Calling all 737 Drivers and Know Alls

[GACSavannah 227]

6 hours ago, Jazz said:

🤣

Such as what? They are a 737's nipples and they produce milk for the pilots coffee? 🤣

Real pilots don't put milk in their coffee.

[Garys 209]

For the Op.... Its a remote light sensor for the CDS. You can buy one if you like https://www.ebay.com/itm/125687834687

[rickjake 243]

So we went from a light to a microphone, to a milk producing nipple and now a light sensor. Hmmmm. 🙂

 

 

 

[spitzer45 99]

This is cdu remote light sensor. There are 2 ones, one for f/o side one for captain side. These sensors send brightness datas outboard du’s. And there are also bezels on all du’s to calculate brightness. Automatic brightness control function uses inputs from both the remote light sensor’s on the glareshield and the bezel light sensors on the individual du’s…

[Stearmandriver 2,295]

I was told long ago that they're the CAMs for the CVR.  There is also one on the overhead, on the CVR panel, so I guess it's possible the mechanic was wrong.  I will say, though, that the CDS brightness does not change when you cover them with your food tray after dinner, so if they're light sensors I'm not sure they're doing much.  😉

[Jazz 1,046]

So my original theory of it being a light sensor was correct after all.....

Microphones, lamps and nipples indeed....... Ask an expert, eh?  🤣

Cheers guys, this one has been fun. I can't wait to see what they are tomorrow.

[Stearmandriver 2,295]

Got bored enough to actually look it up.  I'll be darned, looks like they actually are light sensors for the displays.  The mechanic I asked was straight up wrong; I'm surprised.

The thing is, they really don't seem to do much to the brightness of the screens when you cover them, or for that matter when they're hit with a flashlight if you're checking the wiper bolt for ice.  So, unsure how they're actually used.  In contrast, the sensors in the displays themselves are very sensitive to light or shadow.

These on the glareshield don't affect the HGS brightness; that sensor is on the combiner.

[Jazz 1,046]

1 minute ago, Stearmandriver said:

Got bored enough to actually look it up.  I'll be darned, looks like they actually are light sensors for the displays.  The mechanic I asked was straight up wrong; I'm surprised.

The thing is, they really don't seem to do much to the brightness of the screens when you cover them, or for that matter when they're hit with a flashlight if you're checking the wiper bolt for ice.  So, unsure how they're actually used.  In contrast, the sensors in the displays themselves are very sensitive to light or shadow.

These on the glareshield don't affect the HGS brightness; that sensor is on the combiner.

Thanks for looking this up.

You'll be poking these things on your next flight, won't you?😉

[Stearmandriver 2,295]

16 minutes ago, Jazz said:

You'll be poking these things on your next flight, won't you?

I do sometimes anyway.  I mean I think we've established they aren't nipples, but maybe I spend too much time on the road away from home.  😂

[Jazz 1,046]

13 minutes ago, Stearmandriver said:

I do sometimes anyway.  I mean I think we've established they aren't nipples, but maybe I spend too much time on the road away from home.  😂

Try covering both of them up at the same time and see what the displays do 😉

The other pilot will probably think you have gone a bit funny but what does that matter for the sake of science?

[Garys 209]

2 hours ago, Stearmandriver said:

The mechanic I asked was straight up wrong; I'm surprised.

Thats the difference between AME's in countries that need type endorsements v's the US system. Or they were just messing with you 😀

Edited January 9, 2023 by Garys

[Stearmandriver 2,295]

8 hours ago, Garys said:

Thats the difference between AME's in countries that need type endorsements v's the US system. Or they were just messing with you 😀

I think the answer would have been more creative if he were messing with me 😉.  I suspect he got fleet types confused as there are aircraft that have the area mics on the panel like that.  This was a fun exercise though!

[Mace 1,926]

12 hours ago, Jazz said:

Try covering both of them up at the same time and see what the displays do 😉

The other pilot will probably think you have gone a bit funny but what does that matter for the sake of science?

That's a good point, as they might be redundant systems...maybe @Stearmandriver can cover both and find out for us :)

[mspencer 425]

3 hours ago, Stearmandriver said:

I think the answer would have been more creative if he were messing with me 😉.  I suspect he got fleet types confused as there are aircraft that have the area mics on the panel like that.  This was a fun exercise though!

It's actually the cabin air quality sensor. Turns out you're actually supposed to get the newhire flight attendant to walk through after boarding with the trash bag to get an air sample. Then you gotta get up and make sure you really get that bag around that sucker, hold it in place for 90 seconds, and you'll get an ACARS message with the results.