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guccidude1

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Guys: I just installed of set of landing/taxi lights in the leading edges of my -9A, ala Duckworks design. These are 12 LED, 3550 lumens 4" x 4" units drawing 2 amps each. I am looking for a design to cause wig wagging using a flasher similar to an auto flasher or such flasher for LEDs. The amp draw should operation an auto flasher though . I envision a separate rocker switch supplying power from the exiting buss to the powered off switch breakers that operate each landing/taxi lights using the same wire runs. Since the auto flasher operates either the front or rear lights alternately on the left or right side, then I should get alternating flashes of each unit. I wonder if diodes would be needed to guarantee isolation? Anyone have any schematics that would address this idea. The simpler the better, preferably no solid state stuff. Thanks in advance for any working solutions. Dan
 
Excellent schematic!

Just out of curiosity though, I'm not quite on the step with why one would employ a wig-wag anyway? I'd not think it a great idea at night, so is it a daytime attention catcher on landing? I'd not seen any heavies use it.....
 
I hope this helps:

wigwag.jpg
 
maniago said:
Just out of curiosity though, I'm not quite on the step with why one would employ a wig-wag anyway? I'd not think it a great idea at night, so is it a daytime attention catcher on landing? I'd not seen any heavies use it.....
Click to expand...

Great attention getter anytime! With the brightness of modern LED's, I can see a good set of Wig-Wags in the pattern before I notice strobes.

The heavies have such huge landing lights that they are hard to miss, flashing or not.
 
maniago said:
Excellent schematic!

Just out of curiosity though, I'm not quite on the step with why one would employ a wig-wag anyway? I'd not think it a great idea at night, so is it a daytime attention catcher on landing? I'd not seen any heavies use it.....
Click to expand...

The predominant reason I wanted the leading edge lights. Many times I have visited friends who were at the airport upon landing. Almost every one immediately comments on how far out they saw me - I turn then on when I contact tower or make my initial CTAF call. I also keep them on any time I'm in a high-traffic area.
 
I fly on the East Coast and it is not uncommon to have a good layer of haze below 6,000 ft. It sure is helpful to see other aircraft with wigwag vs strobes.
 
I went a slightly different way on my lights. My light switch turn both my landing and taxi lights on together. The only difference between them is the angle they are mounted within the wing. Because of this my blinker circuit is very simple:



Light Switch ON no matter where the recognition switch is = All lights on steady
Light Switch OFF/Recognition switch ON = All lights blink together
Light Switch OFF / Recognition switch OFF = All lights off

I normally leave my recognition switch ON and my light switch OFF so my lights constantly blink. If I want to keep the lights on but stop the blinking (landing at night) I just turn my light switch ON. Turn both switches OFF and the lights turn off.

:cool:
 
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Great - learning something good here!

I get the point now.

However, are you guys going the extra mile using lights on both wings, the farther out the better (?), or just the landing/taxi light set (ie side by side/one side)?

Does it make any difference in practical experience?
 
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GalinHdz: I like this also. You have a part number and do I need a schematic for the flasher or is it just that easy? Dan


I went a slightly different way on my lights. My light switch turn both my landing and taxi lights on together. The only difference between them is the angle they are mounted within the wing. Because of this my blinker circuit is very simple:



Light Switch ON no matter where the recognition switch is = All lights on steady
Light Switch OFF/Recognition switch ON = All lights blink together
Light Switch OFF / Recognition switch OFF = All lights off

I normally leave my recognition switch ON and my light switch OFF so my lights constantly blink. If I want to keep the lights on but stop the blinking (landing at night) I just turn my light switch ON. Turn both switches OFF and the lights turn off.
 
Greenley said:
What LED units are you using?
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I was using regular T3 halogen bulbs at the time. But the type of light bulb (LED or Halogen) doesn't matter as long as you have the correct blinker.

For an LED application you can use this simple flasher.

For halogen lights you can use this simple flasher.

You can buy either flasher at your local AutoZone, Advance Auto, or just about any auto store, store for a few dollars each. Either way the circuit will work. I hope this helps.

:cool:
 
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DaleB said:
To clarify -- both of those would blink the lights on and off together, but neither will wig-wag.
Click to expand...

Yes. This is an inexpensive way to flash the lights which is what you want as a minimum for increased visibility. Just like the emergency flashers on your car. Actual wig-wag requires some kind of synchronization which costs more.

:cool:
 
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ArVeeNiner said:
I used this flasher from B&C and it does wig wag.

http://www.bandc.biz/search.aspx?find=Flasher

Looks like it's $12.

I use my wig wag a lot. They are on for every daytime take off and landing, if I'm in a busy area, or if visibility isn't great. Can't hurt.
Click to expand...

That blinker works great for incandescent (Halogen) bulbs but it doesn't work for LED's. For LED bulbs you can use this modification to the original diagram.



The only difference is that you have a second LED blinker and use double pole/single throw switches. This causes the lights to independently blink creating a non-synchronized wig-wag effect while keeping the switch sequence the same:

Both switches OFF = All lights OFF
Light Switch OFF / Recognition switch ON = All lights non-synchronized blinking (wig-wag effect)
Light Switch ON /Recognition Switch ON = All lights steady ON
Light Switch ON /Recognition Switch OFF = All lights steady ON

I try to do things rugged, simple and CHEAP.

:D
 
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maniago said:
Excellent schematic!

Just out of curiosity though, I'm not quite on the step with why one would employ a wig-wag anyway? I'd not think it a great idea at night, so is it a daytime attention catcher on landing? I'd not seen any heavies use it.....
Click to expand...


I was watching the landings at KLAS from one of the casino/hotels and saw a
B-737 doing the wig-wag. It looked like Southwest but I can't swear to that. You could spot it a long way!
 
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