[BC] Dousing (Tower) Lights to Save Birds

[Mark Humphrey]

As half-wave rectifiers, LED sidelights powered directly from an AC
line would indeed strobe at a 60 Hz rate (like the white LED
night-lights), unless a fullwave bridge and filter is included in the
circuit.   I'm not sure if Dialight LED retrofits are filtered, but
I'll check on that next time I check our site after dark. .

However, if steady-burning lights are the primary hazard to birds,
suppose we simply connect the side markers to the same flasher that's
in series with the beacons?  (With FAA permission, of course.)  This
would retain much of the visibility for pilots, while eliminating the
so-called bird problem.

If I recall correctly, the WSAY array (now WXXI-AM) in Rochester was
formerly set up this way.

Mark

On Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 1:21 PM, Mike Vanhooser <novaelec at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> A point not raised or studied, what about LED sidelights?  The majority are not DC powered, but are strobed rapidly.  A swift flying bird would see this as multiple lights, not a steady burning one, unless flying directly at it.  Perhaps studies should be conducted to see if this doesn't lower collisions.
>