Saw these guys popped up on the advertisers list. Looks like a nice unit at a great price. Any first hand experience?
http://www.ztronlabs.com/
http://www.ztronlabs.com/
Their Nav/Strobes are priced very nicely, and they look to be quite a nice product. I inquired on their support email and the only issue I have with the product is that Navs and Strobes only operate together. As I understand it, you cannot run the Nav lights without running the strobes.
David Lewis
RV-7A
Empennage complete
Wings in progress
IS the program button on the unit? it would be nice to program from the panel, also I second the strobe on/off feature.
Bret, msaniac-
The button is located between the power and ground connectors on the bottom of the unit itself.
The idea is that you will select a flash pattern you like for the unit(s) before mounting it more permanently.
David-
The first is a good point, but as for the second I'm pretty sure that while flying in the dark, in clouds, it would pay to be as visible as possible. But being blinded by your own strobes is indeed a problem.
To confirm what others have said above, if one is flying day or night in clouds, it means they are on an instrument flight plan and being visible is not a high priority. Air traffic control will keep aircraft separated. Being able to turn off strobes in clouds at night is indeed necessary and is usually something that is even taught when one is getting a basic private pilot certificate because it can be very disorienting, especially when reflecting off the back of the prop. Being able to turn them off on the ground in order to avoid blinding another pilot while taxiing is also pretty important. Hope this helps. If you need to get a pilot on your staff, I'm sure there's a bunch of people on this board looking for aviation related work! Good luck with your product. If I had not wanted to fly at night, and had not already built my own, I would have jumped on them.The first is a good point, but as for the second I'm pretty sure that while flying in the dark, in clouds, it would pay to be as visible as possible. But being blinded by your own strobes is indeed a problem.
Any feedback is appreciated! While we had known of the existence, we had been unaware of the popularity of the separate Nav/Strobe power lines.
It would be helpful to know what it is about separate functionality that is so important to you two, and anyone else who feels this way.
Stuart Snyder
Ztron Labs
Both our Nav/Strobe and Tail lights can have their strobe capabilities switched off now.
Now that is what I call quick response! How long would that have taken in the pre-internet days?
Thank you to everyone who has given their two cents so far. Good news!
Both our Nav/Strobe and Tail lights can have their strobe capabilities switched off.
Not sure these guys are pilots. It maybe that its a boat product. Any pilot knows about strobes. If you are IFR you know what lights should be on.
Ron
I have the ztron landing and nav lights on my 8, not flying yet. I used the 3cond w/shield on both. I did this by grounding to airframe at the outboard wingtip rib. So the conductors for landing lights are 1: power (red), 2: wig-wag(yellow wire) 3: synch (white), grounded the black at the rib and the shield grounded to battery ground via ground buss. The nav light conductors are 1: power (red) 2: ground (black) 3: white (sync). Shield grounded to battery ground via ground buss. Shields are left "open" or ungrounded at the wingtip end. I haven't gotten to the point to check for radio interference yet, but I'm confident that I will not have any static. Ztron has built in filters and only suggest to use shielded wire. By the way Ztron has been excellent to work with. I worked with Warren to get a solution for putting the landing lights in the wingtip instead of in the leading edge. Ztron gets an A+ in my rating.
bird