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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:13 pm
by ChrisPappas
It couldn't be on because of a malfunction as the neon with the resistor needs 110 volts to operate (90 volts without the resistor).
Chris
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:20 pm
by Cylon-Knight
Hummmm.... maybe the Centurion was "dead" and the eye was off?!?
TO THE DVDs!

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:31 pm
by ChrisPappas
For the light to be on, you have to pull out the 110 volt AC cord that is tucked into the section that you plug the eye into and then plug it into a wall outlet.
BTW, as a note, the Cylon eyes did not have an off switch. If you wanted them off, you disconnected it from the belt.
Chris
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:38 pm
by Cylon-Knight
ChrisPappas wrote:For the light to be on, you have to pull out the
BTW, as a note, the Cylon eyes did not have an off switch. If you wanted them off, you disconnected it from the belt.
ACK! You spilled the beans, now the world knows how to blind us Cylons. lol
So, when a Cylon's eye would "stop" scanning - and stay lit - as they "died" ... how did they do that? Did they have a totally different scanner circult/set up in a prop helmet for close ups only (no actor inside)?
Tricky TV shows! Knight Rider was like that - had a special - close up shots K.I.T.T. dash, and the "driving car/stunt cars" had different set ups.
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:44 pm
by ChrisPappas
There was one circuit that modified with the stop capability; flip a switch and the movement stops where it is, pull the power and fade to black.
For Cy coming to life in G1980, the positive power to the lamps was intermittently interrupted and connected to get the effect.
Chris
Re: Eye Scanner
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 12:01 pm
by groupleaderzeta
I have been asked to post my 3 cents worth..
The neon lamp will only work if 110 volts is applied to the belt, such as plugged it in the wall to recharge the battery.
Often the neon lamp is used as a current limiter for the recharge circuit. I spoke a a friend that used to run the old camera for a TV studio, He says that the old cams used 24 volts DC to run. I suspect that the cam belt is a dual voltage unit providing 12 volt and 24 volts DC. The eye scanner probably used 12 volts to run.
I think the cell rating was 1.25 volt each, and that there was 20 cells in the belt, providing 25 volts DC MAX. But given inefficiencies probably 23-24 volts.
Unless someone can find specification on the actual cell used in the belt, this is what I feel could be right.
Re: Eye Scanner
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 7:05 pm
by ChrisPappas
14 cells, 1.2 volts each, wired to provide either 16.8 or 8.4 volts or both.
The eye ran on split voltage, 16.8 to the lamps, 8.4 to the circuit. The circuit had an on board voltage regulator.
Chris
Re: Eye Scanner
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:45 am
by Skullbeast
Great thread. Burried deep.
Re: Eye Scanner
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:04 pm
by FLIGHTLDR SERPENTINE
Yea, interesting read. Maybe I should just pull my original eye scanner out of my helmet to use in my command centurion? Naaa.
Re: Eye Scanner
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:19 am
by Red Eye
But a few detail photos of the unit itself would be nice and great to see for all of us.
Can it be done?
Re: Eye Scanner
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:59 pm
by FLIGHTLDR SERPENTINE
I thought I posted a few already? Let me check and see.
Re: Eye Scanner
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 3:40 am
by Red Eye
Yeah, I totally forgot about that, sorry!
They're located here:
http://www.byyourcommand.net/cylongalle ... 291&page=2
Re: Eye Scanner
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 10:11 am
by FLIGHTLDR SERPENTINE
Too late! I tore mine apart again just for you, Red Eye.

This time with much more detailed images… posted HERE:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3064&p=32190#p32190