Any LC-40 Failures? - Page 2

Davepar · #11 06-26-2006, 04:24 PM

Thanks. Yup, my LED lights are in series with a resistor. Now to see if I can return that LC40. I just ordered it a few weeks ago before I knew it was so troublesome.

Dave

Ironflight · #12 07-24-2006, 07:25 AM

Well, I pulled the panel Saturday afternoon and did some troubleshooting to try and find my short - sure enough, it is in the LC-40. I didn't pin it down further than that, as I don't have a spare to drop in, and didn't want to leave all the wires dangling while I order one. (Instead, I took the power input wire and temporarily connected it directly to my panel E/L flood strip - gives me more than enough light!)

It would be a bit of a pain to re-wire for a home-brewed dimmer system now (wish I'd gone that way in the first place), so I will probably go back with an LC-40 (at least one more time) - Has anyone used the new version of the LC-40, the one in the case? Just wondering if it does any better than the old style. I never really liked the plain, unprotected board mounted behind the panel.

Paul

tonyjohnson · #13 07-24-2006, 04:31 PM

Kevin,

I think I will take a shot at making my own dimmer given the instructions that you posted. I went to radio shack today with the instructions I downloaded. I was hoping the radio shack guy could help me understand how to make it fromt he schematic. No joy.

Do you have a pic of what it should look like when assembled? Do you mount it in a project box?

Thanks,

Tony

lucky333 · #14 07-24-2006, 08:50 PM

Hey Paul,

I looked at Van's accy catalog and it looks like the LC-40 is a 4 channel low freq PWM unit??? If so, its not going to be a heatsink issue. Linear regs will shut down on overheat but not short out. A PWM unit may not be as tolerant.

Yours may just be broken (those 200+ plus wonderful hours can take a toll, you know). Be sure before you install the new one that you run the wires and look for a fray/short downstream that would fry the output stage of your new one.

I know you have a Shuttle to launch (yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses) but before you roll your own, maybe I can help you get yours back up. Send me an email, I'm near Dallas. Short finding...I can do... having created many myself..

John

PS: I too have designed a LoFreq PWM dimmer for my plane. Drives anything from LEDs to halogens, push and/or pull. Intrinsicaly protected against shorts, reverse polarity and OV transients. Fits on same holes as the 'popular' one. Showed it to my 'buddies' at the hangar and they scoffed in favor of those pathetic '317 dimmers.

Fools! I shall crush them all!

Ironflight · #15 07-24-2006, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucky333

I know you have a Shuttle to launch (yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses) but before you roll your own, maybe I can help you get yours back up. Send me an email, I'm near Dallas. Short finding...I can do... having created many myself..

John

Thanks John ! I think mine might have succumbed to vibration and possibly some interference with a fresh air duct (there was some evidence of it rubbing on the components. I'm in no hurry now, as I have plenty of lighting for my needs - the only things not working right now are my two eyeball floods and the internal dimming on the #2 Comm (ICOMM A-200). I might let it go until condition inspection in a couple months - or until I get done with the next mission!

One other thing I should mention is alternate lighting. I have my flexible map lights (blue LED's on flex stalks, ex-laptop computer USB reading lamps) mounted under my canopy rail - either one of which, when pointed forward, gives plenty of suffused light to make the panel readable. In addition, I have a "mic light" on my microphone boom - it has selectable red/white LED's, and puts a spot exactly where you are looking. With all that redundancy, I have now figured out I have at least one too many methods of cockpit lighting....

If someone were looking to go simple? I'd go with a mic light and forget the rest...

Paul

lucky333 · #16 07-24-2006, 10:21 PM

..very clever!
John

tonyjohnson · #17 07-25-2006, 05:12 AM

OK Paul, now that you have tantalized us with the mic light information you have to come forward with the details. I had never thought of such a thing, but it is a great idea.

How is it powered, how is red/white selected, did you make it, do you have pictures of it? Inquiring minds etc.

Tony

Ironflight · #18 07-25-2006, 06:41 AM

SOrry about that guys....no time to post a picture this morning, but here is a link to the guys who make it - great prodcut - lots of users in the military:

http://www.seitzinc.com/shop/page1.html

It is powered by a little battery pack (I forget if it is AA's or 9v - but small, and replaceable), and has a switch you can touch with your tongue for on/off, and a toggle switch on the battery pack for red/white. I have mine on the boom mic for my helmet, and the battery pack is just velcroed on the back, by the nape of my neck - works great!

Paul

JonathanCook · #19 04-25-2007, 12:27 PM

I found this kit on Ebay that contains five LM317T Voltage Regulators and other parts to make a few dimmers for $11.00.

gmcjetpilot · #20 04-25-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonathanCook

I found this kit on Ebay that contains five LM317T Voltage Regulators and other parts to make a few dimmers for $11.00.

I bought it and have not soldered it up yet. You only get one board but its a do it yourself deal, but for the money you get lots of little parts and a 5 regulators for a little more than just one regulator at Radio Shack.