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Landing light replacement question

cropdusterdave

Well Known Member
Hi folks,

I have an Rv-7 with the Duck Works leading edge round 100W landing light. I’d like to replace it with an LED light. Are there any drop in options out there that could be recommended?

Thanks!
 
+1 for FlyLEDs

Hi folks,

I have an Rv-7 with the Duck Works leading edge round 100W landing light. I’d like to replace it with an LED light. Are there any drop in options out there that could be recommended?

Thanks!

Don’t have the Duck Works lights but I do have the wing tip lights with the original Vans halogen light kit. The FlyLEDs Kit was an easy drop in replacement for both taxi and landing lights, at least three times brighter, and a quarter the amperage draw. I’m sure their leading edge light is similar and comparable.
 
Hi folks,

I have an Rv-7 with the Duck Works leading edge round 100W landing light. I’d like to replace it with an LED light. Are there any drop in options out there that could be recommended?

Thanks!

Any PAR36 bulb will work - I used the Whelen Parmetheus Plus P1L and P1T for Landing and Taxi.
 
I just replaced my Duckworks HID light with one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088NP81YV?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_asin_image

Not quite a drop-in replacement. I had to build a simple adapter plate from some .03 stock and I had to increase the opening height in the DW bracket. I had the rectangular, not round, DW light. $32 for 2 of them. As bright as the sun.

Steve, do the LEDs create any EFI noise in your radio? This looks like an interesting option for replacing the old-school (1999) DW lights.
 
Same

Steve, do the LEDs create any EFI noise in your radio? This looks like an interesting option for replacing the old-school (1999) DW lights.

I swapped mine out with pretty much the same as Steve, I have had no trouble, very happy
 
I put these PAR36 bulbs in a few years ago:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAB4RTV/

They have spot and flood. I had to very slightly modify the bezel ring as they are more bulged or something, don't recall exactly. They are quite bright and I've noticed no radio noise. I leave them on from startup to shutdown on every flight.

Edit: I should have added that they are much brighter than the original halogen PAR36 bulbs that they replaced. I did have some less expensive PAR36 LED's for a year, but they were worthless (and only cost maybe $15).
 
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I put these PAR36 bulbs in a few years ago:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAB4RTV/

They have spot and flood. I had to very slightly modify the bezel ring as they are more bulged or something, don't recall exactly. They are quite bright and I've noticed no radio noise. I leave them on from startup to shutdown on every flight.

I used the same or very similar in my RV-4 with wingtip lights to replace the incadascent PAR36. They are completely adequate, much better but don't exactly light up the night like daylight. They also draw a fraction of what they replaced and last forever.
 
Wig Wag

My duckworths are setup for wig wags using the aeroelectric ford flasher circuit, and are on all the time, any issues using these leds in this manner?
Figs
 
My duckworths are setup for wig wags using the aeroelectric ford flasher circuit, and are on all the time, any issues using these leds in this manner?
Figs

I was concerned about that. Mine has wig wag, not sure what kind, but it still works with the LED bulbs.
 
Steve, do the LEDs create any EFI noise in your radio? This looks like an interesting option for replacing the old-school (1999) DW lights.

I haven't detected any EFI noise in the radio. The big difference is the weight with the old DW weighing 2 oz and the new LED coming in at 16 oz.
Before the LED, I replaced the 55w HID bulb with a 100w bulb ($8 from O'Reilley's Auto). There was NO apparent difference in brightness.
 
Rigid Inducstries Par 36 lights with Flyleds wig wag

I installed Rigid Industries R+hybrid Par 36 40 watt LED lights into my RV-6 duckworth leading edge mounts a few years ago. Relatively easy swap, no radio interference, but the wig wag module I had was flashing too quickly. Recently replaced the Wigwag module with the FlyLEDS wig wag module. That works well with the Rigid LED lights and no radio interference.
 
I have these and it’s like the sun came up. Aircraft Spruce has them.

https://aeroleds.com/products/sunspot-36-4313-landing/

Wow. They do indeed, for the low low price of only $651. Each. :eek: Bright I’m sure, but man, that’s a lot of coin. I went with Baja Designs Squadron Pro flush mounts. Like ‘em a lot.

For LED wig wag flashers, have a look at the solid state Grote 44030, $48 on Amazon. When I upgraded to LEDs my old Nuckolls mechanical relay flasher wouldn’t work, but the Grote flasher was an easy replacement, works fine.

https://www.grote.com/warning-hazard/flashers/solid-state-electronic-flasher/44030/
 
I just replaced my Duckworks HID light with one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088NP81YV?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_asin_image

Not quite a drop-in replacement. I had to build a simple adapter plate from some .03 stock and I had to increase the opening height in the DW bracket. I had the rectangular, not round, DW light. $32 for 2 of them. As bright as the sun.

Decided to try a pair of these lights. Got them installed in a couple of hours and they look fantastic, my old wig-wag flasher even drives them.

Unfortunately.....they create a huge amount of noise in my com radio. This may be an issue with my particular wiring architecture but I can't use these lights in my plane. They sure did look good, however....
 
Any pics of your modifications?

Thanks

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7eSZxshdKP5Q2eMLA

3 pics: the finished install without the lens, the dimensioned paint shadow of the prototype adapter plate, and left over parts including the cardboard template. I only used one of the two lights in the kit. I don't have any pics of the modified Duckworks holder. Just center your adapter plate over the Duckworks hole, then transfer mark where you'll remove material to enlarge the Duckworks hole.
 
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The original Aeroelectric WigWag Flasher circuit, SSF1, based around the Tridon EL-13A, would NOT work with LED lights. In 2011, he added 2, 25ohm power resistors to provide the necessary load to fire the flasher.

The reasons(s) of having LED's is to save power, weight, heat, and be stupid bright. Adding resistors to sink current and generate heat is counter to this.

However, Whelen has a nice flasher module that you can wire in any number of ways. https://www.whelen.com/product/all/ssfpos15-headlight-flasher/

I changed from the SSF-1 to this module on my last RV-7 when I upgraded to LED PAR-36 lamps.

YMMV
 
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Those will be sub1000 lumens each, likely RFI noisy, too. Less than half of what you need, each.

Power draw is too low.
 
The original Aeroelectric WigWag Flasher circuit, SSF1, based around the Tridon EL-13A, would NOT work with LED lights. In 2011, he added 2, 25ohm power resistors to provide the necessary load to fire the flasher.

The reasons(s) of having LED's is to save power, weight, heat, and be stupid bright. Adding resistors to sink current and generate heat is counter to this.

However, Whelen has a nice flasher module that you can wire in any number of ways. https://www.whelen.com/product/all/ssfpos15-headlight-flasher/

I changed from the SSF-1 to this module on my last RV-7 when I upgraded to LED PAR-36 lamps.

YMMV

My flasher based on this design just crapped out (both lights stuck on) does the whelan unit just replace the Tridon EL 13A or do I need to replace the diode pack as well, I put in the circuit that has 2 switch positions one for wig wag and one for landing lights. I am mostly interested in wig wag operation and have the round lamps so would regular PAR 36 LED replacements work?
Figs
 
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https://photos.app.goo.gl/7eSZxshdKP5Q2eMLA

3 pics: the finished install without the lens, the dimensioned paint shadow of the prototype adapter plate, and left over parts including the cardboard template. I only used one of the two lights in the kit. I don't have any pics of the modified Duckworks holder. Just center your adapter plate over the Duckworks hole, then transfer mark where you'll remove material to enlarge the Duckworks hole.

Steve
It has been so long ago I cannot remember if you have to take the wingtip off to change the bulbs out on the Duckworks installation?
Figs
 
Help me identify these landing lights——

Can anyone help me identify these lights and replacement bulbs??
 

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Duckworth Lights

Those are the old square Duckworth lights (apparently pre-1999/2000 timeframe?). The replacement bulb is this format: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QZ58NS4 (that’s the led version that I tried, but they aren’t nearly bright enough, but use a fraction of the amp draw the halogens do. The halogens didn’t seem that bright either). I am gonna try one of the suggested ~30$ options mentioned above. I just got back from flying my RV-6 for the first time at night, and the lighting was pretty disappointing.
 
I installed these to replace my noisy Amazon PAR36 LED lights in my RV4:

https://www.aero-lites.com/

They are very bright, and totally quiet as promised by the rep at Aero-Lites. I have an AeroLeds wig/wag flasher wired in that I run all the time. All very quiet, and a descent price.
 
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