Adapt-a-Lite indicators are designed with an automatic light adaptive circuit that will adjust the light output according to the ambient light environment. The light dims (over a 100:1 range) so as not to be overpowering in total dark night conditions while still maintaining full brightness in daylight. This feature replaces manually adjusted vanes or polarized light filters on the old pilot light assemblies.

Note: The dimming mechanism is designed to adapt to natural daylight and incandescent lighting. It is less sensitive to fluorescent or other forms of artificial lighting that have a low red wavelength content.

Adapt-a-Lite indicators display a ring of 6 LEDs for better visibility at a distance. The LEDs are interconnected in a parallel/series configuration for redundancy and reliability.

Each Adapt-a-Lite version has a separate part code. For full details on the part code parameters, see Part Codes.

Adapt-a-Lite Voltage Indicator

The basic Adapt-a-Lite version is a simple pilot light (voltage indicator). It can be used anywhere that a standard pilot light is used (if space is available). It is a 2 terminal device available for both DC only or AC/DC operation at voltages from 12 Volts to more than 100 volts. It can be supplied in any of the standard LED colors and brightness. For full details on the part code parameters see Part Codes.

Adapt-a-Lite Current Indicator

The Adapt-a-Lite Current Indicator is a further adaptation of the voltage indicator with an added DC current sensing circuit which allows the indicator to light only when a specified minimum current is flowing in the detector loop circuit. The current sensing range can be anywhere from 0.1 Amp to 10 Amps or more. This is our most popular Adapt-a-Lite version with over 50,000 in service since it was developed. Most of these are used to monitor the proper operation of headlights and other safety lights on railroad locomotives.

There are two different terminal configurations for the Adapt-a-Lite Current Indicator:

4 Terminal:  This configuration has a separate positive voltage supply so that the indicator can be placed anywhere in the circuit without regard to the voltage present in the current loop.

3 Terminal: This configuration derives the positive voltage supply for the indicator from the current loop. Although this reduces the wiring connections necessary, this type of indicator can only used in applications where the current loop is the positive side of the current supply line and if the voltage of current loop is always more than half of the voltage of the device rating.

For full details on the part code parameters see Part Codes