Looking for a mars beacon
 

I'm looking for those red lights that you see on the tails of most small airplanes. It slowly fades in and out so its like a slow blink I don't know if it actually rotates or not. If I was near a cessna 152 I could see. But apparently their called a mars beacon. So where would I find one of these?

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

I have seen them too. About ten years ago an old friend came up with a near substitute. To make the light go on and off, he used a condensor from a large electric motor with battery power also. The condensor would load up over about 1/2 to 1 second and then the light would softly come on, blink and be off until the condensor loaded up a second later.

Thus the big problem is handling the large condensor. He just got his from an old washing machine motor. These things are not small and thus may not be suitable for your effort.


Wm.

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

Ram makes then you can get them on tower hobbies! They dont rotate they fade in and out

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

The Ram Mars beacon is very effective. On full scale aircraft, the Mars beacon is actually a rotating lense and gives the impression of going on and off. The Ram version simulates this effect by fading on and off. There is a small circuit board with a pot that allows you to adjust the flash rate.

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

Sounds good. Anybody have the link to this ram website?

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

If anybody is interested I can look back in my folder of goodies and pull out a schematic for flashers I use all the time on projects. The parts are readily available at radio shack. For about ten bucks each you can add one on every plane you have.

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

Go to Tower Hobbies web site and in their search field type in beacon.

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

Here's the Tower link.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDZ88&P=7

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

Well If you don't want the Ram system(and I'm not knocking the ram system) go to wal-mart or kay mart and buy one of those jogging flashing lights for about $2.00. Take all the lences off and other things you wont need and soder some wires where the led goes and get a high intensety led and attach to the wires (test polarity before sodering) and locate the beacon where you want it. I did this on my A-26-B invader and can leave the lights on all day and won't miss a beat or run down. But thats me. On my B-25 I have the ram beakin and nav lights.:D

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

Has anyone here using the RAM rotating beacon system had any interference problems with the radio? I have one installed on my C-130, which as of yet hasn't flown (winter/snow/etc.). I had terrible glitching problems when I turned it on. I moved the circuit board and battery for it to the front of the airplane away from the reciever and it seems to have solved the problem, at least on the bench. Haven't done any range checking outside yet. I also installed the RAM landing light system and it seems to be working fine, turning them on and off with the gear channel.
Randy

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

Hello RRYMAN I'll be down your way this weekend Mt'Jackson New Market area! I my have flown at your Airfield once this past year! I have the Ram set up in my Cessna I'm building also work it with the gear switch no problems yet I have a little ways to go.

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

Hey RCHFLYER, throw in a plane and come on down! Saturday is supposed to be "nice". Now a days, that means any temperature over 35 deg. here! I may try to get out Sat. Afternoon for awhile since Sunday isn't supposed to be so good. You're only about 20 minutes away from our field from New Market.
=====As far as my Herk, I've had it ready for about a month now, just waiting on weather to improve to do some ground tests, etc. Looking into a OV-10 for my second winter project!
Randy

RE: Looking for a mars beacon
 

RRYMAN, I had the RAM lights in a Bonanza that I had and experienced the same problem. Was told that a inline capaciter would cure the problem. Don't remember what value though.