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02-03-2014, 03:33 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
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Why not try installing a simple series dropping resistor in the power line so the lights aren't being hit with full aircraft 13.8V, then if necessary add a couple of capacitors between the ends of the resistor and aircraft ground? Poor man's filter. You could also substitute some turns of wire as an inductor, make it small enough gauge that it will have some resistance value, plus will add some inductance, and again a filter capacitor on each side of it to ground.
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02-03-2014, 04:13 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: 8I3
Posts: 3,564
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Quote:
Originally Posted by catmandu
Tried using shielded wire today, no change. Bummer. Might have to abandon the trustfire.
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Yeah I figured that wasn't going to work. Basically the lights dump a large amount of AC noise and the wire feeding the lights acts as an antenna. Shielding it will have minimal effect. A ferrite is essentially an AC resistor so the more times you wrap the wires thru it, and the more substantial it is, the more it will attenuate AC frequencies. The ferrites I mentioned earlier get the radio noise down to a very acceptable level.
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Please don't PM me! Email only!
Bob Japundza CFI A&PIA
N9187P PA-24-260B Comanche, flying
N678X F1 Rocket, under const.
N244BJ RV-6 "victim of SNF tornado" 1200+ hrs, rebuilding
N8155F C150 flying
N7925P PA-24-250 Comanche, restoring
Not a thing I own is stock.
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02-03-2014, 06:40 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,351
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Quote:
Originally Posted by catmandu
Tried using shielded wire today, no change. Bummer. Might have to abandon the trustfire.
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Did you ground the shielded portion only on one side? Grounding it on both side will create a ground loop?
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Mehrdad
N825SM RV7A - IO360M1B - SOLD
N825MS RV14A - IO390 - Flying
Dues paid
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02-04-2014, 06:25 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 917
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bavafa
Did you ground the shielded portion only on one side? Grounding it on both side will create a ground loop?
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Yes, only grounded on the panel side.
My immediate need for night flight seems to have gone away, I will revisit this landing light thing later. I need to get my logged RV time out of the single digits, so I am working on buttoning things back up so I can fly a bit (hopefully: one SB bullet dodged, will check #2 later today).
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Mike C.
Sierra Nevada
RV-6A bought flying
Last edited by catmandu : 02-04-2014 at 06:30 AM.
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02-04-2014, 11:10 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Catawba, NC
Posts: 318
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Quick teaser!
Just a quick teaser, I plan to do a better write up later. For now, here are the cliff notes:
After talking to Rocket Bob, I purchased 4 of these LEDs ($26 total):
http://www.kaidomain.com/Product/Details.S009985
I installed them in the right leading edge in place of my 55W HID lights.
Here are the LEDs: (0.7amps each / so total of 2.8amps)
For comparison, here is the left wing 55W HIDs: (4.5amps each, I know 55W divided by 14.2 volts is 3.87amps, but it measures a higher draw)
And both on:
The HIDs are super bright and will light the runway at half a mile, but are a very narrow beam. The LEDs are bright as well, but the beam width is much wider. I have only flown once with the new lights and these pictures were taken before I re-positioned them(they are aimed too low), but the results are promising. I will post a full write up once I replace the left wing. No RF noise.
Dan
Not sure if the video will work, but here is a try:

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Dan Thompson
RV-6A - N426JM - 180hp / C.S. / dual PMags
NC26 - Long Island Airpark, NC
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02-05-2014, 09:06 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,351
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Don,
What are the dimension of these, they look to be about 1? diameter, is that correct?
__________________
Mehrdad
N825SM RV7A - IO360M1B - SOLD
N825MS RV14A - IO390 - Flying
Dues paid
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02-05-2014, 10:21 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,652
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They do look small...
...Small enough to use as dedicated taxi lights mounted somewhere clever.
Hmmmm...
__________________
WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.
Michael Robinson
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Harmon Rocket II -SDS EFI
RV-8 - SDS CPI
1940 Taylorcraft BL-65
1984 L39C
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02-05-2014, 11:00 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Catawba, NC
Posts: 318
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The reflectors are 1" at the widest part and just a hair under 7/8" at the base. They are really small, but pack a punch. Check back a few post and you can see where RocketBob uses a single one in each wingtip as his taxi lights. After talking to Bob offline I figured if 1 is good, 4 must be better, right? 
__________________
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Dan Thompson
RV-6A - N426JM - 180hp / C.S. / dual PMags
NC26 - Long Island Airpark, NC
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02-06-2014, 12:35 PM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Posts: 68
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Dan, did you add any additional heatsinks to these bulbs? love to see how you mounted them.
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RV-6 (AircraftWraps Sept 15, 14)
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02-08-2014, 07:04 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,652
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Finally got the Rocket back in the air and put the dual Trustfire lights to the test. I landed at dusk so have not tested the "landing light" aspect, but did make several runs against a ground observer with the multiple modes and the reports are good. The "SOS" function seems to be the most conspicuous, but the "steady high" setting is still considerably more visible than the 100 w GE still mounted on the other wingtip. The modes are easier to select with the power switch than I anticipated so that's also a plus. The main problem remains the noise. I have about 20 turns through a big ferrite and I think it actually increased the noise! There will definitely be some tuning involved, but this installation seems to be worth the trouble.
More to follow.
__________________
WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.
Michael Robinson
______________
Harmon Rocket II -SDS EFI
RV-8 - SDS CPI
1940 Taylorcraft BL-65
1984 L39C
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