Tip: Glare Shield LED strip comparison

Bugsy · #1 10-23-2010, 01:46 PM

I researched several LED light strips for placement under the glare shield. *** See discussion at end of thread for Color choice comparisons ***

First photos of the end product: The strip is on a dimmer, this is full blast at night with all lights off in the garage. With this on full blast you can see throughout the cockpit. I wont need any other cockpit ambient lighting. The glow is comfortable and very cool. Dimming reduces canopy reflections.

My son works the panel, while I take the picture. Here you can see the individual LEDs on the right edge. Inside the cabin you dont get any direct view only the comfortable glow. I have have an edge installed on the glareshield.

Now the facts:

RV7 - 3.5 inches is a great length for the LED strip. 3ft would be plenty.
Dimmer is highly recommended, use a lower wattage SMD3528 strip if using without a dimmer.

I bought 3 different LED strips to experiment:

All driven together with a 12V power supply:

On the far left: 120CM LED strip bought off ebay for $5 shipped. version SMD 335.

Center: 120CM LED strip from EBAY for $15 shipped.. version SMD 3528. 1.44W/foot, 0.12A/foot

Right: 4ft LED strip from www.ledlightsworld.com. This is what I installed in the plane. Cost $60 shipped. 3ft would have been enough and would have saved $13. Version 5050 18 LED/ft. 4.32W/foot, 0.36A/foot. So my 3.5feet put out 15 watts at 1.26A at full grunt, I have a dimmer installed on the panel.

A good reference photo I found with all the various versions of light strips:

Bottom line: I am very happy with the SMD5050 300LED/5meter or 18 per ft version of the LED light strip. At total of 15 watts, it provides plenty of light at a soft glow that impresses all who see it.

flyeyes · #2 10-23-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugsy

I researched several LED light strips for placement under the glare shield.

First photos of the end product: The strip is on a dimmer, this is full blast at night with all lights off in the garage. With this on full blast you can see throughout the cockpit. I wont need any other cockpit ambient lighting. The glow is comfortable and very cool. Dimming reduces canopy reflections.

My son works the panel, while I take the picture. Here you can see the individual LEDs on the right edge. Inside the cabin you dont get any direct view only the comfortable glow. I have have an edge installed on the glareshield.

Now the facts:

RV7 - 3.5 inches is a great length for the LED strip. 3ft would be plenty.
Dimmer is highly recommended, use a lower wattage SMD3528 strip if using without a dimmer.

I bought 3 different LED strips to experiment:

All driven together with a 12V power supply:

On the far left: 120CM LED strip bought off ebay for $5 shipped. version SMD 335.

Center: 120CM LED strip from EBAY for $15 shipped.. version SMD 3528. 1.44W/foot, 0.12A/foot

Right: 4ft LED strip from www.ledlightsworld.com. This is what I installed in the plane. Cost $60 shipped. 3ft would have been enough and would have saved $13. Version 5050 18 LED/ft. 4.32W/foot, 0.36A/foot. So my 3.5feet put out 15 watts at 1.26A at full grunt, I have a dimmer installed on the panel.

Bottom line: I am very happy with the SMD5050 300LED/5meter or 18 per ft version of the LED light strip. At total of 15 watts, it provides plenty of light at a soft glow that impresses all who see it.

I should point out that blue is probably a poor choice for night cockpit lighting from a physiologic standpoint.

Red is not ideal, but is better.

Best is probably white, or green.

Casey Stewart · #3 10-23-2010, 03:19 PM

This is what we have in my dads plane. Not sure of the type because i didnt build the plane. It is actually a great color for night flight and not at all distracting.

axlr8r · #4 10-23-2010, 06:19 PM

to use the leftover strip of LED lights if you cut off a section or do you have to discard it? Also, what dimmer sw. did you use.
Thanks
Steve

Dean_aeroleds · #5 10-23-2010, 07:04 PM

The navy did a study on night vision vs. color and found that white is actually better than red as long as it can be dimmed low enough to allow night adaptation. White allows better viewing of color charts, etc. than monochrome lights.

flyeyes · #6 10-23-2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean_aeroleds

The navy did a study on night vision vs. color and found that white is actually better than red as long as it can be dimmed low enough to allow night adaptation. White allows better viewing of color charts, etc. than monochrome lights.

Two problems with blue:

First, short wavelengths scatter more than long ones (which is why the sky is blue). This maximizes glare, especially if the pilot is older, has early cataracts, or imperfect lens correction.

More importantly, humans have no blue cones in the fovea which is the center part of the retina where our best visual acuity is. What this means in a practical sense is that visual acuity is significantly reduced in monochromatic blue light--we don't have the hardware.

az_gila · #7 10-23-2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyeyes

Two problems with blue:
......
More importantly, humans have no blue cones in the fovea which is the center part of the retina where our best visual acuity is. What this means in a practical sense is that visual acuity is significantly reduced in monochromatic blue light--we don't have the hardware.

...do we need that visual acuity?

If your modern instruments are LED or LCD and self-lit, is'nt the panel lighting more for ambient effect and just guiding your fingers to the right place rather than looking for fine details?

Map reading might be a special case, but if you have a LCD moving map....

Bugsy · #8 10-23-2010, 10:47 PM

Well pick whatever color your most comfortable with, the purpose of the thread was to provide a reference and comparison of different option of LED strips.

In the Air Force we have gone away from red light, mostly because of NVG compatibility, but also because, under red light, warning lights and red things on a map are invisible. I like blue because it closest to white (least impact on color displays and maps) without bleaching rodopsin as much as white.

I would never fly with a panel light up this bright, dimmer is better. But when you need light its nice to turn up the dimmer and have light, rather than fumble for a white flashlight.

MikeS · #9 10-23-2010, 10:56 PM

Those strips may work but seems like a lot of light.

I've installed two sets (four lights each) of blue LED's on just those instruments and switches I need to see when flying at night. I've got them on a dimmer but even at the "barely on" level they are almost too bright for cross-country night flying. I like a very dark cockpit unless it's for the approach and at that point brightness doesn't matter so much.

All those LED's are pretty but seems like way too much.

Edit:

I meant to say "instruments and switches" that don't already have their own internal dimmable lighting. The LED's I installed I got at Auto Zone I think, although I've seen them at other auto parts stores. They come either two to a set or four to a set. I got two sets of four, less than $20 each. They work very well.

Scott Hersha · #10 10-25-2010, 06:36 AM

To the guy who asked if you can use some of the strip that you cut off, the answer is yes. On mine, you could cut off 3 lights at a time and I cut off 12 from a strip that was probably 3 feet long, purchased from Stein. I then cut these in two, making 2 6 light strips that I mounted above the switch panel and throttle quadrant on my RV-8, all connected to the original power supply and through a dimmer. I had to scrape the paint off the back of the printed tape and find the tracks leading to the +/- and then just soldered on wires. Protected all this with some tight shrink wrap and it works great.