'69 M20C Panel Light Controller/Dimmer

[Cloudmirth]

I'm sending out a Mayday.  The panel light controller in my '69 M20C has suffered heart failure.  Does anyone know anyone who can repair these modules or where I might find a replacement.  Controllers from '69 and '70 C's and E's are the same I believe so any leads would be appreciated.

[Mooneymite]

If it is the dimmer as was in my '74 C, there is a (very expensive) fuse that is quite easily blown.  Are you sure it's a heart attack and not just a synapse?

[Cloudmirth]

A detailed inspection revealed that it was most certainly a coronary so a transplant (or at the very least major surgery) is required.  Now is I could just find a surgeon....

[Ron McBride]

Check with your local surgeon at a nearby radio shop.  
 

[N201MKTurbo]

I have the dimmer from my 77 J. It has the impossible to get transistors and I have some of the expensive fuses. I’m trying not to volunteer to fix yours, cause I don’t have the time.

[7.Mooney.Driver.0]

I had to repair mine not long ago. Here are the WD for them. Good luck.





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[Cloudmirth]

If I cannot source a replacement (and yes, this is a request to anyone who has or knows where a replacement might be obtained) repairing my existing unit is a possibility.  However, I now have two different schematics for the dimmer and neither one matches the unit in my plane.  Why on earth did Mooney need to have multiple iterations of basically a simple item.  In any event, my dimmer has only two transistors, one is a 2n442 and the second is a 2n2016 and there is only one fuse.  Anybody got a schematic fit this one.  

[Cloudmirth]

Has anyone done business with an outfit called Private Accessories?  They claim to have a dimmer available but I've never heard of them.

[Hank]

15 hours ago, Cloudmirth said:

If I cannot source a replacement (and yes, this is a request to anyone who has or knows where a replacement might be obtained) repairing my existing unit is a possibility.  However, I now have two different schematics for the dimmer and neither one matches the unit in my plane.  Why on earth did Mooney need to have multiple iterations of basically a simple item.  In any event, my dimmer has only two transistors, one is a 2n442 and the second is a 2n2016 and there is only one fuse.  Anybody got a schematic fit this one.  

Mine died a few years ago, complete with a smoke trail in the cockpit right after start up. Put her back in the hangar to find out what was smoking. A component on the board was completely fried, nothing left but two pegs and some black goo.

Made lots of phone calls to salvage places, MSCs and any other possible source--Mooney shops and mechanics with good reputations, etc. Eventually found one, bought it and it both fits and works. Not sure what I'll do when it craps out . . . . . But I do carry a flashlight or two, and sometimes have a tablet with me that's not buried in the baggage compartment.

Good luck with your search, wish I could provide better information.

@Alan Fox may have something . . . . .

[Alan Fox]

send me a pic of the unit

[Cloudmirth]

See photo attached.  Note there is also a version of this dimmer with only two transistor but the unit is interchangeable with the 3 transistor version.

[jamesm]

In the '67C model which had a big fat rheostat. i Installed Dual Max Dim Dimmer Controller P/N 9100-001-D based upon the schematics posted about looks a bit rewiring would be involved. But with these old planes with multiple owners. sometimes it's hard to tell what is original  and what is added. In my case the  supposed certified installers left a lot extra wires and rework for me to take care of.

Good luck in finding your replacement dimmer.

James '67C 

[Fly Boomer]

22 hours ago, Cloudmirth said:

See photo attached.  Note there is also a version of this dimmer with only two transistor but the unit is interchangeable with the 3 transistor version.

If you want Alan Fox to see this, you need to address it to him.  It doesn't work like email or SMS.  Use his screen name like this:  @Alan Fox

[Hank]

1 hour ago, Fly Boomer said:

If you want Alan Fox to see this, you need to address it to him.  It doesn't work like email or SMS.  Use his screen name like this:  @Alan Fox

Scroll up a little bit . . . . .

[Fly Boomer]

7 minutes ago, Hank said:

Scroll up a little bit . . . . .

Afox transmitted in the blind:
"send me a pic of the unit"
then Cloudmirth transmitted in the blind:
"See photo attached"
My post generates a ping for Afox that Cloudmirth has responded to his request.  What was I looking for when I scrolled up?

[Minnesota Mooney Guy]

I suggest Don Maxwell of Maxwell Aviation. They fixed mine and returned it in a week. 

 

[Cloudmirth]

For those who may have been following this topic, a solution.  My thanks to Minnesota Mooney Guy for his suggestion of Don Maxwell Aviation in Texas.  They were, indeed, capable of, and willing to, repair my dimmer module and repairs were completed in just over a week.  Excellent service and good people.  So, if you have a '69 or '70 C, E or F with a dimmer module problem Don Maxwell is where to go.