Whelen Parmetheus LED Taxi and Landing Lights STC

[Jeev]

Update - Here is the discussion I had with the Aircraft spruce CS rep today.  I just placed my order.

Sanjeev:
Hello - I am wondering if the STC for the PAR 46 Whelen LED light is out yet?  I do not see it listed on your website at : http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/whelen461l.php 
 
I have a Mooney 20J.

Welcome Sanjeev! Your request has been directed to the Product Support department. Please wait for our operator to answer your call.

Your call has been accepted by Rob. Currently in room: Rob.

Rob:
Hello Sanjeev
Rob:
Let me see if I can find it
Sanjeev:
Ok thanks
Rob:
It will be approved as a direct replacement for outdated PAR-46 Halogen & HID lamps.
Rob:
Does your aircraft currenlty use PAR-46 lights?
Sanjeev:
Yes it does.  Is it approved now?
Rob:
Yes it is approved and they expect to be shipping in March
Sanjeev:
Ok great.  If I place my order now it will be shipped in march or is there a log of backorders?
Rob:
We currently have 12 on order and are expecting 15 in late March

[HopePilot]

Whelen Par 46 LED arrived yesterday.  Sorry, but there won't be time to test it for a few weeks as I'm about to go into annual.  Just an FYI on shipping.

[kortopates]

Quote: HopePilot

Whelen Par 46 LED arrived yesterday....

[HopePilot]

Yup, no paperwork...

[jax88]

I called one of my local MSCs last week about my upcoming annual and when I asked what I could do about improving the nose bowl landing light, they recommended the Whelen LED.  Hopefully they have the paperwork already figured out (this is one of the more highly regarded MSCs).

[danb35]

There's an argument to be made (and Aviation Consumer made it a few months ago when they reviewed the LED landing lights) that changing one bulb for another is a minor alteration, no STC/field approval/337 needed.  In that case, all that would be needed is a logbook entry for the installation.

[jax88]

The MSC I was referring to said the same thing, that it's simply a drop-in replacement.

[Jeff_S]

Folks, I was at Sun-n-Fun yesterday and a Whelen dealer was selling the Prometheus bulbs at a nice discount. He had both the PAR36 and PAR46 bulbs. Even though the PAR46 bulbs are STC'd yet, he said they expected it within a month, and if it didn't happen he'd refund my money. So I bought it.

But I was concerned that it just "looked" too big, and that the PAR36 was perhaps the right bulb for my 1990 J with the single cowling landing light (even though in this thread others have told me that PAR46 was right). Sure enough, I checked my log this morning since my A/P just changed the landing light last year, and he noted replacement with a GE4509 bulb which is a PAR36.

So I remain confused. Are there different types of J cowlings that use different bulbs?

[N6936V]

Hi Jeff,

I cancelled Sun n Fun the day before the storm, and therefore missed meeting up with the Whelen boys.  I'll buy your PAR 46 landing light from you, no problem.  Call me.

Cheers,

Nicholas

843-345-3444

[jpusser]

I bought the smaller bulb for my 62c at sun and fun, turns out I need the larger one so we could swap even if you want 

[Jeff_S]

Thanks Nick and jpusser...I'll keep you posted. I also got a note from the dealer who said he'd be glad to take care of me either way. But Stacey Ellis at Mooney assures me that the original spec bulb for my plane is the PAR46 so either I'm just having an optical illusion when I look at the bulb (admittedly, it was dark Sunday night and I haven't thoroughly investigated yet in the daylight), or maybe my A/P just mistakenly noted GE4509 in the log instead of 4522, or perhaps (bizarrely) there was some change to the cowling that now requires the smaller bulb. I'll get to the bottom of it one way or another.

[Vref]

this should clarify it...

 

[Jeff_S]

Quote: Vref

this should clarify it...

 

[N6936V]

OK Jeff,  I'll buy it off you.

Nicholas  843-345-3444

[N6936V]

Oops, sorry.

Here I try again to attach a picture of the Whelen PAR46 LED light.  Works great, ever so white and bright!

Nicholas

 

[Jeff_S]

Nicholas asked me to add this photo of the PAR46 light that I got for him!  It seems to be working well, and I am getting my PAR36 bulb soon to put in my plane too.

Cheers,

Jeff

[DaV8or]

Does anybody know what is involved, or if it is possible to have one of these lights strobe during day ops for collision avoidance?

[Mooney20J_Driver]

Quote: DaV8or

...and I'll buy mine as soon as my existing bulb goes. Anybody know if there is an STC'ed unit to flash the landing light for collision avoidence?

[DaV8or]

Quote: Mooney20J_Driver

Whelen STC for the 14V and 28 volt PAR46 is signed as of 4 May 2011. They have different part numbers for 14V and 28V. Spruce has these item in their online catalog for roughly $310

Seaton Engineering has a STC for Wig Wag mode switch that works with one (most Mooney aircraft) and two lamp systems. Roughly $200. Will require a 337 to be accomplished.

[1970m20e]

Not a modern Mooney but has the PAR46 installed.

 

I leave it on all the time.

[DaV8or]

Quote: 1970m20e

Not a modern Mooney but has the PAR46 installed.

 

I leave it on all the time.

[1970m20e]

I have used it 1 time at night a couple weeks ago in Endicott NY to Ithaca NY.  It seemed ok.  But let's face it, these single lights are nothing compared to a car headlight.  Much better than my old Cessna 140 wing mounted light.  I cannot wait to try it more times at night.  But usually the airports I fly into at night have good runway, and taxi lighting.  So it's hard to say really how well it works.  It is pretty impressive straight on looking at it day or night.

[jetdriven]

How many candlepower is this thing? Our XeVision 75W has 75,000 Candlepower, mroe than enough.  The beam is a little narrow, but aimed properly, you can set leaves on fire.