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Discussion
LED CenterBurner (tm) :) Status update" 01/05/17
Hi All,
I'm working on finalizing the design and having fun doing it! The design continues to be revised daily as I receive parts and try to make them cheaper, lighter, easier to print, simpler, etc… This all takes quite a bit of time but it is fun! I have the first batch of Controllers on order from Xicoy but im not sure if they shipped them today or not. The time difference is a pain to deal with (they are in Spain). They gave me a little discount that was better than nothing. The controllers are worth the money for sure. I have seen many and the Xicoy are just what you need and nothing else. Each controller can handle up to 200LEDS! So lots of creativity available there. I only order 20 Controllers to start because that was a good amount of coin. I may make a limit of 1 per customer for the first batch. I would like everyone to get one and I can get a second batch on order as soon as I get the funds from the first batch secure and start shipping product. I’m hoping the new LEDs are plenty bright so I can settle on one and move forward. The final detail of the CenterBurner kit will be the power source. I am going to likely only provide a Castle Creations 10A BEC/regulator as the power source. This will cost about 3X what a little 2S Lipo would cost, but it is much safer and more convenient. I will set the unit at the proper output voltage at the “factory” and you will simply have to provide power from your battery. I am concerned about the small Lipo pack because there is no low voltage protection and there would be the possibility of a battery fire and I can’t be liable for that. So guys, it’s my way or the highway when it comes to safety. For now this will be a PNP unit so the chances for problems are as low as possible. I may offer some piece parts later but to start there will be one configuration until everything checks out and I get some end user feedback that everything is OK. The twin version will include 1 controller, 1 CC BEC, and 2 CenterBurners. The Xicoy controller comes standard with 4 channels so sometime in the future you can upgrade to my exhaust nozzle with LEDs built in. I have some other ideas for an alternative power source but that will be down the road. The CC regulator is a great product and very high quality. It’s a good solution for now. Future projects will include: -90mm CenterBurner -OuterBurner exhaust nozzles with built in LEDs (airframe specific) -Possible Generic rings LED CenterBurners and OuterBurners I should have my final pricing together early next week and solid lead times for the materials as well. I can see myself possibly getting a few sets out the door before Xmas...but no promises. I will be responding to all your PMs soon with your place number and where to order from. Turn and Burn! Jon
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Last edited by Air-Jon; Jan 05, 2017 at 06:02 PM.
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Thanks John, looking forward to hearing from you.
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Checking in ...
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Latest blog entry: H&M Performance Electric 60 size ...
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Thanks guys. No test today unfortunately...had to work the day job until 9pm last night and club meeting this morning.
I talked to the "factory" and the lead engineer (who happens to have a day job as a lead aerodynamics engineer for a large defence firm..and a famous modeler) let me know that my design could be better. After i moaned an grumbeled a bit, i saw the err of my ways and trusted the pro. So this will be another major redesign..which is not to big of a deal for a little plastic thing. I think the new version will be so much brighter...i dont even really want to mees with this one any more. It is going to be less sexy and aero shaped sitting on the bench, but it will hold 50% more LEDs. This is what we care about as it is all we can see once its installled. I will be optmizing the beam aim points to really light up the rear section of the pipe near the nozzle as well. So stay tuned for a brief redesign and more LEDs! |
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Last edited by Air-Jon; Dec 10, 2016 at 10:38 PM.
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Cool beans...can't wait to see it
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Hey AJ,. Having installed a few different types of lightning systems inside the tubes of different Foamies, I've had cases where there was considerable bleed through occurring causing a visible glow on the outer skin. The Best thing I have found to block this unwanted overspill effect has been Aluminum Tape\\ Heavy and hard to apply in some tubes. If you get the intensity you're suggesting, you may want to consider some reflective Mylar Tube or other similar material to line the inside of the Duct. Looking forward to seeing the final design. I'm in !!! And... you copied "My" Blow in AuxAir Doors !!! I'll cut you some slack on that. Cheers
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Thanks Bobaru. I have not addressed any light "bleed through" yet. I figure i will be doing good if i can get the centerburner to be that bright The mig-21 has some pretty thick foam around the motor so i am hoping this won't be an issue outside the darkest ambient conditions. if this was the case, then aluminum tape would help. As to the best lining inside the thrust tube for reflecting diffused light, i am not sure what is best. I have a feeling the best would be flat white paint sprayed inside the thrust tube. This will not look as good on the ground, but in fact the internal surfaces of the nozzles on many modern jets are white ceramic coated inconel plates. i have aluminum tape currently in the last 6 inches of my fish now for the purpose of better afterburner visibility from the rear quarter view. Aluminum tape is pretty easy to accomplish with some patience. i was lucky to find 1 inch wide tape, but if you only find the 2 or 3 inch stuff...it can easily be cut down to 1 inch strips. I fear it may be too reflective and will really illuminate like a white surface would. possibly a combination of white paint and Aluminum tape will work. Some of this experimentation will be fun stuff to try for the end users. I will just make some suggestions. Im hoping to get bright enough LEDS that the centerburner will be visible from the quarter view on a stock jet! fingers crossed.
Thanks for the slack I finished the second blow-in door last night. The aux-air doors are an easy mod and add a lot of character to the jet. great idea! |
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OK, so new clean sheet design completed at lunch. I got really good beam coverage (see beam study picture)...but to do so required CROSSING THE BEAMS!!!!!
LOL so anyway, we now have 100% more LEDs than the demo video shows. This baby should be real bright!!! I will be submitting this design to the "lead engineer" for peer review and approval to move to preproduction (note; this is just the end cap piece. there is the second piece that is the cylinder that mounts to the fan certer body. that is only changing a little bit to include some ventilation. the new ventilation features are not shown here yet) |
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Last edited by Air-Jon; Dec 12, 2016 at 04:27 PM.
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Thanks Pat! LOL, got to love Ghostbusters! (the original version)
I modeled a 15 degree pattern as these are the brightest bulbs. I can get away with the narrow beam bulbs because we have enough bulbs in here to get full coverage of the last half of the exhaust. I may be overanalyzing it a bit, but this is fun nerdy stuff If you don't get the angle right, you are just wasting the light out the back or too far up the tube. Luckily, I used to work in an optics company, and I had to design LED illuminators for microscopes back when white LEDs first cam out. so this I like deja vu! I can also optimize the beams for the different jets if necessary. I think they all have similar thrust tube length though.. We are looking at a total of 273,000 milicandles of cernterburner awesomeness! |
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Last edited by Air-Jon; Dec 13, 2016 at 01:13 AM.
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