[simpits-tech] 5v AC for lighting?

[Gene Buckle]

On Fri, 2 Mar 2012, dabigboy at cox.net wrote:

> I have run into a slight dilemma.......all the lighting on the 
> radios/instruments I've managed to get my hands on seem to require 5v 
> AC, rather than DC. One of the units is that TA 7900 Omega CDU I 
> mentioned a couple days ago, and it has integral lighting for the 
> keypad, so changing bulbs/circuits really isn't an option. What's the 
> best way to get 5v AC? Is there a simple/safe way to reduce the AC 
> coming out of the wall? What frequency should it be at? 400hz like the 
> instruments?

Matt, unless there is specific circuitry between the power input and the 
lamp that _requires_ AC, you can run them on 5v DC with no problems. 
Bulbs don't care about ac/dc.  LEDs on the other hand _require_ DC.

Note that aircraft panel lighting systems are dimmable by using a variable 
transformer that takes 28v AC @400Hz in and can output 0..5V AC out.

g.


-- 
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home.
Some people collect things for a hobby.  Geeks collect hobbies.

ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!

Buying desktop hardware and installing a server OS doesn't make a
server-class system any more than sitting in a puddle makes you a duck.
[Cipher in a.s.r]