New LED Replacement Bulbs For Whelen Position Lights - Page 4

IowaRV9Dreamer · #31 06-12-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lycosaurus

1/18 the wattage, but still meets lighting specs?

Hopefully because it's 1/8 the wasted heat, and the same (more more

) light.... LEDs are much more efficient than filaments....

The cool thing about these is if you mount them in the (overpriced) Whelen sockets, and your DAR makes you, you can put in regular bulbs.

Can't wait to buy some.... now I need something to mount them in.

Lycosaurus · #32 06-13-2009, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IowaRV9Dreamer

Hopefully because it's 1/8 the wasted heat, and the same (more more

) light.... LEDs are much more efficient than filaments....

I typed 1/18 in my previous post (1/6 x .3), roughly 5%. I have a hard time believing that off the shelf LEDs are producing the same amount of light with 5% the power.

Some documentation to support this would be appreciated.

dmaib · #33 06-13-2009, 09:30 AM

I have been notified that Spruce has shipped my bulbs and I should get them Monday. I have seen some info on the forums that installing them under my existing Whelen red and green lenses will reduce the amount of light to an unacceptable level. I saw a post that listed a Whelen number for a clear lens, but cannot find it with the referenced part number. I am wondering if I can just install the bulbs and leave the lenses off?
I have the standard Van's/Whelen nav/strobe lights.

Ironflight · #34 06-13-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaib

I have been notified that Spruce has shipped my bulbs and I should get them Monday. I have seen some info on the forums that installing them under my existing Whelen red and green lenses will reduce the amount of light to an unacceptable level..

Eagerly awaiting a PIREP!!!

Geico266 · #35 06-13-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Eagerly awaiting a PIREP!!!

They work great. Been flying with them since SnF. Much lower amp draw at night, this mod is a no brainer. Definately worth the $$.

az_gila · #36 06-13-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Eagerly awaiting a PIREP!!!

...products that claim to be "Mil-Spec", but do not quote an actual specification number...

See the Aircraft Spruce description...

The ratio seems to be 26W to 2.8W - a 9+ times energy improvement for LED efficiency over incandescant... more than most "green" sites ever claim.

dmaib · #37 06-13-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geico266

They work great. Been flying with them since SnF. Much lower amp draw at night, this mod is a no brainer. Definately worth the $$.

Larry,

Did you just install them under the Whelen red and green lenses? If not, did you leave the lenses off, or did you find a clear lens that will fit the Whelen assembly? Inquiring minds want to know!

Off topic: My brother is visiting from AR and he wrote his congressman and got us VIP tickets for STS-127 launch early this morning. We got out of bed at about 1:00 AM and drove over to the Merritt Island Mall to meet the buses, only to be told that the launch had scrubbed. When we got back home I checked my email and NASA had emailed everybody on the guest list at 1:00 AM to notify of the cancellation. Sure wish I had taken a minute to check email before leaving the house!!

dmaib · #38 06-16-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Eagerly awaiting a PIREP!!!

I installed the replacement bulbs this morning and took some photo's in my darkened hangar. I am not sure these will be much help, but here they are. The first two are the Whelen incandescent bulbs. The second two are the LED replacement bulbs without the Whelen red and green lens covers in place. The third two are the LED bulbs with the red and green lens covers in place. Not a very scientific test to be sure. My 60 year old Mark I non-calibrated eyeballs think that clear lenses in place of the red and green lenses would be a good thing. Operating without the lenses at all is an option as well. That might give a bit more opportunity for dirt and moisture to find it's way into the wingtip and light assembly, however.
My Vertical Power showed 1.8 to 1.9 amp draw on each of the Whelen bulbs and <0.1 amp draw on each of the LED bulbs. I like these a lot! Now if I could find a replacement for the white nav bulb in the combo nav/strobe unit in the tail.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/9931/img2100x.jpg
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/1241/img2101frn.jpg
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7320/img2102j.jpg
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8872/img2103o.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1197/img2104tab.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5893/img2105buw.jpg

Dave Cole · #39 06-16-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaib

I installed the replacement bulbs this morning and took some photo's in my darkened hangar.

I noticed that the background image of the white chair in the hangar was brighter in your photos of the LED lights than it was with the Whelen lights. Could that be a result of your camera's auto exposure time being lengthened due to lower light levels from the LED lights?

rocketbob · #40 06-16-2009, 12:28 PM

When I looked at these replacement lights at SNF it was obvious to me they weren't as bright as regular bulbs. With that said, I'm going to order a set for my rocket. To me the FAA specs don't mean anything practical, since its going to be fairly unlikely that someone will see you at a distance with even the brightest of bulbs. Strobes, and wigwag landing lights are much more visible at night.