Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

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BONZAI BELL
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Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby BONZAI BELL » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:26 pm

I believe that the LED strobe lights are a better and cheaper option. Where would i source something like this locally?
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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby MAGNIficent » Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:55 pm

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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby Learjet » Tue Jun 14, 2011 11:58 pm

Swannie,
I fitted LED strobes from CN Lighting http://www.cnlighting.co.za/ to my previous M16 and was quite happy with the result. The LED strobes are quite a bit cheaper, lighter and easier to install as the flasher circuitry is contained within the strobe itself and doesn't require a separate bulky strobe driver box to be installed as well. The resin encased strobe lights are certainly a lot tougher than conventional strobes and less vulnerable to accidental breakage if knocked. I did have some initial electrical "tick tick" feedback issues through my headsets but that was rectified by using heavier gauge wiring to the strobes.

But....

On a recent trip back from Gariep I was able to compare both the LED strobes on my old M16 being flown by Jean, and the conventional filament strobes mounted on Jonathan's M16. There is no question that the conventional filament strobes are significantly brighter and much more visible from a greater distance than the LED strobes. If I fit strobes to my M22 I think I'll go the conventional filament strobe route as they are simply that much more effective - particularly as my intention would be to improve the visibility of my gyro to other aircraft in hazy or low light conditions.
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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby Learjet » Thu May 17, 2012 8:31 pm

vhpy
Last edited by Learjet on Sun May 20, 2012 1:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby ger koff » Sat May 19, 2012 7:45 pm

Learjet

Are you sure the conventional strobe you refer to isn't a xenon strobe and not a filament?

Ger
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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby Learjet » Sun May 20, 2012 1:43 pm

Ger, I think you're correct. :-)
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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby ger koff » Sun May 20, 2012 8:00 pm

Learjet

The xenon strobes are the most common type.
The xenon strobes produce a huge amount of light compared to any other light source. It's not easy to replace them with LED's that produce the same instantaneous light output.
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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby Berry Papay » Tue May 22, 2012 8:01 am

There is no question that the conventional filament strobes are significantly brighter and much more visible from a greater distance than the LED strobes.




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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby Low Level » Tue May 22, 2012 9:11 am

From what I have seen. The LED's are very directional. If viewed from the front, they are quite bright, but from an angle, pretty useless. If someone designed a LED strobe looking something like a ball, it will be much more effective.
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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby ZULU1 » Wed May 23, 2012 6:05 am

Strobe.jpg
The base height may be reduced
Strobe.jpg (12.58 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
Chaps,We have been making strobes for trikes for a while now, the Xenon is without question up until now a far brighter option, but its as Glen stated a directional thing and not actually a brightness thing. The Chrisnics are very good as they are scattered like a pineapple and use a driver. Hence the "Tick tick". On a trike with conventional Xenons the driver is in the base and the base is ally allowing a very efficient heat-sink for the mosfet. No problem except that they are large, not heavy. Glens idea is currently in use with helicopters, The Agusta 109/119 series has a Strobe the size and shape of a super size Mc Donalds coke cup, this is littered with smd Leds. Works well. Now we are busy with lighting solutions for townships dwellings, hence the interest in Leds generally and keeping up with whats happening. Drivers are a kind of a no ball in aviation due to interference. As an example, take a really good Petzel or similar headlight and place next to a radio and listen to the noise it makes. I have just imported a batch of 55,000mcd Leds, they have a 25 degree angle. These are useless for what I bought them for, but we have wired them up into a 1/2 pineapple shape and hitched up a simple 555 flasher circuit and the results are quite interesting. This may possibly be the solution by assembling them in a hex shape with approximately 9 Leds per side and another 18 on the top. It will fit in our existing lens but the base may be smaller...and lighter...

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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby Graham Mac » Thu May 24, 2012 9:33 pm

Hi Zulu1
The strobe in your pic is i presume self driven??
How much do they cost?
Mine i think packed up...still need to follow wireing.
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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby saraf » Fri May 25, 2012 7:44 am

swannie , ek het die, werk soos n bom

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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby ZULU1 » Fri May 25, 2012 3:18 pm

Hi Graham, yes they are self propelled, the base is spun aluminum and has a rf bead inside it for noise. They are R950,00 ex works with trailing link bracket. We have stocks as we made this week.

Safe flying weekend.

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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby CleoGerten » Thu Nov 15, 2012 9:04 am

There is no question that the conventional filament strobes are significantly brighter and much more visible from a greater distance than the LED strobes.








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Re: Led Strobe lights for a Gyro

Postby tigger_na » Sat Dec 01, 2012 10:52 am

Hi Zulu1
Where do I find the strobe you posted about?
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