Wingtip Strobes

[n2582d]

I assumed (we all know what that stands for) that I had the Grimes nav lights. I just checked to confirm that and it turns out that I have Whelen W1285's. So I'll just buy the add-on A-650's. Anyway, thanks for all the advice.

[jrenwick]

...(Sorta like a multi-engine airplanes, ...two pwr supplies double the chances for failure.) But that's only my cheap opinion.

Hi George,

Maybe you weren't being serious here -- but a twin with one failed engine vs. an airplane with strobes operating on only one wingtip? Sounds like apples vs. oranges to me.

Best Regards,

John

[GAHorn]

Of course it is. I was merely making a comparison. Two of anything (whether strobes or engines) make for a more likely failure of one of them, while it also makes for more liklihood that if one fails....there'll be another that still works.

BTW... strobe pwr supplies like to be utilized. If you want to kill a power-supply... then don't use it. The capacitors will lose their ability to hold a charge and the unit will fail. I keep my strobe pwr switch in the "ON" position continuously. (That way it's always used when I fly, and it also would remind me if I'd left my aircraft Master Switch ON should I make that mistake at someplace out of the way. Not that such a thing would ever happen. I've heard of it happening to other pilots tho'.)

My own pwr supply lost a capacitor just before we launched on the way to the Tehachapi convention. I yanked out the pwr supply and FED-EXed it to Whelen, they gave me a quick-turn and FED-EXed it to me at one of our intermediate stops. (Jamie and I stopped for a couple days to visit friends at SLC.) I installed it while at SLC, and it's worked just fine since. Invoice was $119 for repairs including shipping.

About 20 years ago I won a self-contained Whelen strobe in a raffle. (It was one of those HF-DF units that directly replace Grimes rot. bcns.) It sat in my garage for 5 years before I tried to install it, and by then it was dead. I shipped it to Whelen who advised me that idle-ness kills the capacitors (which I already knew, but I simply didn't have a need for the unit when I won it.) They repaired it free, and shipped it back to me at their own expense. I feel good about them as a company.

[N2540V]

I wonder if it would be easier to tape the new wire on the old at the wingtip and back pull it through when removing the old ?

Absolute NOT on the 48 ragwing with factory original wiring runs.

N2540V had factory original wiring in it (plus additional wires for add-on landing lights).
There is a small grommet through the leading edge rib that has a diameter smaller than the multiwire shielded cable that you are going to have to run.
You will have to pull the new cable through the HUGE holes in the leading edge ribs and abandon the original wire.

One modification I am making is to install a screw on inspection port on the underside of the wing tip to access the wire connector behind the wingtip strobes. If you are installing on an existing covered wing, you will need to cut a slot under the strobe to feed the wire connector through.