RE: [Repeater-Builder] Flash Technology Tower Lighting

[Steve Bosshard \(NU5D\)]

Early Flash Technology strobes had lots of trouble with the energy from the flash causing O2 to evolve into O3 that is highly corrosive and caused the socketed IC’s on the controller board to make poor contact in the sockets – later on they added a vapor shield between the chamber that houses the tube and the housing for the electronics – Don’t know much about shelf life, but suspect it should be years and not months, and also several years of service between failures.  Sorry I am not much help,  Steve NU5D     From: Repeater-Builder@Yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Doug Zastrow Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 10:42 AM To: Repeater-Builder@Yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Flash Technology Tower Lighting   Hello All,   In return for free tower space our ham club baby sits a 360 ft. guyed tower.  Looking for anyone with real-world experience with Flash Technology FH-324 red/white flash tower obstruction lighting.   In the 18 month period following new installation all three red 'beacons' have failed.  Tower mounted flash heads have a coupling transformer, trigger transformer, RC network and flash tube.   In red beacon failures how often has trouble been in components *other* than the flash tube?   Is it true red flash tube shelf-life is six months or less?   What has the real-world life expectancy (in operation) of the red flash tubes been?   FYI, trouble was isolated to the flash heads by swapping cables at the Power Controllers.  Trouble stayed with the flash head.  Flash heads failed in succession over a period of 4-5 months.   Moderator: If this is too far OT don't hesitate to kill.   TIA...     Doug Zastrow     YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS  Visit your group "Repeater-Builder" on the web.    To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.