Anyone here has reservations over friction-mount strobe light mounts?

[projectarjun]

I fly with strobe lights during the day to help keep the drone within my visual line of sight

 

[Paul Harvey]

Your aircraft probably looks like a mirrored disco ball during a flight with seven strobes flashing away in the night .

LOL! Actually, I don't need all of them at night. It's during the super-bright Arizona skies that require all seven.

 

[Paul Harvey]

Are strobes primarily for night flying?

On most days, if I don't have my lights on I wouldn't be able to see the thing (Air 3) past about 100 feet.

 

[KTM1290R]

I use them in the daytime, very helpful. also, Velcro has been fine for me as long as it’s quality and mount spot prepped well. Here’s a little variation to other pilots methods and how I mounted to my Air 2S, made a couple little metal brackets for support and the slope of the drone angles the lights a little downward nicely and its well balanced.

 

[MA2 317]

a couple little metal brackets for support and the slope of the drone angles

I assume aluminum.

Looks like aluminum.

Ferrous metals may throw the compass off on start up and during the flight.

Aluminum is lightweight and won't interfere with the stuff for flight.

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[KTM1290R]

I assume aluminum.

Looks like aluminum.

Ferrous metals may throw the compass off on start up and during the flight.

Aluminum is lightweight and won't interfere with the stuff for flight.

.

Thank you for your observation. I think that’s a good idea. I may find some 90 degree shaped plastic from something around the house and cut it to dimension and replace the metal, it is not aluminum, as a precaution. Smart you are…thanks

 

[marinsd]

Never had a problem with the Velcro it came with. Certainly well-connected to the drone.

 

[QuaiOui]

As a standard all of the mounts we make use screws just for this reason. A light or accessory falling off into props or hitting someone below. We do use snaps in some cases howevet, we provide a secondary securing method. (like a lanyard)

Security Measure

www.ebay.com

What method do you use to stop the screws coming lose due to high frequency vibration?

 

[QuaiOui]

I think "Velcro" could work well too depending on the type of Velcro. 3M Dual Lock would likely never fail (assuming it's used properly).

I use this on my drones, white top f'wrd, Red under aft. Can distinguish which end of drone. 3M Dual holds very well. No concerns at all about detachment. Not subject to loosening due to vibration

 

[kenbreland]

Anyone here has reservations over friction-mount strobe light mounts? A few folks have shed concerns that these mounts can slide off after sometime (or edge closer to the propellers) potentially coming in contact with the propellers while in flight (despite running through the pre-check manifest)

lost one on my A 2S, looked great falling from the dark night sky into the lake, won't use them anymore

 

[ischonfeld]

I use clip-on 3D printed mounts for Firehouse strobes on a Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual. Same mounts for 3-4 years (only clipped on when flying at night, not used during the day). No distortion on the clips, no slipping, stay in place.

My design: Prusa Printables Mavic Strobe LED Holders

There are a pair that aim two strobes forward/rear and a pair that aim two strobes to the left and right side.

 

[KTM1290R]

Thank you for your observation. I think that’s a good idea. I may find some 90 degree shaped plastic from something around the house and cut it to dimension and replace the metal, it is not aluminum, as a precaution. Smart you are…thanks

Hey MA2 317, I took your advice and eliminated any potential metal interference issues and made my brackets from plastic. So the point of all this was to eliminate leg mounts (I have them, like them but a hassle vs quality Velcro), any air flow disruption they may cause from the prop, no change to the CG and easier to pick up as I scan back and forth from screen to drone. this Is not intended as night time as I would configure the lightning on top.

 

[bkushner]

I haven't had a problem with my Aerial-Pixel mounts over the past few years of putting them on and taking them off.

I modified an old case to have my MA2 ready to deploy with the strobes attached.

I take them off to charge the strobes and haven't noticed any wear on the flex points of the mounts that grip the arms.

So far, so good.

View attachment 170906

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I have AerialPixel - Etsy mounts on my Mavic 3 Pro, Mini 4 Pro and Air with with NO ISSUES. They work fantastically.