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skywagon
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 184
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 Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:04 pm Post subject: Inexpensive Runway lighting |
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I missed most of this thread...but, wanted to add a comment.
Those solar powered lights should work well for your specific application.
However, they have a tendency for a short life span. Even the expensive units. I suspect the typical NiCad cells in them go bad. And, bugs, usually spiders can squeeze into a lot of the designs and their activity kills the circuitry.
So. find units that are 100% sealed, use standard sized rechargeable cells, maybe a better quality, etc. Buy spares and install them closer in spacing than you originally guesstimated..... Make sure that whoever is in charge of mowing (grass..?) is sober and had excellent vision.
D
[quote] ---
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n8zg(at)att.net
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| Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:13 pm Post subject: Inexpensive Runway lighting |
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LED-based pavement markers from BrightPortal Resources were recently
installed at 18FD to supplement the existing pilot-controlled incandescents.
VERY impressive. The individual lights are stuck to concrete blocks plopped
in the dirt beside the existing light fixtures. Relatively inexpensive,
zero maintenance, no wires to string and appropriate colors for side and
end-markers are readily available.
Neal
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BobsV35B(at)aol.com
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| Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:32 pm Post subject: Inexpensive Runway lighting |
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Good Evening Neal,
Just wondering what you mean when you say the lights are stuck in a concrete block near the existing lights.
A concrete block on the surface could be a rather dangerous item if it is even partially above the ground. If the block were completely buried, I think that would be alright.
Whatever supports the light, it should be frangible as determined by the type aircraft involved.
I have read some big airport specifications where frangible was deemed to mean frangible by a 36 inch wheel. I would think a Bonanza could get some serious damage if it hit a concrete block on the surface.
36 inch diameter wheel on a heavy jet might be no problem at all.
Any comments?
Happy Skies,
Old Bob
In a message dated 1/16/2012 6:14:55 P.M. Central Standard Time, n8zg(at)att.net writes:
| Quote: | --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "Neal George" <n8zg(at)att.net>
LED-based pavement markers from BrightPortal Resources were recently
installed at 18FD to supplement the existing pilot-controlled incandescents.
VERY impressive. The individual lights are stuck to concrete blocks plopped
in the dirt beside the existing light fixtures. Relatively inexpensive,
zero maintenance, no wires to string and appropriate colors for side and
end-markers are readily available.
Neal
|
[quote][b]
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n8zg(at)att.net
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| Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:27 pm Post subject: Inexpensive Runway lighting |
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Good points Bob –
I wasn’t involved in the install, but it appears that the LED fixtures are bonded (some sort of glue/putty/epoxy/caulk) to the blocks. Standard block is nominally 8” high x 10” wide x 8” thick, actually 7.5” x 9.5” x 7.5”. The blocks in this situation are half-thick standard concrete block, so approximately 7.5” x 9.5” x 3.5”. It also appears that the blocks were inset slightly in an effort to get them close to level. The result is the blocks are less than 3” proud of the ground, immediately adjacent to the existing runway edge- and end-marker light fixtures, which stand knee high. Low enough to not be a prop strike hazard, but probably not friendly to wheel pants.
But if one strays into the lights, chances are good the lights and their mounts are the least of one’s troubles. To paraphrase the old cartographers, “Here there be Dragons…”
neal
From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of BobsV35B(at)aol.com
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2012 7:28 PM
To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: Inexpensive Runway lighting
Good Evening Neal,
Just wondering what you mean when you say the lights are stuck in a concrete block near the existing lights.
A concrete block on the surface could be a rather dangerous item if it is even partially above the ground. If the block were completely buried, I think that would be alright.
Whatever supports the light, it should be frangible as determined by the type aircraft involved.
I have read some big airport specifications where frangible was deemed to mean frangible by a 36 inch wheel. I would think a Bonanza could get some serious damage if it hit a concrete block on the surface.
36 inch diameter wheel on a heavy jet might be no problem at all.
Any comments?
Happy Skies,
Old Bob
In a message dated 1/16/2012 6:14:55 P.M. Central Standard Time, n8zg(at)att.net writes:
| Quote: |
--> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "Neal George" <n8zg(at)att.net>
LED-based pavement markers from BrightPortal Resources were recently
installed at 18FD to supplement the existing pilot-controlled incandescents.
VERY impressive. The individual lights are stuck to concrete blocks plopped
in the dirt beside the existing light fixtures. Relatively inexpensive,
zero maintenance, no wires to string and appropriate colors for side and
end-markers are readily available.
Neal |
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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:18 am Post subject: Inexpensive Runway lighting |
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As far as the runway lights, I guess it depends on how much you trust
your runway lights. If you're willing to trust your work on your
OBAM aircraft, I wouldn't think there would be a problem trusting
your OBAM runway lights.
Raymond Julian
Kettle River, MN
Excellent point! I've been wrestling semantics with
some lawyers who would like for the public to believe
that "experimental" aircraft are labeled such because
they are fraught with heretofore unproven and potentially
dangerous features of design and fabrication.
I offered the notion that "experimental" is synonymous
with "exploration" and "discovery". For students in
the chemistry lab, the treatment of certain substances
is indeed an "experiment". For the teacher, it's a recipe
for a successful teaching moment. The outcome of the
experiment is known to the teacher . . . just as the outcome
of a kit airplane built to instructions and common sense.
When the kit is completed and flying, that builder can
now be a teacher in that they've "been there, done that".
It is the job of a teacher to make sure that deviations
from instructions are well thought out, perhaps "explored
or discovered", and proven to be useful, non-hazardous
changes whereupon the changes are no longer experimental.
Experimentation is a process by which a useful design goal
is achieved.
When one sets out to fabricate DIY runway lights, it's
almost a certainty that individuals who choose to experiment
in public will sort through the ideas and potential
pitfalls in places like this List-Server. Even then,
I would expect the developer to use the system many times
under ever-increasing levels of degradation due to environmental
effects . . . and report back as to the limits he/she
personally places on the utility of that system.
TC aviation has processes and procedures for advancing
the state of the art and reducing risk. TC aviation is famous
for what I call the $1000 meeting where useful advances
are slow and cumbersome.
OBAM aviation has a process too. It's different but no less effective . . .
and a whole lot more satisfying. We who sit at our keyboards
with a cup of coffee collaborate and advance an idea further
and faster to the benefit of hundreds who read now and
that many more who read the archives later. This is the
process by which WE choose to reduce risk.
Keep it up folks! We're doing good work here.
Bob . . .
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