Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

skywagon

Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 184

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:38 am Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

A general question for Bob and the List Members concerning halogen bulbs, 

i.e., GE H7604 landing light style.



I am hoping someone on the List knows a lot about halogen bulb failure 

modes.



I have H7604 lamps in my wing tips that aid landing and traffic recognition. 

They are controlled by a solid state switcher that is either OFF-ON-PULSED. 

( I do not know the turn-on ramp characteristics..)



They fail in less than 10 hrs of operation.  Interesting both seem to fail 

nearly at the same time.  The "pulse" mode for traffic recognition is the 

major use.



My ignorant guess is that halogen bulbs do not like to be pulsed or ramped 

up too quickly during pulse mode.  If the rapid power ramp up is the primary 

cause, I am wondering if an appropriate choke (induction) would slow that 

ramping down and return normal life to these devices.



Any insight, suggestions into the failure mode and how to work around it 

would be greatly appreciated.  David

BGray(at)glasair.org
Guest

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:19 am Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

Switch to HID.



Bruce

WWW.Glasair.org 



--

skywagon

Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 184

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 12:57 pm Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

Good suggestion...all except for the considerable cost for dual sets.....

David



____________________________________________________

---

BGray(at)glasair.org
Guest

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:49 pm Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

OK, how about LED?



Bruce

WWW.Glasair.org 



--

skywagon

Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 184

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:54 pm Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

Bruce,

..also a good suggestion, but, like HID's they are quite expensive when one 

needs a really bright recognition lamp.

I plan to keep watching the LED market and see what comes in cost 

reduction.... Thanks, David



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



---

Bob McC

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 258
Location: Toronto, ON

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:22 pm Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

David;  

   

In automotive use halogen bulb life is adversely affected by low voltage, high resistance connections, poor grounds etc etc. "Dimming" a halogen bulb (at least certain types) is deadly for it. A bulb operated on low voltage will very rapidly darken as the filament material which evaporates is deposited on the quartz envelope and the lamp will rapidly fail as the filament cross section is reduced. I'm told, but don't quite understand why or how, that operating these bulbs at full or even slightly increased voltage somehow keeps the quartz hot enough that the filament material does not "plate out" or coat the inside of the envelope and instead migrates back to the filament keeping the filament intact and extending its life. That apparently is part of the purpose behind the halogen gas filling the envelope.  

I don't fully understand how this process works but anecdotally have proven it to be correct. I had a van with H4 halogen headlamps which used to "eat" bulbs. Couldn't keep bulbs in it for love nor money until I discovered that the voltage regulator was faulty and was barely keeping a charge in the battery. Upon replacing the regulator, thus getting the voltage back up to spec, the battery was noticeably healthier, starting was much quicker and easier, the lights were significantly brighter and they lasted for several years rather than the couple of months I'd been getting from them before.   

Your "pulsed" circuit may have the effect of appearing to be a reduced voltage source for the bulbs causing a similar situation to what I experienced first hand in my old van.   

Or this may  be totally out to lunch and Bob's theory of heat cycling may be the answer, but because I've first hand knowledge of reduced voltage killing halogen bulbs I'll put the theory forward for whatever it's worth.  

   

Bob McC  

   

> -----Original Message-----  

> From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-  

> server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of David Lloyd  

> Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 1:31 PM  

> To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com  

> Subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode  

>   

> --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "David Lloyd" <skywagon(at)charter.net>  

>   

> A general question for Bob and the List Members concerning halogen bulbs,  

> i.e., GE H7604 landing light style.  

>   

> I am hoping someone on the List knows a lot about halogen bulb failure  

> modes.  

>   

> I have H7604 lamps in my wing tips that aid landing and traffic recognition.  

> They are controlled by a solid state switcher that is either OFF-ON-PULSED.  

> ( I do not know the turn-on ramp characteristics..)  

>   

> They fail in less than 10 hrs of operation.  Interesting both seem to fail  

> nearly at the same time.  The "pulse" mode for traffic recognition is the  

> major use.  

>   

> My ignorant guess is that halogen bulbs do not like to be pulsed or ramped  

> up too quickly during pulse mode.  If the rapid power ramp up is the primary  

> cause, I am wondering if an appropriate choke (induction) would slow that  

> ramping down and return normal life to these devices.  

>   

> Any insight, suggestions into the failure mode and how to work around it  

> would be greatly appreciated.  David  

>   

>   

> _-  

> ===  

> =======  

> style='mso-spacerun:yes'>          - The AeroElectric-List Email Forum -  

  

  

  

  

>  

[b]> style='mso-spacerun:yes'>   --> http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List  

>  

[b]> _-  

> ===  

> =======  

> style='mso-spacerun:yes'>               - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS -  

  

>  

[b]> style='mso-spacerun:yes'>   --> http://forums.matronics.com  

>  

[b]> _-  

> ===  

> =======  

> style='mso-spacerun:yes'>             - List Contribution Web Site -  

> style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Thank you for your generous support!  

> style='mso-spacerun:yes'>                              -Matt Dralle, List Admin.  

> style='mso-spacerun:yes'>   --> http://www.matronics.com/contribution  

> _-  

> ===  

> =======  

>   

>   

   

      [quote][b]

_________________
Bob McC
Falco #908
(just starting)

fvalarm(at)rapidnet.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:24 pm Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

I bought a 55W HID kit on Ebay for $55 + shipping ($70 total) as other have.

Most HID's are 35 watt.  I'm expecting these to be about twice as bright as

100watt incandescent, but haven't powered them up yet.  I don't consider

this to be an expensive upgrade.



Bevan  



--

skywagon

Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 184

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:58 pm Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

Bevan,

I think that I have viewed some of those on eBay.  But, I came away with the 

idea that they were not a complete kit; power supply, harness, bulb/lamp 

combo, etc.  I will take a better review of the offerings.  Please let me 

know if you receive a complete operational system.

David



================================================================

---

skywagon

Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 184

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:05 pm Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

Thanks Bob for giving me other possible answers.   When I carefully looked at the halogen bulb inside the lamp, they did not appear  to have any darkness that I could see.  Appeared crystal clear.  I  will look again...

 David

 ====================

 [quote]   ---

fvalarm(at)rapidnet.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:10 am Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

David,



The HID kit I bought included two ballasts, H3 bulbs, and harnesses.  I have

yet to make a way to mount the ballasts but shouldn't be difficult. The

ballasts are the newer slim (lighter?) version.  The whole assembly is

heavier than regular halogens. 



The solid state flasher I bought has a max rating of 55W per bulb, so this

was the original reason to go away from the 100w halogens I was originally

planning.  The benefit will be more light, less power, and longer lasting I

hope.



Bevan 



--

skywagon

Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 184

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:49 am Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

Bevan,



Thanks again for details.  I note that the HID bulbs are just that... "a 

bulb" made to twist into a reflector.

What did you use as reflector that could mounted in the same hold-down mount 

that would normally contain the typical halogen lamp assembly like a GE 

H7604 50W lamp used in landing lights, etc..?

david



================================================

---

Eric M. Jones

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 565
Location: Massachusetts

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

A couple more things:



1) I have a note from GE that says that wig-wagging lamps extends their life. (I have no dog in this fight,  that's just what GE says.)



2) I have noticed a degrading of quality in incandescent lamp manufacturing generally. It is typical that a big company will just transfer...for example...their line of filament lamps to Elbonia, or wherever, instead of where they had been making them for 30 years. Welcome to the new world order.

_________________
Eric M. Jones
www.PerihelionDesign.com
113 Brentwood Drive
Southbridge, MA 01550
(508) 764-2072
emjones(at)charter.net

fvalarm(at)rapidnet.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 1:51 pm Post subject: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

I had originally bought the duckworth kits from vans.  You could just buy

the lenses from Vans and make your own bracket, and scrounge a reflector

from somewhere or buy an auto fog lamp assembly as a source for the

reflector.



Bevan 



--

shenglu

Joined: 10 Oct 2011
Posts: 3

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: Halogen bulbs with wig wag circuitry....failure mode

Most of the HID is 35 watts. I look forward to these about twice as bright as 100 watts incandescent, but not power them. I do not think this is an expensive upgrade.

_________________
Gadgets | Flash Memory

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum