[TowerTalk] Tailtwister mod kit

[Bryan Swadener]

LEDs are great for giving your rotator controller's 
meter that ugly "spotlight" effect. OTOH, limiting 
the inrush current will greatly increase an 
incandescent lamp's life.  Inrush current is 
typically around 5X the running current, and causes 
significant mechanical stress to the lamp's filament.

This can be cheap and easy by swapping to a lamp(s)
with a higher voltage rating and/or life rating, or
by putting a resistor in series with the lamp.  For 
lamps running on DC, I use an LM317 arranged as a 
current regulator.  One resistor sets the maximum 
current.  The regulator drops a minimum of 1.25V so,
use a 12V lamp with a 13.8V source, etc.

vy 73,
Bryan WA7PRC

> Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:31:19 -0400 (EDT)
> From: John NA6L
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tailtwister mod kit
> 
> The LEDs replace the existing display light bulb (or bulbs)
> for longer life etc.
> 
> John NA6L 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: K8RI <K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net>
> To: towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Sent: Tue, Apr 24, 2012 11:05 am
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tailtwister mod kit
> 
> 
> On 4/24/2012 1:18 PM, n9lah at comcast.net
> wrote:
> > Let us know the results of the LED question. I am
> planning on picking one up 
> at Dayton and won't if it is not worth it.
> 
> And these LEDs do what?
> 
> 73
> 
> Roger (K8RI)