How much can a 537 flasher handle?

[toon80]

Hey all,


I have an AeroDynic 24EAH with steady burn up front, flasher to the back.


Can the 537 thermal flasher handle BOTH front and rear PARs if I'd like to hook them up together?


Thanks


Toon

 

[NPS Ranger]

If they are the original 18 watt 4414's, yes.

 

[toon80]

NPS Ranger, you da man!


Thanks!

 

[toon80]

Thread resurrection:


Anybody know the actual amperage limit of a 537 thermal flasher?

 

[NPS Ranger]

Not sure but the Gall's mechanical HLF uses a 537 and that flashes one high beam per side, typically 55-65 watts. Whelen makes a replacement flasher for the 537 that claims it will handle 20 amps output:


http://www.whelen.com/install/134/13451.pdf

 

[shues]

In the past, I often used a 537 can flasher as a wig-wag in a four-bulb headlamp system with great results. That's a the high beam filament of the 2A1 low-beam bulb plus the single filament of the 1A1 high-beam bulb per side. If memory serves, that's 35 watts plus 50 watts, for a total of 85 watts per side.

 

[tnems7]

Because the 537 is a thermal flasher, increased load may alter the flash rate, and if sufficient current doesn't go to the bulbs, then the filaments in the lamps may be affected and burn out prematurely. In inspecting ambulances, I saw several vehicles where jury-rigged 537 flashers were used to try to replace either a motor-driven flasher or something like a Kay-Lab Model 10-040 flasher trying to drive eight or nine sealed beam lights. That didn't work too well. However, the thermal flashers are more widely available and cost less.


If the bulbs don't come to full brightness, or the flash rate slows considerably, you are probably exceeding the capacity for the flasher.

 

[shues]

However, the thermal flashers are more widely available and cost less.

Do you have a source for new 537 thermal flashers? If so, put me down for 5 gross.

 

[CHIEFOPS]

Have you considered a Tridon electro-mechanical flasher? It was/is a great replacement for the 537, fairly cheap and you get a consistent 90 fpm rate and audible clicking.

 

[toon80]

Thanks for the answers so far, everyone.


I don't want to load the flasher that much. I want to hook up four(4) 4414 sealed beams of 18 watts. 2 on each "side" of the flasher, so about 3 amps per flash.

 

[SafetyLighting]

Thread resurrection:

Anybody know the actual amperage limit of a 537 thermal flasher?

Duh, it's 537 amps!

 

[NPS Ranger]

Thanks for the answers so far, everyone.
I don't want to load the flasher that much. I want to hook up four(4) 4414 sealed beams of 18 watts. 2 on each "side" of the flasher, so about 3 amps per flash.

That was the standard NYPD configuration, 4 flashing 2/2 alternately. The one above my desk can run all day that way on a 537 flasher. :thumbsup:

 

[toon80]

That was the standard NYPD configuration, 4 flashing 2/2 alternately. The one above my desk can run all day that way on a 537 flasher. :thumbsup:

Good thing then, because it will indeed go in a NYPD AeroDynic


Thanks all for the inputs!

 

[CHIEFOPS]

That was the standard NYPD configuration, 4 flashing 2/2 alternately...

That's because it did things on the cheap. Every time I was assigned to a new "steady" RMP I would change out the lightbar's 537 flasher with a Tridon flasher, I couldn't stand the un-even flash rate.