Re: OT, long and boring-WAS RE: [Repeater-Builder] Flash Technology Tower Lighting

[mch]

Make sure you file comments if that happens and relay your experience
with the poor reliability. I'm sure the FAA would prefer a reliable
system over an OEM one.

Joe M.

Paul Finch wrote:
> 
> One other thing, the tower lighting industry (TWR and Flash Tech) are trying
> to petition the FAA and FCC to make the use of Non-OEM parts in a tower
> lighting system a violation, sort of like Motorola tried to do back in the
> late 70's and early 80's.  Motorola tried to get the FCC to make a rule that
> only Motorola parts could be used in the radios to keep them type accepted,
> that ploy did not work then and I hope it does not work now.  Most private
> tower owners can't afford Flash Tech or TWR prices, not to mention their
> reliability.





 
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RE: OT, long and boring-WAS RE: [Repeater-Builder] Flash Technology Tower Lighting

[Paul Finch]

Thanks.  I do understand the , I did warn everybody..

Paul


-Original Message-
From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Kevin Custer
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 8:52 PM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: OT, long and boring-WAS RE: [Repeater-Builder] Flash
Technology Tower Lighting


Paul Finch wrote:

>I will add a few points here... big snip.
>
>Kevin, sorry for the OT post but felt it was important.
>

Posts like these are not to be considered OT, as repeaters wouldn't be
on the air without towers
But, thanks for the consideration.

kuggie





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Re: OT, long and boring-WAS RE: [Repeater-Builder] Flash Technology Tower Lighting

[Kevin Custer]

Paul Finch wrote:

>I will add a few points here... big snip.
>
>Kevin, sorry for the OT post but felt it was important.
>

Posts like these are not to be considered OT, as repeaters wouldn't be 
on the air without towers
But, thanks for the consideration.

kuggie




 
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OT, long and boring-WAS RE: [Repeater-Builder] Flash Technology Tower Lighting

[Paul Finch]

Doug and Eric,

I will add a few points here, I own and run a 500 foot tall tower in Texas.
I purchased a new TWR dual mode strobe system ($17,000.00) along with the
tower.  At the time it seemed to be a good choice, hindsight is 20-20.

The first two years the red mode system never ran for more than 4 months at
a time, TWR was at my site 7 times those first two years.  They made one
last trip at the two year mark, I have to admit they did all of these
repairs to this point under a one-year warranty.  At two years they reworked
all the hatchplates and replaced all strobe tubes.  The system ran for
eleven months and went out again.  The only problem I ever had was the red
mode night strobes, the day mode worked fine so I let it run in the
"fail-safe" mode because I did not have the money to fix the system.  TWR
had quoted me $1,500.00 per hatchplate to repair the system, that did not
include the tower crew labor.

After two years of running in the fail-safe mode the whole system crashed
and burned.  I could look up at the strobes and see what looked like flames,
I shut the system down and turned in a "NOTAM", Notice to Airmen.  About
that time I asked the Tower Pro group what they thought of the system I had,
not much good was said.  I also found out that the white strobe fail-safe
mode does not satisfy the FAA or FCC as to tower lights at night, I was
actually in violation of the FAA rules!

After several NOTAM's and several calls to TWR with quotes starting at
$1,500.00 per hatchplate finally going down to $500.00 per hatchplate I gave
up and got more advice from the Tower Pro group.  They guided me and told me
what I needed to look for.  I had a tower guy come and remove all
hatchplates and bring them down to the ground.

Once on the ground it was obvious what was wrong, the cheap terminal strip
used by TWR had completely burned up from the 600 volts positive and
negative DC that made the system work.  TWR sends up those two voltages plus
a trigger voltage to fire the strobe.  I ran the manufacture of the terminal
strip down and their specifications said the strip was only good to 500
volts, you get the picture?  Very poor design!

I contacted a Tower light company in Tennessee called ITL, they had all of
the aftermarket parts I needed to get the system back up at a price of
$26.00 per hatchplate, again, get the picture?  TWR has a tremendous markup
on their parts!

I sent the hatchplates back up the tower, the guy connected them and they
have been running solid (knock wood) for almost two years now.

One other thing, the tower lighting industry (TWR and Flash Tech) are trying
to petition the FAA and FCC to make the use of Non-OEM parts in a tower
lighting system a violation, sort of like Motorola tried to do back in the
late 70's and early 80's.  Motorola tried to get the FCC to make a rule that
only Motorola parts could be used in the radios to keep them type accepted,
that ploy did not work then and I hope it does not work now.  Most private
tower owners can't afford Flash Tech or TWR prices, not to mention their
reliability.

Like Eric said, be very careful, the way the rules are written, every
licensee on the tower is liable for up to a $10.000.00 fine if the lights
are not working properly.  Also, be very careful with the red mode LED
technology, the advertised 5 year warranties on these systems are not being
backed by some of the companies that sell them.

Kevin, sorry for the OT post but felt it was important.

Paul
WB5IDM



-Original Message-
From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Eric Lemmon
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 11:28 AM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Flash Technology Tower Lighting


Doug,

I hope your Ham club did not accept any responsibility for the operation
or maintenance of the tower lighting, because some of the most severe
fines and penalties are for failure to have the tower properly lighted.
Fines of $10,000 per day have been levied for lighting violations, so
you should avoid even the appearance of being responsible in any way for
such equipment.

That said, it is not normal for strobes to fail in such a short time.
Although I have no experience with Flash Technology equipment, I do know
that most strobes in continuous operation should last at least two
years- if they are operated within their specifications.  If too much
power is dissipated in the flash tube, its lifetime will be profoundly
curtailed.  It is possible that the technician who installed the strobe
equipment simply left the power setting at maximum.  Contact the
manufacturer for specific technical information.

Information and links about the lighting requirements for towers can be
found here:



and the FAA Advisory Circular can be found here: