---------------------------------------------------------- Europa-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 12/10/11: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 01:39 AM - Re: AC powered fin strobe (R Holder) 2. 01:54 AM - Re: off topic interesting incident (ptag.dev@tiscali.co.uk) 3. 06:25 AM - Re: AC powered fin strobe (Frans Veldman) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 01:39:56 AM PST US From: R Holder Subject: Re: Europa-List: AC powered fin strobe On 10/12/2011 06:12, Richard Lamprey wrote: > My fin mounted 12V DC Filser strobe went u/s, and I > have spent some time looking for a similar strobe that > will fit in the hole in the fin (5 cm exact diameter). > I settled on the Illusion strobe from the US (mostly > used for ultralights), the only one that will fit, and > this is powered directly from the Rotax 912 magneto > generator, which supplies 12V AC. I am told it has an > exceptionally bright flas. The strobe power box is > wired in series between the 912 generator wires > (yellow) and the Ducati voltage rectifier. Also, > strangely, there is no circuit breaker or fuse in this > system. Has anyone installed an Illusion AC system > before, or similar? Are there problems, does it blow > the rectifier? The supplier assures me this is a > common installation with 912 engines, and there are no > problems. Be advised that the AC voltage out of the stator can be as much as 30 v at full power. That might explain why it is so bright. Unless you really meant "in series" rather than the usual "in parallel" ! If it works in series then it might be OK with a slightly higher engine rpm before the battery gets charge. RFWH ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 01:54:36 AM PST US From: "ptag.dev@tiscali.co.uk" Subject: RE: Europa-List: off topic interesting incident Hi! Will suggeswt you get a lottery ticket ! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Regards Bob Harrison G-PTAG >----Original Message---- >From: craigb@onthenet.com.au >Date: 09/12/2011 23:57 >To: >Subj: RE: Europa-List: off topic interesting incident > >Ouch, lucky to get away with that one > > > >From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com >[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of William Daniell >Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 6:20 AM >To: europa-list@matronics.com >Subject: Europa-List: off topic interesting incident > > > >All > > > >I attach a foto of one of our club pa28 taken yesterday. Have a look at the >wing. > > > >The aircraft hit a tree in the approach to Bogota in a place called Bojaca >from the south west - you can find it on google maps. In addition the >aircraft has a big dent on the spinner and lost an main gear leg. > > > >It appears that the aircraft was descending through a hole in the cloud over >bojaca and accidentally came up against a mountain of which there are lots >in Colombia. The aircraft hit a tree making the substantial hole in the >left wing loosing the fuel tank and main gear leg. The pilot as soon as he >saw the tree applied full power and had the presence of mind to switch >tanks. > > > >Now here is the remarkable thing. The aircraft bounced off the top of the >tree and flew in this state to our base in Guaymaral SKGY which is about 15 >minutes flying time and landed coming to rest obviously on the left wing. >Not a mark on the prop. > > > >Will > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 06:25:09 AM PST US From: Frans Veldman Subject: Re: Europa-List: AC powered fin strobe On 12/10/2011 07:12 AM, Richard Lamprey wrote: > The > strobe power box is wired in series between the 912 generator wires > (yellow) and the Ducati voltage rectifier. Wait a minute. Is it really in series? If both yellow wires go to the Ducati AND both go to the strobe, it is parallel. If one yellow wire goes to the strobe, and one yellow wire to the ducati, and a new wire is used to connect the remaining ducati and strobe connectors together (like how X-mas tree lights are wired), it is indeed series. It is quite important to know whether it is parallel or series, hence my question. > Also, strangely, there is > no circuit breaker or fuse in this system. This would make sense if it is series indeed, otherwise you should use a fuse. Anyway, I would advise for quite a number of reasons against a series diagram, but a parallel diagram would be ok. I would be surprised if it is series indeed, but you never know. Assuming it is parallel, as it should be, I think it is a great solution. Strobes work on high voltages, so any strobe power supply needs to convert the low voltage DC into high voltage AC and then rectify it again. By feeding it directly from the alternator (where it is still AC) quite some losses can be avoided, and it also does not load the Ducati (which has a tendency to burn out easily). An AC-fed strobe can not be powered from the battery, but if the alternator fails the strobe is the first thing you should power down anyway, so this is no real disadvantage. You should put a fuse between the alternator and strobe power unit. (Don't use a CB here, as you should never try to reset a tripped strobe CB during flight: it is not essential equipment and malfunctioning strobe power supplies are quite a hazard, so don't play with these things and just use a "one-time" fuse here to avoid any temptation!). I would put a switch in between too, as it is considered somewhat impolite to wait at the holding point with bright flashing strobes while there is someone on final, especially when it isn't very bright weather. I would also like to power down the strobe if I would smell any fuel during flight. Frans ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message europa-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Europa-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/europa-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/europa-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.