10,768
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Need more information
If it is a Whelen system with one power supply, it's probably behind the baggage bulkhead as Erich said.
If it is Aeroflash, the individual power supplies are usually in the wingtip.
__________________
Mel Asberry, DAR since the last century.
EAA Flight Advisor/Tech Counselor, Friend of the RV-1
Recipient of Tony Bingelis Award and Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
USAF Vet, High School E-LSA Project Mentor.
RV-6 Flying since 1993 (sold)
<rvmel(at)icloud.com>
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11-26-2012, 12:57 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Greeley, Colorado
Posts: 199
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Thanks Mel, It is a whelen.
__________________
John D. Artz, EAA 71811, 100+ Young Eagle flts
Adopted Dave's 6A
MXL Ultralight, only bleeding after 3 landings
Scorpion Two Helicopter, big mistake
PA-28 and 210E Centurion
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11-26-2012, 03:01 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,686
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From the Whelen Manual
XENON FLASH TUBE PROCEDURES
1. A xenon flash tube can be very photosensitive. One will flash normally
when exposed to an external light source, but may become
hard to fire when subjected to darkness.
2. They will become hard firing with age, or when exposed to a very
high temperature. A hard firing tube will sometimes operate with
the engine running, but will fail when operated on a low battery.
3. They can develop a leak through eggshelling of the glass, or a leak
can develop around the seal of the wire to the glass. This is caused
by hot and cold cycling of normal operating of the system.
4. They can go into self-ionization (continuously glow a light blue),
thus rendering the entire system non-operational until flash tube is
replaced. This most likely occurs when the input voltage is highest.
This can be checked by turning the system off. When turning the
system back on, it generally will operate normally for a few flashes
before going back into self-ionization.
ANY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED CONDITIONS ARE REASONS FOR
REPLACEMENT OF THE XENON FLASH TUBE.
NOTE: Installing one new flash tube in any multi-head strobe light
system, will sometimes cause the remaining old flash tube to misfire
or skip. This signifies that the old flash tube is nearing the end of it?s
service life. However, to check the questionable flash tube, install it in
a system and apply a reduced voltage, approximately 20 percent, to the
input to the power supply. If the flash tube will operate at this reduced
level, it still has a great deal of service life in it.
__________________
Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)
EXP Aircraft Services LLC
Specializing in RV Condition Inspections, Maintenance, Avionics Upgrades
Dynamic Prop Balancing, Pitot-Static Altmeter/Transponder Certification
FAA Certified Repair Station, AP/IA/FCC GROL, EAA Technical Counselor
Authorized Garmin G3X Dealer/Installer
RV7A built 2004, 1700+ hrs, New Titan IO-370, Bendix Mags
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154
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11-27-2012, 08:36 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 230
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Check ground
I recently had the same symptoms with my strobes. After changing power supply it was still inop. Turned out to be a bad ground connection. Might want to check that first. It's an easy fix.
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Bill Grischo, Gilbert AZ
N911WG RV-6A DVT
Flying, thinking about polishing
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11-27-2012, 10:28 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Greeley, Colorado
Posts: 199
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Thanks to one and all
Again Thanks to one and all. What an amazing wealth on info. I'm heading to the hanger after work to trouble shoot.
__________________
John D. Artz, EAA 71811, 100+ Young Eagle flts
Adopted Dave's 6A
MXL Ultralight, only bleeding after 3 landings
Scorpion Two Helicopter, big mistake
PA-28 and 210E Centurion
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11-28-2012, 02:54 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hobe Sound, Florida
Posts: 292
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Check the wire connections to the pins on the moles connectors. Don't ask me how I know to look there.
__________________
Kevin Phelps
Paid thru Dec 2020
RV-7A flying N782WP
Stuart, Fl
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11-29-2012, 06:17 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: St-Jerome,Quebec,Canada
Posts: 1,125
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Strobe Problems
Hi All
''wire connections to the pins on the moles connectors ''.....
Exactly the problem I got...My strobes ( Whelen ) had worked flawlessly ever since I owned the a/c then suddenly stopped working for no reason..I checked everything and couldn't find the cause so I bought at a very good price a complete Whelen strobe kit from someone here on VAF...
Once I opened up the floor to look at the power supply closely, I found the power and ground wire of the power connector with the insulation eated away near the molex ( Recently had a mice problem in the aircraft ) and also found a dead mouse right behind the power supply ( probably bit into the wire when power was on ) so I fixed that and all the other Molex connectors and they have work ever since...
Now I have a spare kit for when it stop working again...or have another mice attack..
Bruno
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