L-880(L), L-881(L) Precision Approach Path Indicator Lights (PAPI)

Title

L-880(L), L-881(L) Precision Approach Path Indicator Lights (PAPI) - Installation Instructions

URL Name

L-880-L-L-881-L-Precision-Approach-Path-Indicator-Lights-PAPI---Installation-Instructions

Summary

This article provides the step-by-step procedures for installing the Light Head Assembly (LHA), mounting legs, and related hardware for the L-880(L) LED PAPI and L-881(L) LED APAPI systems.

Content

General Installation Notes

All installation work must comply with FAA AC 150/5345-28, EB 67, and site-specific engineering requirements.
After mechanical mounting, proceed to leveling, tilting, wiring, and DIP switch configuration.
Do not energize the system until aiming and final verification are complete.

Pre-Installation Requirements

The Airport Lighting Company LED PAPI is configured for quick and simple installation and aiming. Typically, the contractor need supply only 2” EMT for the legs and liquid tight flexible conduit. Most LHAs use 1-1/4" conduit. Style A Primary LHAs for systems with Interlock Remote or Monitoring Options will use 1-1/2".

Lens Height and Leg Preparation

Except in situations with special siting considerations, the center of the lens must be within +/- 1 inch of a horizontal plane that is within +/- 1 foot of the elevation of the runway centerline at the intercept point of the visual approach angle with the runway. Establish the height of this plane above mounting grade for each LHA and cut three pieces of EMT to 13” less than this. Assemble each leg and put in its place.

LHA Mounting Sequence

Remove the top flange and hex nuts.
Lower the LHA on to the lower flange nuts.
Replace the top flange and hex nuts.
Do not tighten the top flange nuts until after leveling and tilting the unit.
Reference: Leveling and Tilting the Light Head (Setting the glide slope)
Use the hex nuts to jam the flange nuts in place.

Conduit and Wiring Routing

Run the LHA whip through contractor-supplied liquid tight conduit from the elbow at the LHA to the straight connection at the frangible coupling, connecting at grade with the whip from the distribution box in the L-867 base.
In Style A installations, the final LHA in the sequence will have no distribution box in the L-867 base and will be connected to a cable run from the previous LHA’s L-867 base can.

Grounding Procedure

Each LHA is equipped with a grounding lug.
Install a grounding wire connecting this lug to a ground rod.
The ground lug position is inverted for shipping.
Remove the hex socket with a 5/32 bit to rotate the lug 180° prior to inserting the ground wire.

Wiring

LHA Wiring At-Grade Connection Each LHA includes a factory molded power and communications cable that will plug into a factory molded receptacle secured to a baseplate and mounted at grade. The receptacle from the distribution box passes through the baseplate opening. It is held above the opening by attaching an ALC #900 cable clamp (included in 88-09000 mounting kit) to the molded end.

NOTE: All Style A Primary LHA and Style B Primary LHA with Monitoring Option require a special baseplate which has a larger opening for the cable than a standard baseplate. For L-867B cans use 88-01932 and for L-867D cans use 88-02932.