New to me and I can’t find the Beacon switch

[M20E78merlin]

Hey all, I am the new owner of a ‘69 M20E and am hoping I can find some quick help here.

For the life of me, I cannot find the switch for the rotating beacon.  On the pre-buy, it worked like a champ…but, the previous owner switched it all on at the time.  I have checked all of the breakers, and the switch panel only has landing light, anti-collision, nav/ADS-B, pitot heat, and the boost pump.

Any hints as to where I may look?  The panel looks mostly original.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

[PeteMc]

The Anti Collision switch doesn't turn it on?  You may be thinking that switch is only for the Strobes (if you have Strobes), but in some planes one switch does it all.    

Or a quick way to find it is to have someone stand outside the plane and turn EVERYTHING ON like the previous owner did.  Assuming they see the Beacon, then start turning things Off until they yell at you.  You could also do it at night or put a white box or something out a bit from the Beacon so you see the reflection if you need to do it while you're alone.  

And if you don't see the Beacon, maybe the bulb is burned out or there's a wiring issue.

Oh... and have you emailed the previous owner??? 

 

[midlifeflyer]

4 hours ago, PeteMc said:

The Anti Collision switch doesn't turn it on?  You may be thinking that switch is only for the Strobes (if you have Strobes), but in some planes one switch does it all.   

 My first thought as well. 

[Hank]

7 hours ago, M20E78merlin said:

Hey all, I am the new owner of a ‘69 M20E and am hoping I can find some quick help here.

For the life of me, I cannot find the switch for the rotating beacon.  On the pre-buy, it worked like a champ…but, the previous owner switched it all on at the time.  I have checked all of the breakers, and the switch panel only has landing light, anti-collision, nav/ADS-B, pitot heat, and the boost pump.

Any hints as to where I may look?  The panel looks mostly original.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

In my 1970 C, the row of rocker switches above the VORs does it. Here's the list from my Owners Manual:

The Landing Light is in the nose; the Nav Lights are on the wingtips (red & green); the Anti-Collision Light is on the belly.

My anti-collision light may have begun as a rotating beacon, but was a high-voltage flasher when I bought the plane. That since went intermittent and is now an LED flasher.

Enjoy learning your plane. I hope you have half as much fun as I've been having with mine!

[AJ88V]

should be in the row of white rocker switches above the VOR/ILS indicators, think it's the one in the center.  I just leave it on all the time so I can see if the master switch is off when I leave the airplane.  Pic below if from a 1970 (not mine), but think the stock panel layout is the same in the 1969 models.

 

[Slick Nick]

Does it have an electric step? I almost wonder if someone mounted it down where the crank handle used to be and linked it into the beacon light switch, if it's not painfully obvious on the panel.

[M20E78merlin]

10 hours ago, PeteMc said:

The Anti Collision switch doesn't turn it on?  You may be thinking that switch is only for the Strobes (if you have Strobes), but in some planes one switch does it all.    

Or a quick way to find it is to have someone stand outside the plane and turn EVERYTHING ON like the previous owner did.  Assuming they see the Beacon, then start turning things Off until they yell at you.  You could also do it at night or put a white box or something out a bit from the Beacon so you see the reflection if you need to do it while you're alone.  

And if you don't see the Beacon, maybe the bulb is burned out or there's a wiring issue.

Oh... and have you emailed the previous owner??? 

 

I did try the previous owner…but, he is not in the US at the moment. 

[M20E78merlin]

2 hours ago, AJ88V said:

should be in the row of white rocker switches above the VOR/ILS indicators, think it's the one in the center.  I just leave it on all the time so I can see if the master switch is off when I leave the airplane.  Pic below if from a 1970 (not mine), but think the stock panel layout is the same in the 1969 models.

 

I have that exact row and assumed it was the anti-collision…not happening with that.

The thing that is odd to me is, it was rotating and lit, but now it does neither.  Is that type of beacon often wired in a way that the rotation stops if the bulb burns out?

[Ron McBride]

15 minutes ago, M20E78merlin said:

I have that exact row and assumed it was the anti-collision…not happening with that.

The thing that is odd to me is, it was rotating and lit, but now it does neither.  Is that type of beacon often wired in a way that the rotation stops if the bulb burns out?

My 69f panel is the same as the 70.  The switches are also the circuit breakers.  You may have a bad switch/breaker.   Also try contact cleaner, maybe it is stuck.  The switches get hot and shut down.   The beacon itself could be bad, replace it with a led beacon.

congrats on your new plane.  Fly safe.

Ron

[AJ88V]

Nav lights are separate breakers (switches) from the beacon.  At least mine are separate.  You should hear the motor 'grinding' when the beacon is on independent of the bulb working, unless a new LED beacon was installed.  

Agree with Ron about trying some contact cleaner.

[M20E78merlin]

On 11/29/2024 at 10:06 AM, Ron McBride said:

My 69f panel is the same as the 70.  The switches are also the circuit breakers.  You may have a bad switch/breaker.   Also try contact cleaner, maybe it is stuck.  The switches get hot and shut down.   The beacon itself could be bad, replace it with a led beacon.

congrats on your new plane.  Fly safe.

Ron

Definitely going LED during my annual.  All exterior lights are getting the treatment.

Thanks!

[Pinecone]

check with @OSUAV8TER for good prices on Whelen lights.

[M20E78merlin]

On 11/29/2024 at 2:11 PM, AJ88V said:

Nav lights are separate breakers (switches) from the beacon.  At least mine are separate.  You should hear the motor 'grinding' when the beacon is on independent of the bulb working, unless a new LED beacon was installed.  

Agree with Ron about trying some contact cleaner.

I do hear the motor (or, at least a buzz)…but, no light and no rotation.  I will try cleaning the contacts.

[PeteMc]

1 hour ago, M20E78merlin said:

I do hear the motor (or, at least a buzz)…but, no light and no rotation.

Hearing the motor with no rotation may be a problem.  I really don't remember if the lens wheel in my old beacon rotated when the bulb was out, but I thought it did.  But if you're hearing things but not seeing any motion, it may be time to cut your losses. 

Even if some Tri-Flow or whatever gets it moving again, how bad is the corrosion and are you going to be opening it up every couple of weeks to keep it rotating? 

And I think Tri-Flow is okay, but whatever you use, make sure it's non-conductive and non-flammable.

 

Edited December 9 by PeteMc

[AJ88V]

The lack of hearing the 'grinding' concerns me.   Many of these old beacons are pretty noisy.  You should also be able to see the mirror rotating even if the bulb is out.

You may just have a burned out bulb, or corrosion.  One of my wingtip nav lights was out previous flight and I was all-in planning to pay too much to upgrade to LEDs.  I opened it up yesterday, sprayed both the socket and bulb base with electrical contact cleaner, and now it's good as new.  Highly recommend DeoxIt cleaner:
https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S-6-DeoxIT-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B00006LVEU 
Expensive, but worth it!  Just be sure to clean the glass of the bulb well after you reinstall it.  Sometimes the bulbs will shatter if there's oil on them when they heat up.