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Old 01-29-2006 | 06:10 AM
  #17  
Caladin
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From: Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Default RE: Draganflyer Navigation Lighting Systems

I have had a few e-mails requesting information on my home made Nav Lights, so I have a description and a few pictures

Parts
2 x Hi Intensity 5mm LED red (16,000 mcd).
2 x Hi Intensity 5mm LED white (16,000 mcd).
Some stiff black 5mm tube (I used a good quality drinking straw) but cf tube would be good
2 x 50 Ohm resistors (I used 47 Ohm, it is slightly too low but gives a good brightness)
1 Plug to connect to the Draganflyer 5v supply (I used one which was originally made to connect to a PC mother board) which seems to fit well, otherwise you can

order one from Spectrolutions.
4 x Small cable ties
Some heatshrink sleeving.

Assembly
Cut the tubes to about 60mm length and make a small hole about halfway up each for the wire exit. Thread some wires through the holes and solder the resistors

and LED's according to the diagram attached. Connect a white LED, the resistor and the red LED in series, Take care to make sure the +5v goes to the anode via

the resistor, and then from the cathode to the anode of the other resistor. Make sure all connections are insulated from each other and drag the wires back through

the holes.
Each LED tube requires 5vdc to operate, so you have to connect the two assemblies in parallel and tidy up with heat shrink tube. Connect the plug and attach the

assemblies to the Draganflyer arms with the cable ties. See the pictures attached for more detail.

Good points
Very bright
Very light weight
Very low cost
Very low power drain

Bad points
Lights go out if the fuse blows (No help for recovery in the dark)
Hi intensity LED's are only very bright when viewed at +/: 30 degrees (so they do send out a cool beam of light) but they are less bright when viewed from the side.

I have been very happy with these lights, but they do not have cool strobes or sophisticated lighting patterns. I am sure there is room for improvement )
Happy flying