SX-16 Nightsun
®
Searchlight System
Maintenance Manual
Document 031734-1/Revision A
031734-1 Revision B
January 27, 2014
moisture damage or old age. These motors should not be repaired. They should be inspected
according to the following schedule:
•
Daily inspection:
o
Verify motor function
o
Visually inspect the rubber motor boots and wiring
•
Every 3 months, inspect the wiring.
•
Every 24 months or 1200 flight hours or 500 operation hours inspect the rubber boots.
4.15.1 Motor Function
Test the motors daily using battery power only (this will isolate any unusual sounds that may come
from the Gimbal or motor). Do not start the xenon lamp for this test; only have the system power on.
•
Use the directional switch to move the Searchlight all the way to its extremes in the up-down,
left-right, and diagonal directions.
•
When you reach the mechanical limits of Searchlight movement in any direction, the motor
should keep running while the clutch slips (except for SpectroLink systems). The motors,
however, should slow down somewhat as the clutch slips. If the motors stall during this
procedure, the problem should be repaired as soon as possible to ensure reliable system
operation. One of the following may be the cause of the problem:
o
The clutch requires adjustment. Reference
Gearbox Clutch Slip Torque
Measurement
section for the procedure.
o
The motor is faulty.
o
There is a wiring or control problem.
o
The Searchlight is linked (or “slaved”) to the directional controller of another device
(such as a moving map or FLIR system) the encoders in the Gearboxes will feed
Searchlight and Gimbal position information back to the controlling device. The
controlling device will then stop the motor electronically just before it hits the
mechanical stops. It is important to be aware of this behavior so that you can
differentiate this kind of motor stopping from a clutch that requires adjustment.
4.15.2 Visual Motor, Fastener, and Boot Inspection
Conduct a visual inspection of the drive motors and boots to identify exterior physical damage, verify
that fasteners are tight, and that safety wires are in place. Pay close attention as there are different
instructions for standard speed motors and for high-speed motors.
•
Grasp each motor and try to wiggle it. They should be firmly attached to their Gearboxes.
o
If a motor is loose, remove the Searchlight from flight until you tighten the fasteners.
o
If a motor has exterior physical damage caused by something striking it, replace the
motor using the procedure in the
Replacement of Motors and Boots
section.
•
On standard speed motors, the pliable silicone motor boots keep moisture out of the
unsealed motor. If the boot fails, the motor will fail soon afterward from internal rust. To
prevent damage to the motor, replace the boot as soon as possible if it does not meet the
following inspection criteria:
o
The boots must be soft and pliable, and they must not be cracked or torn.
o
The wire entering the boot should be tightly sealed where it enters the boot.
On high-speed motors, the heat shrunk boots cannot be removed without destroying them. If it is
necessary to remove the boot:
o
A new one must be cut to length and installed with a hot air gun. The boots have a
sealant layer that melts during the heat-shrinking process.
o
For a final and complete seal, apply a light coat of RTV sealant around the end of the
boot.
Source: Spectrolab, Inc.
26
The document reference is online, please check the correspondence between the online documentation and the printed version.
