Searchlight on a MUTT?

1959 - 1978, M151, M151A1, M151A2, Technical questions and discussions, regarding anything related to the M151.
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Bill, Idaho
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Searchlight on a MUTT?

Post by Bill, Idaho » Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:47 pm

As if I don't have enough MV projects, I have been blessed with a GI searchlight for a MUTT. I have an A2 with a 100 amp alternator, but rumor has it that even that wasn't enough. 180 amp? Anyway, it seem to be pretty complete, except for the cables/boxes-controls from the actual light to the MUTT. How hard are those specific parts going to be to find? What about bulbs? Is it going to be more than it's worth? If I do decide to mount this thing, it IS NOT going to be a static display---I'm melting somebodies chrome a mile away!! Any input? And as usual, thanks guys!!


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Post by blackdog » Tue Aug 08, 2006 2:37 pm

Hi, the parts you need will probably be hard to find. The bulbs you can probably find from places like Saturn Surplus as the Xenon searchlight used on the M151's was the same as the one mounted on M60/M48/etc tanks...

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Post by NavSecGru Joe » Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:51 pm

Is this the searchlight you have? This jeep was displayed at the Gilbert Rally last September in PA. The unit is awesome!!!

Image

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Post by blackdog » Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:01 pm

Bill, did you buy the searchlight unit that was just recently on eBay?

Joe, that's a really nice jeep. It's one of the few restored ones that I've seen with four color MERDC camo in those colors. Can't say I'm a fan of the hideous spare tire cover though...

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Kurt Lesser
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VSS-3 searchlight

Post by Kurt Lesser » Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:11 pm

The searchlight is a VSS-3 in this configuration and needs 160 amps to operate in it's "overdrive" mode. It will draw 100 amps just to stay on and the starting current surge is why a 100 amp alternator won't get it started. The tank mounted units used the same light but was designated VSS-1. I can help with manuals on CD if you need them. To cable this beast up you'll need 0 gauge wire. Basically the same stuff you have on the batterys. Welding wire will work too.

This searchlight will operate in visible broad and fine beam modes and also in IR mode with the internal filters swung in. Be extremely careful if you fire it up with the IR filters in, the only way you'll know it's on will be the engine loads down and it's going to be "really hot" if you get in front of it. At 3 Kw there's enough power to do serious damage to your eyes.

Be careful.
Kurt Lesser
US Navy, 1969-1975
M996A1 Ambulance w/M101A3 Trailer
M274A2 Mule
M151A1 Mutt w/M416B1 Trailer
M890 Crew cab

Bill, Idaho
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Post by Bill, Idaho » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:44 pm

It's not that specific one, but looks identical to it. Not the one on Epay either.
Actually, I was thinking of trying to mount it on an M103 trailer, with a GI generator mounted next to it. But that's down the road, I am still deciding if I want to get into this or not. It's too cool to pass up. What about TM's, stuff like that?

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Re: Searchlight on a MUTT?

Post by muttguru » Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:29 am

Bill, Idaho wrote: Anyway, it seem to be pretty complete, except for the cables/boxes-controls from the actual light to the MUTT. How hard are those specific parts going to be to find?
Bill,

if you drop me a line at muttguru@aol.com I can tell you who had a load of Xenon equipment for sale a while ago.
Contact address - muttguru@aol.com
Always wanted - Details and pictures of M416 Trailer data plates & M151 data plates & body-tags for my research. Thanks!

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Re: VSS-3 searchlight

Post by petesilfven » Wed Aug 09, 2006 6:43 am

Kurt Lesser wrote:The searchlight is a VSS-3 in this configuration and needs 160 amps to operate in it's "overdrive" mode. It will draw 100 amps just to stay on and the starting current surge is why a 100 amp alternator won't get it started. The tank mounted units used the same light but was designated VSS-1. I can help with manuals on CD if you need them. To cable this beast up you'll need 0 gauge wire. Basically the same stuff you have on the batterys. Welding wire will work too.

This searchlight will operate in visible broad and fine beam modes and also in IR mode with the internal filters swung in. Be extremely careful if you fire it up with the IR filters in, the only way you'll know it's on will be the engine loads down and it's going to be "really hot" if you get in front of it. At 3 Kw there's enough power to do serious damage to your eyes.

Be careful.
That's actually an AN/GSS-14, as mounted on the M151. The VSS-3 is quite a bit smaller, and is an entirely different unit. I have all of the TMs for these lights, up to and including the -35.

Bill, PM me, and I can probably tell you what you will need to get yours up and running. I have one also.
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Kurt Lesser
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mil gen sets

Post by Kurt Lesser » Wed Aug 09, 2006 7:46 am

Bill,

The largest 28 volt generator that I knoe of is the 3Kw unit and it won't fire the searchlight because of the surge current required to start the lamp. The military 3Kw generator puts out 100 amps which would be sufficient to run the light but not to get it going.

I tried it without success.
Kurt Lesser
US Navy, 1969-1975
M996A1 Ambulance w/M101A3 Trailer
M274A2 Mule
M151A1 Mutt w/M416B1 Trailer
M890 Crew cab

Bill, Idaho
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Post by Bill, Idaho » Wed Aug 09, 2006 8:58 am

Curses, foiled again.

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Post by petesilfven » Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:30 pm

Actually, the 3 kw generator would probably work OK if the output were paralleled with the light and a couple of large batteries. The batteries would handle the starting surge and then just float on the line while the generator ran the light. The light pulls 100 amps in normal mode and 150 in overdrive, and the generator is capable of 180 amps.

It works just fine with a 150 amp alternator on the M151 with the regular batteries, so it would be OK with the generator.
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USN 1959-65 USS GALVESTON CLG3
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Re: Searchlight on a MUTT?

Post by dcartledge » Fri Sep 21, 2018 10:42 am

So, If I run the positive and negative wires from the light to the batteries and same from rectifier that would be the way to wire this light into the 180 gen/reg/rectifier circuit?
D
45 MB,64 M151 Searchlight,66 M151A1,74 M151A2 Tow, 86 M1035

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Re: Searchlight on a MUTT?

Post by dcartledge » Mon Jan 14, 2019 11:51 am

Anyone have a line on obtaining the canon retaining nut for the an/vss-1 searchlight cable? I have the two wire cable but somewhere in the mix the nut that holds into the control box must have slid off the cable.

Many thanks,
D
45 MB,64 M151 Searchlight,66 M151A1,74 M151A2 Tow, 86 M1035


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