Landing light switch/CB

[dooleypster]

Landing light switch/CB trips as soon as I try to use the landing light.  Bulb appears OK from the outside.  No wiring changes or cowl disturbed.  New light?  New Switch?  Help!

 

[Marauder]

I would follow the wires back from the light. Highly likely that you are shorted somewhere. The other possibility is the breaker itself. I have replaced breakers for popping without any reason to do so. They do get old and wear out.

[DanM20C]

They do wear out.  If you find a source for a new one that isn't 200+ bucks let me know.  My Nav switch/breaker is wore out.

[mooniac15u]

I had a similar problem a few years ago.  It turned out the wires were routed a little too close to the exhaust and the insulation had melted allowing the wires to short.

[Marauder]

They do wear out.  If you find a source for a new one that isn't 200+ bucks let me know.  My Nav switch/breaker is wore out.

 

Amen brother! I am fortunate that my landing is not an integral breaker/rocker switch that later models have. I have a separate breaker. That is another option if it is the rocker switch. Use a standard rocker switch and a separate breaker.

[N601RX]

If it is the Switch/Breaker getting weak an led bulb would probably drop the load to a point where the breaker would not trip.  If it is tripping immediately, it is more likely a shorted wire. 

[DanM20C]

Amen brother! I am fortunate that my landing is not an integral breaker/rocker switch that later models have. I have a separate breaker. That is another option if it is the rocker switch. Use a standard rocker switch and a separate breaker.

I might go that route, but would like to avoid it.  Just because I don't want to mess with the nice looking 5 switch cluster, and I don't have much room to neatly install another breaker.  My panel is mostly original with all the breakers under two little spring loaded covers.  I would love to install a new panel all together, but can't stand the idea of taking the A/C offline for that long.

[DanM20C]

If it is the Switch/Breaker getting weak an led bulb would probably drop the load to a point where the breaker would not trip.  If it is tripping immediately, it is more likely a shorted wire. 

My nav switch went bad fast.  It would occasionally trip (every 10 flights) then all of the sudden it won't stay on.  Even with the master off the switch wont stay.  Just wore out. 

 

He could try turning the landing light on with the master off and see if the switch stays.  If it does, an LED might extend the life of the switch.  If there isn't a short of course.   

[Hank]

Happened to me after replacing the bulb. Turned out the wire had chafed through the insulation and was shorting to the cowling. Got to log a no-light night landing wearing (prescription) sunglasses . . .

[rbridges]

I tried rotating the bulb.  People have said that turning the filament minimizes failures from landings.  Anyway, it resulted in the contacts grounding against the metal behind it.  Like everyone said, probably a short somewhere involving the landing light wires.

[dooleypster]

Thanks to all..... great info.  I also hate to take the bird off line for very long....would also be interested in a source for the original switch/CB just to keep the integrity of the panel.

[Marauder]

Thanks to all..... great info.  I also hate to take the bird off line for very long....would also be interested in a source for the original switch/CB just to keep the integrity of the panel.

 

Is your switch a rocker switch? If so, new ones are around $180 without the labeled cover (you get a ridged version with no label) from Sensata. They are the Klixon type: http://www.sensata.com/klixon/circuit-breaker-aircraft-20tc.htm