nav light setups inside plane
 

I'm currently awating my VMAR SA bulldog to arrive, which I intend to take the semi-scale model and detail it as best I can into the closest to "scale" as I can get it. (surely some build pics to come..........)

anywho.. nav lights and landing lights.....

I am an electrical engineer (and infact a lighting technician for events) so the circuitry is not a problem, but what is the "norm" in models for powering such devices..
I intend to have (as per the real) a left and right wing green/red always on led, 2 red flashing strobes and one wing mounted landing light, all superbright leds.. (taken from my supply used for concert type LED "TV" Screens, so I WILL see them in daylight but am unsure of current draw... need to test....)

Is it an idea to use a 9v pp3 battery? On-board RX batt or a Lipo 7.4/480mAh I have??

Other options I also have include a tiny lipo 7a speed controller (orriginally bought for a cox micro warbird) which can drive/act as switch for the lights. BUT if I go with this option, the lipos I have can power the entire system via the speed controller..
Will the 480mAh 2cell lipo provice enough for a days flying on a 5 servo + led system???
RX is 2.4ghz futaba faast 6ch.

I honestly have no idea what current draw to expect from standard servos (IF they are all to be standard, awaiting model delivery so am not 100% sure yet)

RE: nav light setups inside plane
 

LED navlights won't be drawing a lot of current - 50mA each, at most. If you wants a scale landing light, I modified an LED torch and have been experimenting with that. The problem is that it needs just over 1 Amp in order to give maximum brightness. You don't say how you'll be powering the model, but if it's glow or petrol, then use a separate Lipo or A123 battery for the lights and maybe a regulator to give the correct voltage. If you're powering it with Electric, then the simplest way is with a separate UBEC or similar regulator off the main battery. I'd seek out a dedicated remote switch for the lights rather than use an ESC. Oh, reckon on 1/2 Amp draw per standard servo under normal conditions and up to 2 Amps if stalled.

RE: nav light setups inside plane
 

So 2nd idea...........

I could just add the 2 nav lights and 2 "pre done" red auto-flashing leds... and tap into the RX supply with no danger of draining everything in one go?

I'm also pondering with gluing a standard swith to a micro servo to get CHEAP tx controled lights (ie from what I have here in home and would work!)

RE: nav light setups inside plane
 

hi heres what im doing in my 40% waco the landing lights are modified fog lamps i got at a parts store .i like to be able to see the lights when i turn final they are halogen operated on 8.4 lipos , vern