I have an RV9a with Whelen model A650PG/PR wingtip and tail Anti-collision/Position Light assemblies powered by a Whelen model HDACF power supply. All has worked fine for several years until last week, the breaker for this circuit popped and would pop after re-setting, with the strobe toggle switch in both the on or off position.
My first thought was that the toggle switch had gone bad. Installed a new switch today and strobes worked as designed, except, wires at back of switch became extremely hot, too hot to touch, within 10 seconds. I disconnected the two wires from the switch and tested the strobes bypassing the switch by holding the two strobe wires that would normally attach to the switch, together. The strobes worked fine, but, the wires became hot again very quickly.
So, I have concluded that the original toggle switch had indeed failed, but, probably failed due to over heating and is thus not the source of the problem.
Before take the plane to someone who really knows what they are doing, I thought I'd solicit some thoughts as to what might be the problem from the forum brain trust first.
In summary, I don't think the issue is the toggle switch as the new switch is turning on and off normally. And, unlike the switch that it replaced, the circuit breaker does not pop if I leave the new switch in the off position.
The circuit breaker also does not pop with the new switch turned on but the two wires connected to the switch on the back become very hot within 10 to 15 seconds. I did not leave the strobe powered long enough to see if the breaker would pop, as the wires were too hot, but, during the 10 or 15 seconds, the breaker does not pop.
So, I don't think I have a short in the wiring, as the strobes function both when connected to the switch and when the wires are held together bypassing the switch. I'm thinking that a short in the circuit would not allow the strobes to flash but would pop the breaker immediately...but I am anything but certain of this theory.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Curt
My first thought was that the toggle switch had gone bad. Installed a new switch today and strobes worked as designed, except, wires at back of switch became extremely hot, too hot to touch, within 10 seconds. I disconnected the two wires from the switch and tested the strobes bypassing the switch by holding the two strobe wires that would normally attach to the switch, together. The strobes worked fine, but, the wires became hot again very quickly.
So, I have concluded that the original toggle switch had indeed failed, but, probably failed due to over heating and is thus not the source of the problem.
Before take the plane to someone who really knows what they are doing, I thought I'd solicit some thoughts as to what might be the problem from the forum brain trust first.
In summary, I don't think the issue is the toggle switch as the new switch is turning on and off normally. And, unlike the switch that it replaced, the circuit breaker does not pop if I leave the new switch in the off position.
The circuit breaker also does not pop with the new switch turned on but the two wires connected to the switch on the back become very hot within 10 to 15 seconds. I did not leave the strobe powered long enough to see if the breaker would pop, as the wires were too hot, but, during the 10 or 15 seconds, the breaker does not pop.
So, I don't think I have a short in the wiring, as the strobes function both when connected to the switch and when the wires are held together bypassing the switch. I'm thinking that a short in the circuit would not allow the strobes to flash but would pop the breaker immediately...but I am anything but certain of this theory.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Curt