I rolled my own xenon HID landing and taxi lights. I started with the DW 100w halogen kits, then acquired used ballasts and new D1R bulbs from ebay. Why? Far less load (35W) and brighter than the 100w halogens in a side by side test. I like the reflected brighter light better than halogens. I will probably be at engine overhaul when bulbs burn out. Plus, just cool lights IMHO.
I made bulb mounting plates and JB welded them to the par36 reflectors, then did bench testing outdoors to adjust and find the proper bulb depth/focal length. Metal and rubber spacers were then epoxied, bulb clamped, ballast mounted. Don at DW has the lights sitting way back in the leading edge for the RV-9 compared to other RV's - I moved them forward at least two inches without problem to increase lateral light dispersion.
I used a flood type lens for the taxi light (Don has these - not on the order sheet - just ask), and added a side reflector to increase lateral dispersion. Everything was mounted and tested with a power supply - works great. See the website (Kitlog site under my name) for appropriate entries and a bunch more pics if interested - click on "Wings" in the right side navigation box for the full list of entries. The landing light is from 5/21-26, and the taxi light 6/25-30. Pete Howell from MN has the same type bulbs and ballasts in his RV-9A - he reports no noise except for a few seconds when turned on. And thanks, Pete, for your help.
Close up of bulb base with mounting plate, spacers, and hold down bracket I fabricated.
This is the wide beam taxi light - the only difference is the refracting lens. Note the side reflectors - one I had to leave off in wing install - couldn't fit with leading edge lens in way.
A little blurry, but house is 300 feet away. This is the landing light spot pattern.
Jumper cables and car used at first, but now have nice 13.8v power supply. Ahh, retina burning power! May set up both on a wigwag (yes, you can wig wag xenons with the right device).
I made bulb mounting plates and JB welded them to the par36 reflectors, then did bench testing outdoors to adjust and find the proper bulb depth/focal length. Metal and rubber spacers were then epoxied, bulb clamped, ballast mounted. Don at DW has the lights sitting way back in the leading edge for the RV-9 compared to other RV's - I moved them forward at least two inches without problem to increase lateral light dispersion.
I used a flood type lens for the taxi light (Don has these - not on the order sheet - just ask), and added a side reflector to increase lateral dispersion. Everything was mounted and tested with a power supply - works great. See the website (Kitlog site under my name) for appropriate entries and a bunch more pics if interested - click on "Wings" in the right side navigation box for the full list of entries. The landing light is from 5/21-26, and the taxi light 6/25-30. Pete Howell from MN has the same type bulbs and ballasts in his RV-9A - he reports no noise except for a few seconds when turned on. And thanks, Pete, for your help.
Close up of bulb base with mounting plate, spacers, and hold down bracket I fabricated.
This is the wide beam taxi light - the only difference is the refracting lens. Note the side reflectors - one I had to leave off in wing install - couldn't fit with leading edge lens in way.
A little blurry, but house is 300 feet away. This is the landing light spot pattern.
Jumper cables and car used at first, but now have nice 13.8v power supply. Ahh, retina burning power! May set up both on a wigwag (yes, you can wig wag xenons with the right device).
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