Hedge Posted November 11, 2015 Report Posted November 11, 2015 My headlamp went out last night. I think it is the bulb as I checked the fuses and they are all in tact. The light worked for the preflight and when I turned it on for taxiing last night, it went out. I didn't take the flight, but I am looking to replace with a LED, but are there any approved for our Mooney's for replacement and where can I find them. '66 20E Super 21 Quote
Hector Posted November 11, 2015 Report Posted November 11, 2015 I purchased the Whelen Parametheus and I am very happy with it. They are FAA approved for the Mooney. They have recently upgraded to the Parametheus Plus which is even brighter and that would probably be my choice if I needed one. I think you probably need the PAR46-PLUS version like my "C" model but I would check. I think the part number will be P46P1L. Look them up online or call them. There may be others that are FAA approved as well and I'm sure others will chime in. Quote
Hedge Posted November 11, 2015 Author Report Posted November 11, 2015 Will it fit, or do i need an STC modification? I am assuming it will fit right in. Also, can this change be considered minor, or will I have to have it signed off by an AP. Quote
rbridges Posted November 11, 2015 Report Posted November 11, 2015 OMG, definitely get an LED. No paperwork besides logbook entry. Double check size, but I believe mine was PAR 46. Incandescent lights are good for ~20 hours and go out when you need them most. this is just an example: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/whelen461l.php?clickkey=218705 Quote
Hector Posted November 11, 2015 Report Posted November 11, 2015 It will fit right in (direct replacement). Easy change and much brighter than the original GE bulb. Easier on your electrical system too as it needs a fraction of the 250W GE bulb it will replace Quote
Deb Posted November 11, 2015 Report Posted November 11, 2015 8 minutes ago, Hedge said: Will it fit, or do i need an STC modification? I am assuming it will fit right in. Also, can this change be considered minor, or will I have to have it signed off by an AP. It's a drop-in replacement. It will fit right in. You can do it yourself. Logbook entry, very easy. And you should only need to do it once! Quote
Hedge Posted November 11, 2015 Author Report Posted November 11, 2015 Where is a good place to buy this lamp? Best I can see is $299 each. I only need one. Quote
Hank Posted November 11, 2015 Report Posted November 11, 2015 That's about the right price. All of the aircraft supply houses should have them. I put mine in last year, it was $250+ I forget exactly. The GE bulb was pretty old, it lasted several years. Since putting in the Parmetheus, I've only turned it off twice--annual and transponder check. Quote
rbridges Posted November 11, 2015 Report Posted November 11, 2015 13 minutes ago, Hedge said: Where is a good place to buy this lamp? Best I can see is $299 each. I only need one. I buy most of my stuff from aircraftspruce, but I'd do a google search and go with any reputable shop. You might be able to snag some type of black friday special but I wouldn't hold my breath. Quote
garytex Posted November 11, 2015 Report Posted November 11, 2015 Search the site a bit, there were descriptions of alt source LED lights in a post about a year ago Quote
Hedge Posted November 12, 2015 Author Report Posted November 12, 2015 One more question. Has anyone put the landing light lens on their plane (with the LED light). If so, which one and where did you get it. Quote
carqwik Posted November 12, 2015 Report Posted November 12, 2015 Just put on the Whelen LED Plus landing and taxi lights on my plane (well Top Gun did the work). Sourced the lights from Knots2U...they were $2 per light cheaper than Spruce. Excellent service and same day shipping...even talked to a human to order! No pirep yet from night time...although they are pretty bright in the day which is really the reason I made the investment... Quote
Seth Posted November 12, 2015 Report Posted November 12, 2015 Go LED - I waited 3 years before I did it and kept purchasing the old GE bulbs. There are a few you can use: -Whelen - approved - get the Gen II as it's brighter -AeroLEDs - you can get the more expensive version that has the on/off/pulse feature so that your landing light can pulse for better recognition, or go with the simple and less expensive on/off version. The AeroLEDs are brighter than the Whelens. -Grote Trilliant (not approved and much less expensive) -Seth 1 Quote
bradp Posted November 17, 2015 Report Posted November 17, 2015 So far happy with the whelen super LED (not the new Super PLUS LED). I am still getting used to the blue hue versus the warm yellow. I will say that it casts a beam that is a bit further but a bit narrower than the GE bulb and the blue light takes some getting used to. I look more for reflection on the runway paint than undo the asphalt lighting up. I've used it at night with only well lit airports so far. I will say that I don't quite get the peripheral vision cues that I would get on flare with the yellow GE light casting light through the pilot side window. My night landings kind of sucked initially with the bulb but are better now. Part of this is me needing to adjust the bulb further downward - I'll report back whether this makes a difference. I really like being able to leave it on all the time without worrying about heat or the bulb burning out. I also just cleaned and refinished the lens cover from nearly opaque yellow to something better. I'll see how well that improves things. Quote
FlyDave Posted November 17, 2015 Report Posted November 17, 2015 On November 12, 2015 at 2:35:16 PM, carqwik said: Just put on the Whelen LED Plus landing and taxi lights on my plane (well Top Gun did the work). Sourced the lights from Knots2U...they were $2 per light cheaper than Spruce. Excellent service and same day shipping...even talked to a human to order! No pirep yet from night time...although they are pretty bright in the day which is really the reason I made the investment... Carqwik, I'd like a before/after pirep on these lights in your Bravo. I've been thinking of replacing mine but don't want a result that is degraded from the incandescent bulbs. If you can also include the model you had installed that would be great. thanks, Dave Quote
LANCECASPER Posted November 17, 2015 Report Posted November 17, 2015 Make sure if you go with Whelen that you get the Parmetheus PLUS (http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/el/landinglights_whelen/whelenplus461l.php), not just just Parmetheus. The Plus is 40% brighter and well worth the difference. Quote
ArtVandelay Posted November 17, 2015 Report Posted November 17, 2015 Make sure if you go with Whelen that you get the Parmetheus PLUS (http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/el/landinglights_whelen/whelenplus461l.php), not just just Parmetheus. The Plus is 40% brighter and well worth the difference. I thought they quit making the originals and only make the plus now. When I bought mine they were discounting the originals $175 vs $229, since I have 4 of them, I took the CB route and saved myself some money. Quote
carqwik Posted November 17, 2015 Report Posted November 17, 2015 Per Whelen email I got before replacing the lights: Good morning, the PLED2L and PLED2T are being discontinued and being replaced with the P36P2L and P36P2T. I put the new ones on the plane (the Parmetheus Plus)...also used the Meguiar's One Step Headlight Restoration kit to buff out the yellow of the lens covers...definitely works well but not a complete restoration. Requires the use of a power drill to spin the buffing pad. No night time pirep yet... Quote
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