MIL-DTL-3661D
4.6.13 Life (see 3.5.12.1). Indicator lights with removable lenses shall be mounted on a .125 inch
aluminum panel and shall be subjected to 1,000 hours of continuous operation with the lamp of the highest wattage,
operated at its maximum voltage, the holder will accommodate. Ambient temperature shall be 55 ±2°C. Non-
removable lens type assemblies shall be subjected to the same test for 2,000 hours. On completion of test, the
specimens shall be allowed to return to normal temperature, then subjected to the following tests:
(a) Visual and mechanical examination.
(b) Visual color check of lens.
(c) Seal (if applicable to the test specimen).
For multi-lamp assemblies, all lamps that are lighted in any normal mode of operation shall be lighted
during this test.
4.6.14 Press-to-test operation (when applicable) (see 3.5.12.1). The lampholder (with lamp and
appropriate lens installed) shall be mounted on a rigid metal panel. A 15-pound force shall be applied directly in
line with the lens until the lens traverses at least one-half its overtravel. The force shall then be reduced until the lens
regains its initial position. The force shall be applied and released linearly at a rate of not more than 10 cycles per
minute with a lamp duty cycle of 1 second on and 5 seconds off. Three thousand (3,000) cycles so defined shall be
performed. A suitable monitoring circuit shall be used to denote proper electrical operation during this test. The
following detail shall apply:
(a) Circuit-The circuits in the lights shall be such that the indicating circuit will be open before and during
the time the test circuit is closed, and the test circuit will be open before and during the time the
indicating circuit is closed.
4.6.15 Life (mechanical) (see 3.5.12.2). The dimmer covers on dimming lights shall be subject to 5,000
cycles of operation from the extreme dim to the extreme bright position and return to the extreme dim position.
Lamps shall not be operated during this test, but shall be energized for approximately one minute after the test to
indicate whether the units are electrically operable.
4.6.16 Vibration (see 3.5.13). Lampholders, indicator-light housings and lenses shall be tested in
accordance with method 204 of MIL-STD-202. The following details shall apply:
(a) Method of mounting Specimens shall be mounted on a rigid metal panel which is secured to a suitable
base plate. Two of the specimens shall contain the highest voltage lamps that the holders can
accommodate and the other specimen shall be tested with no lamp installed. All units shall have lens
installed as applicable.
(b) Specimens with lamps shall be energized at rated lamp voltage during the tests.1
(c) Test-condition letter-A. Unless otherwise specified (see 3.2).
(d) During the tests the specimens with the lamps installed shall be observed for any visual light
intermittency. There shall be no rotation of lens or missorientation of legend in rotatable indicator-light
lenses.
(e) After the tests, the lampholders or indicator lights that did not have a lamp installed, shall be tested for
proper operation by installing a lamp and applying an appropriate voltage across the terminals. If the
lampholder has a press-to-test-feature, the press-to-test-feature shall be tested for proper operation. If
the lampholder has a dimmer feature, the dimmer shall be tested for proper operation,
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If a lamp fails, the test shall be stopped immediately and a new lamp installed. If the new lamp lights, the test shall
be resumed.
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