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LED landing light, M20D which is the best

M20D6607U

By M20D6607U
in Vintage Mooneys (pre-J models)

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M20D6607U Enthusiast

M20D6607U

Posted
Posted

My incandescant landing light stopped working. I wanted to use the Teledyne LED Alphabeam landing, but it's not approved for my Mooney. I would also like to replace the nav lights at some point. What LED landing light do you recommend? Happy Holidays! 

omega708 Community Regular

omega708

Posted
Posted

Is this swap out approved to be done by the owner or will it require hangar elves?

It's a direct replacement for the original bulb and should be easy for you to do if you've been replacing the standard "GE" bulbs. 

  • Like 1
moodychief Proficient

moodychief

Posted
Posted

At OshKosh the Whelen Rep told me the landing light and belly strobes are direct replacements for my existing lights. However, he said the LED nav lights and position light require an extra wire to be routed from the bus.

  • Like 1
Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

I've replaced both of those when the old ones quit working.

But it's difficult finding nav lites that will fit inside the 201-style wingtips. They still work, but it would be nice to replace them with LED Nav/strobe combination lites. I'm. It sure how. Uh value there is in trying to replace the little bitty white light in the tail.

  • Like 1
ArtVandelay Grand Master

ArtVandelay

Posted
Posted

At OshKosh the Whelen Rep told me the landing light and belly strobes are direct replacements for my existing lights. However, he said the LED nav lights and position light require an extra wire to be routed from the bus.

The nav/strobe lights have 4 wires, +/-12v, strobe, sync....I did without the sync, the also don't need a power supply.

Ditto for the tail/strobe combo, if you don't have strobes, obviously this will require running wires thru the wing, I would do this during your annual when you already have the plane apart.

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

"lights are a very popular choice for certified and general aviation aircraft " - from website...

For "certified AND GA" planes...

Something just doesn't sound quite right.

Is certified different from GA?

Did they mean certified and experimental?

Or has GA gone solely experimental?

i'm looking forward to the day when the Mooney factory selects LED lights to install in the new O4....

Best regards,

-a-

ArtVandelay Grand Master

ArtVandelay

Posted
Posted

The problem with these is they are not voltage specific potentially causing radio interference and noise. (Operating Voltage Range: 9 – 32 Vdc.)

The Whelen is voltage specific, either 12v or 24v. This is the way to go IMO.

For those us that have VOR antennas in our wingtips, this is especially important
  • Like 1
Jim Peace Grand Master

Jim Peace

Posted
Posted

The problem with these is they are not voltage specific potentially causing radio interference and noise. (Operating Voltage Range: 9 – 32 Vdc.)

The Whelen is voltage specific, either 12v or 24v. This is the way to go IMO.

Did not know that....I was considering them sometime in 2015....Lots of calls will be made to their tech department I am sure.......

David Mazer Mentor

David Mazer

Posted
Posted

If your landing light doesn't work when you first install it, like mine didn't, flip the wires.  The LED is polarity specific while the GE isn't.

 

+ whatever on Prometheus.

  • 2 weeks later...
M20C Contributor

M20C

Posted
Posted

For the Nav lights I went with:

 

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/lednavlightsreplacement.php?clickkey=13721

 

For landing light, the Whelen Prometheus PAR 46.  I went with the Taxi light, rather than landing light, as it provides a wider beam (both the landing and Taxi lights are brighter then the original).  My older Par 46 bulb would pop the breaker switch after about 5-10 minutes use...the LED can be used continuously with no audible noise in the radios and no indication of draw on the ammeter.

Jim Peace Grand Master

Jim Peace

Posted
Posted

I was thinking of going with the taxi light as well.

I will not be able to try my "landing" light for several weeks.

I figured being that on my 1964 C the light is so recessed that the wider beam of the taxi light would not do much anyway.

How does the taxi light work out on your plane?

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

Keep in mind that when the standard landing light trips the circuit breaker, this is a sign that the CB is wearing.

Yes, they do wear. Swapping out the CB is a bit of a pain and a bit of expense...

A new CB has a nice firm click to it....

A sagging instrument panel, bumps into the worn CB and trips it off, often...

There are two types of CBs...

1) device that interrupts a circuit.

2) the guy who knows how to save dough while swapping out a few small worn parts...

Best regards,

-a-

  • Like 1
M20C Contributor

M20C

Posted
Posted

Keep in mind that when the standard landing light trips the circuit breaker, this is a sign that the CB is wearing.

Yes, they do wear. Swapping out the CB is a bit of a pain and a bit of expense...

A new CB has a nice firm click to it....

A sagging instrument panel, bumps into the worn CB and trips it off, often...

There are two types of CBs...

1) device that interrupts a circuit.

2) the guy who knows how to save dough while swapping out a few small worn parts...

Best regards,

-a-

Thanks for the advise,

 

The problem, in my case, was more likely a poor ground.  This has been corrected and the LED light works flawlessly.

 

As a benefit the annoying "hum," with the Landing light on, is gone and the LED light is brighter while using much less juice.

 

The circuit breaker switch still works like new and the panel has been replaced with a newer style metal panel (no sag).

Stefanovm Community Regular

Stefanovm

Posted
Posted

I used this: http://www.scn.org/~bk269/eclipse/. It is STC'd fr older Mooneys and replacement bulb is only $12. The only item requiring beyond owner hands is electrical change from spade terminal to slip on. It does everything that Stan claims. Well, maybe not the speed increase or other humor items. I leave my landing light on almost all the time, now, when in the vicinity of others at night.

 

When I ordered it, my problem was a ground wire that had come loose. However, I would not put the PAR back, now.

  • 1 month later...
cvela Newbie

cvela

Posted
Posted

Has anyone tried the Alphabeam? I read someone reporting it had the same spread as the whelen PAR36 with a longer throw. The issue is their documentation (PMA list) only lists the M20J. I sent the vendor an email and the answer was wrong the first time and confused the second.  I was told the Aplhabeam is only available in PAR46 28V. I sent them the link from spruce showing a PAR36 to which they replied it was too small for the M20J (my question was regarding an M20E).

 

So, has anyone used or know if it is possible to use an Alphabeam on a pre-J mooney?

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