HID lights

[pgroell]

Hello,

did anybody try this HID lights, Osram Sylvania Xenarc X1010 HID Xenon
http://www.suvlights.com/product_inf...products_id=46

at 348$, it seems like a good deal for two lights with DS1 bulbs.
Well it would still need the Duckworks lense and some elbow grease to fabricate the mounts.
Pascal

[David Clifford]

We bought four complete HID units from a scrap yard @ $50 each for two Cozy MKIV's. Two were out of an Audi and two from a Mercedes.. They were installed in the leading edge of each strake. They look and work great!

[chaskuss]

Originally Posted by David Clifford

We bought four complete HID units from a scrap yard @ $50 each for two Cozy MKIV's. Two were out of an Audi and two from a Mercedes.. They were installed in the leading edge of each strake. They look and work great!

David
The junk yard route is exactly what I was planning on for my 8A project. Could you tell me the year (approximately) and model of the vehicles you got the HID lamps out of?
Charlie Kuss

[David Clifford]

Sorry I don't know the year's or models of the donor cars. Here's some pics.

[BrickPilot]

Originally Posted by David Clifford

We bought four complete HID units from a scrap yard @ $50 each for two Cozy MKIV's. Two were out of an Audi and two from a Mercedes.. They were installed in the leading edge of each strake. They look and work great!

Are those lights built to withstand the vibration environment of an aircraft cowling? I'd be very cautious about the possible failure modes of the light, to make sure nothing comes loose inside the cowl or causes any shorts in your electrical system.

[David Clifford]

Originally Posted by BrickPilot

Are those lights built to withstand the vibration environment of an aircraft cowling? I'd be very cautious about the possible failure modes of the light, to make sure nothing comes loose inside the cowl or causes any shorts in your electrical system.

Vibration is not the achiles heel of HID lighting. They hold up VERY well. The concern is turning them off,,,then back on before adequit cool down time between cycles. That is why the auto companys use HID for low beam(always on), and regular filament bulbs for high beams. Wired properly, these are no more likely to short out than any other lighting system.

[N941WR]

FYI - I read that the 2007 Lexus LS600h L will use LED headlights. How long will it be until this technology is available to stuff in our wings? I can't help but wonder if this isn't a better solution.

Originally Posted by BrickPilot

Are those lights built to withstand the vibration environment of an aircraft cowling? I'd be very cautious about the possible failure modes of the light, to make sure nothing comes loose inside the cowl or causes any shorts in your electrical system.

BP, very few RV builders place their lights in the cowl, thus this is not an issue when placed in the wings. (Less heat, less vibration, better light pattern, etc.)

[chaskuss]

Originally Posted by BrickPilot

Are those lights built to withstand the vibration environment of an aircraft cowling? I'd be very cautious about the possible failure modes of the light, to make sure nothing comes loose inside the cowl or causes any shorts in your electrical system.

Jeff,
HID lights have a very high rated life expentency. They have no filiment to burn out or break, like a flouresent bulb. This makes them ideal as landing lights, as they are very resistant to vibration.
Charlie Kuss

[BrickPilot]

Originally Posted by chaskuss

Jeff,
HID lights have a very high rated life expentency. They have no filiment to burn out or break, like a flouresent bulb. This makes them ideal as landing lights, as they are very resistant to vibration.
Charlie Kuss

I wasn't thinking about the bulbs themselves, but rather the connectors / other equipment. What motivates me to be gun-shy about automotive parts is a local RV-8 accident where the builder used an automotive ignition (Subaru? Mazda?), which apparently vibrated loose internally and he lost his engine on approach and didn't make it to the runway. Makes me very cautious about considering auto parts.

[Jamie]

I think using automotive landing lights vs. automotive ignition systems are two completely different things with two completely different risk factors.

You'll find that many RV's have 'automotive' type stuff in them. The ductworks kits themselves are automotive lamps (I believe). The overwhelming majority of RVs out there use automotive contactors/relays/fast-on/ring terminals/alternators, aux power plugs, etc. Heck, my battery (Odyssey PC680) is a ATV/motorcycle battery, and seems to be one of the more common batteries these days for RVs.