MisfitSELF

I just checked out the Aveo wingtips website...those look amazing. I'll have to remember that should I ever have this happen to me.

+1 for Knot2U wing tip lenses. Good time to upgrade to LED lights too...

I shopped for years to find that "unicorn" 1967 M20F with the Johnson bar and "all the 201 mods" -- low engine time and usable panel. Came to the conclusion the the best M20F with "all the 201 mods" was a M20J. At the time (2017), you got a 10 year or newer airplane for the same price - and it had "all the 201 mods" built in. Ended up buying a 1984 M20J. It has the single piece belly and the blended wing tips. Previous own had installed after market speed brakes. You also get a wider airspeed envelope for the landing gear with the electric gear (133 kts gear extension and down) which is quite helpful. Bruce

I totally get how both sims would still operate even with the master off. That part that creeps me out is that I don't know how long the battery(or batteries) are REALLY going to last once that alternator dies. I've had a "fully charged battery" die after maybe 30 minutes flying in the day with one radio and transponder running.

From the 5 minutes I've had to read the Surefly Airframe instructions for the dual SIM config, you have to have a backup battery sized such that you can power that SIM for at least an hour. Dealing with batteries, however, it's got to be an imperfect science which gives me a creepy feeling. So as the battery ages, how do you know how long you really have? Normally you kinda know your battery needs to be replaced as starting is more difficult, or you can't power things normally on pre-flight, etc. For this "back-up" you really don't have a good indication that it's not getting or keeping a charge unless you add additional gauges. So you still start on the left mag, on your primary battery and the only time your backup battery and second sim is online is after engine start. So how do you know that the alternator isn't the only thing powering your second sim and that backup battery is dead or dying? Here's the circuit diagram from the Surefly site for how that second SIM should be wired: Bruce

OP here. At the risk of hi-jacking my own thread -- last night while night flying, my alternator fell offline. I had the "HI LO VOLTS" light annunciate and my battery started draining. Luckily it reset with the master switch cycle. But it got me thinking about whether I'd want to go the dual electronic ignition route just yet. If there is a discussion on this on Mooney space please link it here rather than completely go down that rabbit hole in this thread. Thanks to Austintatious for posting the link to Surefly's latest info on this topic. I'll be sure to read the airframe STC instructions. Also, good info posted above for those who have the "D" engines (mine is the IO-360-A3B6 (w/o the "D"). Bruce

I guess it's a good time for the Bo owner to upgrade his wing tip lights to LEDs.

I released rose pedals once from my little pilot window in my M20J. They mostly got sucked out but a couple got blown into the back seat. They mostly spattered on the horizontal tail leaving blood red stains. Luckily the stains rubbed out with a little bit of elbow geese and a wet rag. I'd go with the Cessna.

I wish I kept the email now. My problem was that the "press release" about the STC was very vague on how to comply with the "second" or back up power bus requirement. And, now I can't find anything about it on the Surefly web page. Did I imagine this? I was curious if someone knew more or has actually done this on a Mooney to install two SIMs or dual ignition system and can illuminate me on what was involved. Bruce

I read recently that Surefly got an STC for dual SIM installation as long as your aircraft has a second or backup power bus or battery. I currently own a 1984 M20J and with one Surefly SIM installed. Has anybody yet upgraded their "single power bus" aircraft to dual electronic ignition yet? If so, how did you or what did you do to add the backup power? I'm just toying with the idea of getting rid of the second mag at present as there are pros/cons to either approach. Thanks, Bruce

I "dropped" rose petals out the pilot window of my M20J for a memorial a couple of years ago. They spattered all over the left horizontal tail. It looked like a blood bath.

Any chance do you have pictures of your installation or part numbers of what you used?

Ok, so whose the best and the right price? I'm looking to install a GFC500 in the next few months in my M20J. Looking for places primarily in California, Nevada, or Arizona. Thanks, Bruce

Geesh, just 3-4 years ago on Spruce, these were about $101 each.

Which one(s) did you use?

Another question. Any recommendations for cables and connectors? I got my 650e in a couple of days ago and I'm strategizing on how I want to connect them (wiring and connectors). I'm removing a "legacy" set of wing tip lights. A nav light with 12V and grnd and and three pin/wire strobe. So I'll have 5 wires (ones a redundant ground) on the aircraft side and 4 wires on the light side (the Whelen 650e). And I may need a bit of wire to make sure everything reaches (there's plenty their now I could scavenge but...) I'll be removing an older Whelen strobe power supply (looks like a A490TCF). Obviously I desire a clean, FAA approved, installation and I would like to have connectors on each end that I can easily disconnect and reconnect should the need arises. Whelen sells 2 and 3 pin cable its and connectors. However, it seems like I really ought to have some sort of 4 pin connector. I'd let the sync float for now, but may use it later. Thanks, Bruce

Absolutely. Before starting this thread I searched "LED" "Strobe" "wing tip" on Mooneyspace and not one of the cross threads that folks have posted above was listed! Would have saved a lot of time and electrons. Bruce

I read the thread about dimming the landing gear light but it never really answered the "how to keep the gear light working as designed" question. Any leads?

I vowed that I would "go LED" once (or as) my lights burn out. Preflighting my bird last night I noticed my right wingtip strobe is in-op. My stats: 1984 M20J, 12V, wing tip lights are embedded in the wing tip (curved wingtips?) So I've been looking at the Whelen Orion 650E (embedded) and replacing both wingtip lights at once. I know about by passing the strobe module/power supply. But, are there any "gotchas" like you must run all new wire out to the wing, or add a circuit so that the lighting works right? It looks too easy... Also, any recommendations for other certified lighting solutions? Thanks, Bruce

I have a KAP 150 autopilot. Just yesterday when I went to heading hold I noticed that the "HDG" light didn't illuminate (it definitely worked during pre-flight). The function still worked as it followed my heading bug but it didn't light up even after a couple of autopilot disconnects and a reset of the trim power. What are my options to fix this? (and yes I'm even considering 'GFC-500' as an option (-; ). Bruce

Define "guru" and define "LA Area"

Agreed, they look like the original control links to me.

That is similar feedback to what I got from the Atlanta FSDO office about 2 years ago -- never mind they stated it would take months to years to go through the process of declaring the STC "abandoned" I keep circling back to my best option being getting a letter from Mr. Coons simply stating I have permission to use the STC. Bruce

But that doesn't give me permission to install on my tail number. This process doesn't get around FAR Part 91.403. Essentially it would be "great, I have the engineering data --- now what? Start the process to generate my own STC?" I think I'm better off seeing if I can get a field approval as my next step.

Again -- an "abandoned STC" doesn't help me -- just read through this lengthy thread. It will not give me approval to install it on my aircraft when I never had the approval in the first place. Getting it declared "abandoned" only allows the FAA to provide the engineering data to current STC holders for the purpose of continued airworthiness. The FAA can't give away something they don't own -- in this case the "rights" to the design and the "rights" to sell it still belong to Mod Works. Per 91.403: A person must not alter an aircraft based on a supplemental type certificate unless the owner or operator of the aircraft is the holder of the supplemental type certificate, or has written permission from the holder.