Wig Wag and bulb life

Webb · #1 10-13-2008, 02:50 AM

For those that have wig/wag flashers - Have you noticed any difference in bulb life?

Reason for asking, it is my understanding that the repeated heating and cooling from on/off cycles can cause premature failure of bulb filaments.

RV6_flyer · #2 10-13-2008, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webb

For those that have wig/wag flashers - Have you noticed any difference in bulb life?

Reason for asking, it is my understanding that the repeated heating and cooling from on/off cycles can cause premature failure of bulb filaments.

One of my landing lights lasted just over 1,000 hours. The other right at 1,800 hours. I have the RMD wingtip mounted aviation bulb for landing lights.

I run the wig-wags 85% of the time.

Mel · #3 10-13-2008, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webb

For those that have wig/wag flashers - Have you noticed any difference in bulb life?

Reason for asking, it is my understanding that the repeated heating and cooling from on/off cycles can cause premature failure of bulb filaments.

Actually bulbs should last longer with a wig/wag. The lamps are only powered 1/2 the time and they don't have time to cool between flashes. The deterioration is caused from turning on a "cold" bulb. I'm still using my original bulbs after 15 years. Granted, I don't run them all the time.

Sam Buchanan · #4 10-13-2008, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webb

For those that have wig/wag flashers - Have you noticed any difference in bulb life?

Reason for asking, it is my understanding that the repeated heating and cooling from on/off cycles can cause premature failure of bulb filaments.

Webb, I doubt you will find the wig-wags causing bulbs to fail prematurely. I've replaced one bulb in nine years and that was early in the life of my plane, probably due to a faulty bulb.

The automotive-based wig-wags flash rapidly (I have a Galls unit), and it appears they never let the "off" bulb go completely dark, so the filaments stay hot. This most likely accounts for the excellent bulb life we normally see when running the flashers.

Rosie · #5 10-13-2008, 01:14 PM

I run my flashers 100% of the time, day and night. I ensure the bulb filament (placement) is vertical, and my bulbs have been averaging ~1000hrs useful life. Each wing bulb has been replaced 3 times over 2855 hrs

Rosie

Canadian_JOY · #6 10-15-2008, 01:21 PM

Just a word of caution with wig-wags... If you're looking to use a wig-wag flasher with HID lights some manufacturers indicate that bulb life may be reduced by as much as 20%. At least one HID manufacturer has indicated that multiple on-off cycles are not good for either the bulb or the ballast. On the other hand, LED landing lights have no trouble at all with being flashed on and off.