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Help with a simple circuit:

M

MacGyver

Jan 1, 1970
0
At least I think it is simple...

I have 2 12v wingtip lights that I need to be able to control with
one switch and one wire running through a wing in an airplane.
This is for just one wing. That's the gist of it.

I just bought piggyback strobes for the wingtips, but I don't want to
have them on all the time that I have the navigation lights on.

I was thinking of a relay that has a remote control, or has a signal
run through the positive wire or could possibly have a low & high
setting and if we send 12 volts to the relay it trips, but it won't
trip at say 10 volts.

Also was thinking about if I turn the switch on once just the light
comes on. Flip the switch off & on again in under 2 seconds and the
lights & strobes come on. Leave the switch off & everything turns off.

I was thinking about relays with a capacitor to keep the line live for
2 seconds to be able to flip another relay... but now I am confusing
myself again.

Any Ideas???

Seems like it should not be too difficult.
Thanks so much for any advise!!!

Sean Gallagher
Pheonix, AZ
 
E

ehsjr

Jan 1, 1970
0
MacGyver said:
At least I think it is simple...

I have 2 12v wingtip lights that I need to be able to control with
one switch and one wire running through a wing in an airplane.
This is for just one wing. That's the gist of it.

I just bought piggyback strobes for the wingtips, but I don't want to
have them on all the time that I have the navigation lights on.

I was thinking of a relay that has a remote control, or has a signal
run through the positive wire or could possibly have a low & high
setting and if we send 12 volts to the relay it trips, but it won't
trip at say 10 volts.

Also was thinking about if I turn the switch on once just the light
comes on. Flip the switch off & on again in under 2 seconds and the
lights & strobes come on. Leave the switch off & everything turns off.

I was thinking about relays with a capacitor to keep the line live for
2 seconds to be able to flip another relay... but now I am confusing
myself again.

Any Ideas???

Seems like it should not be too difficult.
Thanks so much for any advise!!!

Sean Gallagher
Pheonix, AZ

Since you want relay logic: 2 relays, 2 diodes and a cap plus
a spdt switch will do it. All the parts are available at
Allelectronics. (url included below)

N/O
N/C o o----------------+---[RY2]---+
Ry1\ | |
Off o----------o o---------+-----|<----+
/ Ry2/ |
+12-------o Sw1 N/C o o N/O +-----|<----+
| | |
On o-------------------+--------+---[RY1]---+
| |
+----[C1]---+
|
Gnd -------------------------------------------------+

Turn the switch on and the navigation lights turn on.
Flip it off, then back on within ~ 2 seconds, and both
the navigation lights and the strobe lights come on.

How it works: Switch1 is off, RY1 and RY2 are de-energized.
RY2 cannot energize through the switch because RY1 contact
is in the closed (de-energized) position. Flip the switch to
on. RY1 energizes and Capacitor C1 charges. Flip the switch off,
and C1 holds RY1 energized for a brief time. The RY1 N/O (normally
open) contact is now connected to the off position of the switch,
so RY2 is energized. Flip the switch on again within the brief
time, and both relays are energized and will stay that way until
you turn the switch off.

The brief time delay of about 1-2 seconds is achieved with a 2,200 uf
cap and a DPDT relay, part # RLY-622 from Allelectronics
http://www.allelectronics.com/
The relay has a coil resistance of 720 ohms, and the contacts can
carry up to 2 amps for your lights. The diodes are 1N400x. The
second set of contacts on RY1 control the nav lights, and the
second set on ry2 control the strobe lights.

Ed
 
J

Jasen Betts

Jan 1, 1970
0
MacGyver said:
At least I think it is simple...

I have 2 12v wingtip lights that I need to be able to control with
one switch and one wire running through a wing in an airplane.
This is for just one wing. That's the gist of it.

I just bought piggyback strobes for the wingtips, but I don't want to
have them on all the time that I have the navigation lights on.

I was thinking of a relay that has a remote control, or has a signal
run through the positive wire or could possibly have a low & high
setting and if we send 12 volts to the relay it trips, but it won't
trip at say 10 volts.

Also was thinking about if I turn the switch on once just the light
comes on. Flip the switch off & on again in under 2 seconds and the
lights & strobes come on. Leave the switch off & everything turns off.

I was thinking about relays with a capacitor to keep the line live for
2 seconds to be able to flip another relay... but now I am confusing
myself again.

Any Ideas???

Seems like it should not be too difficult.
Thanks so much for any advise!!!

Sean Gallagher
Pheonix, AZ

Since you want relay logic: 2 relays, 2 diodes and a cap plus
a spdt switch will do it. All the parts are available at
Allelectronics. (url included below)

N/O
N/C o o----------------+---[RY2]---+
Ry1\ | |
Off o----------o o---------+-----|<----+
/ Ry2/ |
+12-------o Sw1 N/C o o N/O +-----|<----+
| | |
On o-------------------+--------+---[RY1]---+
| |
+----[C1]---+
|
Gnd -------------------------------------------------+

well it meats the criteria if you mount the switch inside the wing...
not the most convenient location :)
Turn the switch on and the navigation lights turn on.
Flip it off, then back on within ~ 2 seconds, and both
the navigation lights and the strobe lights come on.

How it works: Switch1 is off, RY1 and RY2 are de-energized.
RY2 cannot energize through the switch because RY1 contact
is in the closed (de-energized) position. Flip the switch to
on. RY1 energizes and Capacitor C1 charges. Flip the switch off,
and C1 holds RY1 energized for a brief time. The RY1 N/O (normally
open) contact is now connected to the off position of the switch,
so RY2 is energized.

So current flows through the ry1 contacts and ry2 contacts and continues to
energise ry1.

Flip the switch on again within the brief
time, and both relays are energized and will stay that way until
you turn the switch off.

And forever.... I think you need a diode between the ry2 contacts and ry2.
coil.


but it's a start...

+-----------------------------+
| |
| +-----------+ |
| |nc ry1 | ry2 |
to | +---0-_ | o-_ |
switch | D1 ~-o | D2 ~-o-+
<-----+-------+-+->|--o . | +-|<-+-o .
| | no | | |no
| +---+ . | | +-------------+
/~\ nav | | | . |
| |light | . | +----+ |
| | | | |. /~\
\_/ |. C1 | | | |strobe
| ### ----- ### | |light
| ry1 ### ----- ### \_/
| ### | ### |
| ### | ### ry2 |
chassis | | | | |
<-----+--- - - -----+------+-------+--- - - -----+
ground | | |
--+-- --+-- --+--
///// ///// /////
(is it still ground while airbourne:)

when initially turned on the nav light illuminates and ry1 energises
current flows through D1 and the RY1 contacts to charge C1

when turned off the light goes out and D1 blocks the current from the
capacitor so RY1 releases and current flows from the capacitor to energise
RY2 which closes, D2 also blocks the current from the capacitor.
so all the current from the capacitor flows to RY2 which closes and remains
closed momentarily.

if the power is reapplied before the voltage in the capacitor drops below
about 6-8V current flows through the RY2 contacts and D2 to maintaing RY2
in the energised state and also powers the strobe light. ry1 also switches
and recharges C1

if turned off for longer than the discharge time for the capacitor RY2 will
release and when turned back on only the nav light (and RY1) will operate,

RY1 can be any 12V spdt relay, use the cheapest one, RY2 shoulf have
contacts rated to pass the strobe light current (but as they don't need to
switch the current the contacts in a DPST or DPDT relay could be paralleled
to increase the current capacity)

assuming a 400ohm coil on RY2 4700 uF would be a good size for C1
lower for a faster let-go higer for longer.
D1 shoud be

Bye.
Jasen
 
E

ehsjr

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jasen said:
MacGyver said:
At least I think it is simple...

I have 2 12v wingtip lights that I need to be able to control with
one switch and one wire running through a wing in an airplane.
This is for just one wing. That's the gist of it.

I just bought piggyback strobes for the wingtips, but I don't want to
have them on all the time that I have the navigation lights on.

I was thinking of a relay that has a remote control, or has a signal
run through the positive wire or could possibly have a low & high
setting and if we send 12 volts to the relay it trips, but it won't
trip at say 10 volts.

Also was thinking about if I turn the switch on once just the light
comes on. Flip the switch off & on again in under 2 seconds and the
lights & strobes come on. Leave the switch off & everything turns off.

I was thinking about relays with a capacitor to keep the line live for
2 seconds to be able to flip another relay... but now I am confusing
myself again.

Any Ideas???

Seems like it should not be too difficult.
Thanks so much for any advise!!!

Sean Gallagher
Pheonix, AZ

Since you want relay logic: 2 relays, 2 diodes and a cap plus
a spdt switch will do it. All the parts are available at
Allelectronics. (url included below)

N/O
N/C o o----------------+---[RY2]---+
Ry1\ | |
Off o----------o o---------+-----|<----+
/ Ry2/ |
+12-------o Sw1 N/C o o N/O +-----|<----+
| | |
On o-------------------+--------+---[RY1]---+
| |
+----[C1]---+
|
Gnd -------------------------------------------------+


well it meats the criteria if you mount the switch inside the wing...
not the most convenient location :)

????
The *circuit* is mounted near the light inside the wing.
(You need 2 complete circuits - one in each wing near the
lights.) The switch is in the cockpit. Why do you think the
circuit requires the switch to be in the wing?

With single wire, it physically looks like this:
Wing Wing
=====================
Lights|----------+----------|Lights
======== | ========
| | |
| | |
cockpit
So current flows through the ry1 contacts and ry2 contacts and continues to
energise ry1.

Flip the switch on again within the brief



And forever.... I think you need a diode between the ry2 contacts and ry2.
coil.

Good pickup - you're right.
but it's a start...

+-----------------------------+
| |
| +-----------+ |
| |nc ry1 | ry2 |
to | +---0-_ | o-_ |
switch | D1 ~-o | D2 ~-o-+
<-----+-------+-+->|--o . | +-|<-+-o .
| | no | | |no
| +---+ . | | +-------------+
/~\ nav | | | . |
| |light | . | +----+ |
| | | | |. /~\
\_/ |. C1 | | | |strobe
| ### ----- ### | |light
| ry1 ### ----- ### \_/
| ### | ### |
| ### | ### ry2 |
chassis | | | | |
<-----+--- - - -----+------+-------+--- - - -----+
ground | | |
--+-- --+-- --+--
///// ///// /////
(is it still ground while airbourne:)

when initially turned on the nav light illuminates and ry1 energises
current flows through D1 and the RY1 contacts to charge C1

when turned off the light goes out and D1 blocks the current from the
capacitor so RY1 releases and current flows from the capacitor to energise
RY2 which closes, D2 also blocks the current from the capacitor.
so all the current from the capacitor flows to RY2 which closes and remains
closed momentarily.

if the power is reapplied before the voltage in the capacitor drops below
about 6-8V current flows through the RY2 contacts and D2 to maintaing RY2
in the energised state and also powers the strobe light. ry1 also switches
and recharges C1

if turned off for longer than the discharge time for the capacitor RY2 will
release and when turned back on only the nav light (and RY1) will operate,

RY1 can be any 12V spdt relay, use the cheapest one, RY2 shoulf have
contacts rated to pass the strobe light current (but as they don't need to
switch the current the contacts in a DPST or DPDT relay could be paralleled
to increase the current capacity)

??
The strobe doesn't draw full current at turn on?
assuming a 400ohm coil on RY2 4700 uF would be a good size for C1
lower for a faster let-go higer for longer.
D1 shoud be

Bye.
Jasen

Nice. Add diodes across the relay coils.
Ed
 
E

ehsjr

Jan 1, 1970
0
ehsjr wrote:


Corrected diagram - Jasen noted a missing diode:

N/O
N/C o o----------------+---[RY2]---+
Ry1\ | |
Off o----------o o---------+-----|<----+
/ Ry2/ |
+12-------o Sw1 N/C o o N/O +-----|<----+
| | |
On o-------------------+--->|---+---[RY1]---+
^^ | |
+----[C1]---+
|
Gnd -------------------------------------------------+
 
J

Jasen Betts

Jan 1, 1970
0
??
The strobe doesn't draw full current at turn on?

the most stress on relay contacts is when they are moving and current is
being switched, the relay 2 contacts only move when the power is turned off.
so they don't need to interrupt the strobe current etc...
Nice. Add diodes across the relay coils.
Ed

ry1 is in parallel with the nav light, (and the nav light in the other wing),
that'll absorb any backlash, but yead a diode across ry2 could extend its
life a little.

Bye.
Jasen
 
J

Jasen Betts

Jan 1, 1970
0
Since you want relay logic: 2 relays, 2 diodes and a cap plus
a spdt switch will do it. All the parts are available at
Allelectronics. (url included below)

N/O
N/C o o----------------+---[RY2]---+
Ry1\ | |
Off o----------o o---------+-----|<----+
/ Ry2/ |
+12-------o Sw1 N/C o o N/O +-----|<----+
| | |
On o-------------------+--------+---[RY1]---+
| |
+----[C1]---+
|
Gnd -------------------------------------------------+


well it meats the criteria if you mount the switch inside the wing...
not the most convenient location :)

????
The *circuit* is mounted near the light inside the wing.
(You need 2 complete circuits - one in each wing near the
lights.) The switch is in the cockpit. Why do you think the
circuit requires the switch to be in the wing?

you have one wire running into the switch and two wires running out of it.
to satisfy the "one wire running into the wing" requirement the switch would
need to be located in the wing :)

Bye.
Jasen
 
E

ehsjr

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jasen said:
Since you want relay logic: 2 relays, 2 diodes and a cap plus
a spdt switch will do it. All the parts are available at
Allelectronics. (url included below)

N/O
N/C o o----------------+---[RY2]---+
Ry1\ | |
Off o----------o o---------+-----|<----+
/ Ry2/ |
+12-------o Sw1 N/C o o N/O +-----|<----+
| | |
On o-------------------+--------+---[RY1]---+
| |
+----[C1]---+
|
Gnd -------------------------------------------------+



well it meats the criteria if you mount the switch inside the wing...
not the most convenient location :)

????
The *circuit* is mounted near the light inside the wing.
(You need 2 complete circuits - one in each wing near the
lights.) The switch is in the cockpit. Why do you think the
circuit requires the switch to be in the wing?


you have one wire running into the switch and two wires running out of it.
to satisfy the "one wire running into the wing" requirement the switch would
need to be located in the wing :)

Bye.
Jasen

Thanks! You would need a 3rd relay in the wing. Hard to
envision a switch in the wing - and a pilot with arms
lone enough to reach it from the cockpit!

Ed
 
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