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Zenon Flash tube for Whelen Tip??

BillL

Well Known Member
I have my Whelen HDACF system on the bench and apparently the tip strobes are no good. The plan is to get it working and sell it.

New ones (A610) from Whelen are $200+. Since we are experimental, I thought this might be a good place to experiment.

Has anyone used an COTS part for the bulb? The one below is the same spiral, voltage, and 50 J vs the 21J stated by the Whelen literature. It is $6.47

Comments?? Any experience?

gYnkt2YDx6oR8TGXNvKNn2elRdAyB41LAV_ZZECaa0Zibz6DEG0IaccpYSS5zlqUFuXwheCqDnnamRJHDsIRJmMlcAA-_7ShffKnb8HbZ5t_T0S6_P3NiFSb7mYS9MWxKvI59qzQnwarX2g3vmek2JhC1YnmFZpBINy6CdaNy3Tg1UxT1iQn_HY0iwWYSfqwc9nSxoNJzNKFS-QNbKknZQUm3iXk2ArJfPr5Mxz3ni8I0YAZN9_t2fPaAzm1nso0XOuWzfvSJzZHV_6ENsj1tZeSQMTwXh1sdZkYhfMJWWYawFhPwBT04RfpOLzDZlhG32g3JLdJ_fr07FBhp4-mTAiGDC01xyc4cTS5oCSHy192mxE-CKNGVEFsspMrB9FiZ7BAl40GjqytqPTeQ9EsGBJcJ66WQjTJCckiyziqSXPzNfZTTQ7opo5QP6ty5YIUVkrhDqzBv4Cy5_yZtqqnpWcr3jQgO5GoEzQddyE4x0y6vRDbMTWDN0ebwYxBbZvA8EUIipeETaJTmzIZVaBs7SNeGw8kGHKWUzFhemr8N2sDONmVUarwOcc6VCAOE-2T9gSMgLQIkNHjb-bimogdLfT9efATPLCQoIYIbgBfO2ajXxKATm4So6Bz1g2-Rdu7bA3Qmivp90lBdmcrqPNaRtm91ic6o0CJeSEGRjnvNyizjWZaR6oK_AdBR3uplLgKh0cQVAQXRzbkm3QEWDwuuxOXvd6hZDjZ6FpIcNFS69wf-YCB=w290-h309-no
 
Should work

Years ago when building my RV4 I bought a used Aero Flash strobe system. One of the domes and bulbs were broken. I replace the strobe bulb with one from Radio Shack. Made a cardboard form to match the existing bulb base. Cast the new bulb assembly in the base form with white silicone sealant (Home Depot). Took several days for the silicone to cure. Worked great.

If you sell the strobe system, disclose you replaced the bulb with a COTS bulb.
 
Thanks, Paul, it appears the company is in Israel, and will be in the mail for a while. It was the only source I could find.

I bought 3 just in case. :D I was thinking about casting the same holder as you mentioned, good to know it will work.

Disclosure to new owner is certainly in order, I was thinking about running it for several one or two hr stints to check it out. Definitely experimental only, but may help others with the same problem. At least it can prove the power unit is good (or not) :D
 
Grrr

So I’m going to try to fit one of these replacements in my Whelen housing. One strobe dead tonight on preflight. Mfg date March of 2004, I bought them waaaaay in advance....or optimism. Only 136 hours of flight time. I can’t put $200 into a bulb. I’m going to start planning for the LED conversion with my condition inspection. For now, I just want flashy again. I’ll let everybody know if the project is easy or hard.
 
The "automotive" strobes from whelen are plug and play (connector, not molded base) and work fine. Still expensive, but much better than the aviation product.
 
Strobe Replacement

I have my Whelen HDACF system on the bench and apparently the tip strobes are no good. The plan is to get it working and sell it.

New ones (A610) from Whelen are $200+. Since we are experimental, I thought this might be a good place to experiment.

Has anyone used an COTS part for the bulb? The one below is the same spiral, voltage, and 50 J vs the 21J stated by the Whelen literature. It is $6.47

Comments?? Any experience?

gYnkt2YDx6oR8TGXNvKNn2elRdAyB41LAV_ZZECaa0Zibz6DEG0IaccpYSS5zlqUFuXwheCqDnnamRJHDsIRJmMlcAA-_7ShffKnb8HbZ5t_T0S6_P3NiFSb7mYS9MWxKvI59qzQnwarX2g3vmek2JhC1YnmFZpBINy6CdaNy3Tg1UxT1iQn_HY0iwWYSfqwc9nSxoNJzNKFS-QNbKknZQUm3iXk2ArJfPr5Mxz3ni8I0YAZN9_t2fPaAzm1nso0XOuWzfvSJzZHV_6ENsj1tZeSQMTwXh1sdZkYhfMJWWYawFhPwBT04RfpOLzDZlhG32g3JLdJ_fr07FBhp4-mTAiGDC01xyc4cTS5oCSHy192mxE-CKNGVEFsspMrB9FiZ7BAl40GjqytqPTeQ9EsGBJcJ66WQjTJCckiyziqSXPzNfZTTQ7opo5QP6ty5YIUVkrhDqzBv4Cy5_yZtqqnpWcr3jQgO5GoEzQddyE4x0y6vRDbMTWDN0ebwYxBbZvA8EUIipeETaJTmzIZVaBs7SNeGw8kGHKWUzFhemr8N2sDONmVUarwOcc6VCAOE-2T9gSMgLQIkNHjb-bimogdLfT9efATPLCQoIYIbgBfO2ajXxKATm4So6Bz1g2-Rdu7bA3Qmivp90lBdmcrqPNaRtm91ic6o0CJeSEGRjnvNyizjWZaR6oK_AdBR3uplLgKh0cQVAQXRzbkm3QEWDwuuxOXvd6hZDjZ6FpIcNFS69wf-YCB=w290-h309-no
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Please post your results when you get the tubes. Would be great to know!
Ed
 
You may need a bigger capacitor for the bigger bulb.

Then it might slow down the charge time, causing a slower flash rate.
 
Install of strobes and more bulb in wingtip

I did the strobes and more install yesterday. It went fine. It requires a little modification to fit. I used PN HAFC, $18 shipped. Brightness is on par with the Whelen, although I had no way of measuring energy output. The HAFC has a round plastic disc mount, comes with the molex connector and a gasket. Note the lead is about 2” shorter than the stock bulb. Grinding two flats off created the required clearance and fit. I used the supplied gasket, the measured and assembled stack up was good, no-rattle fit without excessive compression force. The power supply ran normally, no anomalies noted during operation and subsequent flight. I don’t plan on sticking with this long term, only until the next condition inspection when I will likely install a full LED setup. It’s satisfactory for now, especially in the face of a $194 bulb.
 

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