AN/VSS-1 Searchlight

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Thank you billhess, I'll ping you off-list.

Parker VH: I looked for that listing, curious to know what it sold for, if it did. May have been a fast sell.
Several years ago, a guy had a listing for both a GSS version and a portable generator designed to work as a unit. Someone contacted the seller and must have made a huge offer as the listing was cancelled for mysterious reasons.

I would really like to know who has a complete & operational GSS version out there, and why they're not in this group?
 
You should be able to pick up some pretty hefty bridge rectifiers off eBay relatively cheap. I have a pair of 60A I want to say rectifiers that are rated for up to 1000V.

The pair will handle over 100A. They are intended for use with a 80A 12V supply.
 
IgNITEor said:
Thank you billhess, I'll ping you off-list.

Parker VH: I looked for that listing, curious to know what it sold for, if it did. May have been a fast sell.
Several years ago, a guy had a listing for both a GSS version and a portable generator designed to work as a unit. Someone contacted the seller and must have made a huge offer as the listing was cancelled for mysterious reasons.

I would really like to know who has a complete & operational GSS version out there, and why they're not in this group?
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It's still on Ebay with a buy it now price of $875.00. Just search under "xenon searchlight" and it should come up. I know nothing about these lights so I have no idea if that is a good price.
 
It should be noted to anyone wishing to get into one of these, the connector cable connects to the light but does not connect to the control box. Originally, it connected to the light and onto a bulkhead connector on the outside of the tank gun turret. The control box was obviously on the inside of the tank and there was a separate connection made to complete the circuit. So you'd need to be good a following a schematic and doing your own wiring.

There are two on Ebay if you search "VSS-1"

I doubt either of them are new as is reported. Most likely, they are fresh rebuilds/overhauls as the tags usually indicate.
 
Found them. Thanks BVH.

Man, what some guy will do to sell a light!
Interesting parts in that listing. Pretty much the same "kit" as mine from Saturn Surplus.

Girl has the -1 upside down and I don't think either one of 'em are gonna go for anywhere near $875. We shall see.......
 
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IgNITEor said:
Indeed....a fine thread never dies.

I'm starting the process of readying the Death Ray for some more patrol action.
One of the gear motors for the filter assembly may be failing.

Who is currently sitting on the master stockpile of VSS-1 parts?
According to Peak Beam, someone came by with a big flatbed truck and cleared out their VSS inventory and headed for Louisiana.

Hmmmm....I wonder who that was?
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Hello, I purchased all of the AN VSS lights peak beam had (51). I've designed and built individual rotating assemblies, similar to skytracker units and am currently using them for my Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. Although I'd rather not cannibalize a light for parts I'll be glad to help where I can - if at all possible. Drop me a note and I’ll see what I can do.
 
Greetings tt4ctis3, and welcome to our group of cloud piercing hardware!

If you have any rotational design pics, please share.

Your pm box is not working yet. Just tried to ping you.
I still haven't found a gear motor assembly to replace my ailing blackout shutter. May have to do some crazy mechanical linkage as the departure date looms near.
 
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tt4ctis3 said:
Hello, I purchased all of the AN VSS lights peak beam had (51). I've designed and built individual rotating assemblies, similar to skytracker units and am currently using them for my Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. Although I'd rather not cannibalize a light for parts I'll be glad to help where I can - if at all possible. Drop me a note and I’ll see what I can do.
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Welcome to CPF, tt4ctis3.

You chose a superb thread for your first post here - looking forward to seeing your further contributions!
 
Thanks DM51

I've actually been a fan for years but when I read IgNITEors' post I had to reply.
 
IgNITEor

I have them in a warehouse that I don't frequent often but will try to get there soon to share some pics. I really didn't think anyone would be interested in what I was doing.
 
I know for a fact I wouldn't have gotten this far without the support of others in this group making the one beefy xenon I own operate safely and for as long as it has under the severe weather conditions it's been subjected to.

Now as I wait to find someone willing to part with a gear motor cluster, I shall ponder the wild desert nights coming up soon in which near-fearless beam sweeps will once again fill the endless range.

Gear cluster please, :help: anyone?
 
IgNITEor said:
I know for a fact I wouldn't have gotten this far without the support of others in this group making the one beefy xenon I own operate safely and for as long as it has under the severe weather conditions it's been subjected to.

Now as I wait to find someone willing to part with a gear motor cluster, I shall ponder the wild desert nights coming up soon in which near-fearless beam sweeps will once again fill the endless range.

Gear cluster please, :help: anyone?
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I will check the remaining crated lights I have to see if any are marked "for parts" or if something appears missing from them. I believe I remember Robert telling me there was 1 or 2 that were used for parts but I haven't come across any yet. It will take me some time to get to my warehouse and see. I'm extremely busy at work right now and I'm not sure when I'll be able to get there.
 
Hello to all my fellow "illuminati"
First time poster, long time lurker. Thought I should join in the fun now that I have purchased a "death-ray". (the one that's been on Ebay for the last 2 months)
Not too worried about hooking everyting up, I have all the manuals and I'm an aviation electrician by trade.
Only 2 questions for now. What would a reasonable price for a Vss-1 be, and does anyone have a source for bulbs, etc.?

-Dave S.
 
HALLOWEEN'S ALMOST HERE!

Are you ready? Got all of your lights charging and in standby mode? :naughty:

CPFdeathray.jpg
 
One of these very cool lights just made its way to my house!!! :twothumbs

Wow what a cool toy. I am really liking what it does. I think I will make a mount to attach it to my truck. Only place I can use it besides pointing it up in the air from my driveway at home, is to take it to Photon Fest, which I will do. 😀

After reading this thread, I powered it up with two car batteries. I pulled one of my trucks up next to the other and used jumper cables. They were 8 gage cables and accounted for a loss of 2V total. The batteries were at 11V each and so the voltage to the light was 20V. The longest it ran for was 10min. It seams to work very well. I do not have a clamp meter that can go up to 100A yet so I could not measure the current. But I am sure it was low given how low the voltage was.

Thank you everybody who contributed to this thread, I have learned a lot here. I too am afraid of the IR mode and I did not even try it yet. When people see this light on they just come running, "can I play with that?"

I want to get batteries for the light and am thinking about using two truck batteries and a 6V golf cart battery. Anybody else try this? I think it will be best if it gets closer to the 28V it is expecting. That should hit it right on the head.

Cheers
Dave
 
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Powerboatman1 said:
Hello to all my fellow "illuminati"
First time poster, long time lurker. Thought I should join in the fun now that I have purchased a "death-ray". (the one that's been on Ebay for the last 2 months)
Not too worried about hooking everyting up, I have all the manuals and I'm an aviation electrician by trade.
Only 2 questions for now. What would a reasonable price for a Vss-1 be, and does anyone have a source for bulbs, etc.?

-Dave S.
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Welcome to CPF! Got that thing running yet?
 
Data, I would not chance over-volting it by that much. Just get two good 100 - 110 AMP AGM, high quality deep cycle batteries and run in series. At about 24 to 26 Volts, mine consumed about 80 something Amps, don't quite remember. But it runs just fine on lower than 28. I would not risk the electronics at 32 -33 + Volts. And I would not risk a bulb explosion with 66 atmospheres of presser in there - 970 or so PSI. On a 2 Serial, 2 Parallel setup with 4 ea. 110 Amp AGM's, I got somewhere around 50 to 55 minutes of run time.

Also, just a word of caution.... a direct micro-second flash from this or the VSS-3 WILL cause permanent eye damage or blindness so stay with the light at all times and don't let anyone play around with it. It is part of a military weapons system and as such, is dangerous if not used carefully.

OK, getting off my soapbox now.
 
BVH said:
Data, I would not chance over-volting it by that much. Just get two good 100 - 110 AMP AGM, high quality deep cycle batteries and run in series. At about 24 to 26 Volts, mine consumed about 80 something Amps, don't quite remember. But it runs just fine on lower than 28. I would not risk the electronics at 32 -33 + Volts. And I would not risk a bulb explosion with 66 atmospheres of presser in there - 970 or so PSI. On a 2 Serial, 2 Parallel setup with 4 ea. 110 Amp AGM's, I got somewhere around 50 to 55 minutes of run time.
. . .
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What model number is the battery you used?
 
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