Looking for a couple of bulbs

[PMcClure]

I am trying to find the correct bulb for the wing recognition light and whiskey compass light. LED if available. 24V 2002 M20R. Thanks!!

[jetdriven]

Whelen glues the recog light into the reflector so you have to replace the whole thing for 200$+. Then they don't include the .50c molex connector, it's bare wires, so your installer must cut and crimp the connector on.  

[PMcClure]

Do you know the part number? 

[jetdriven]

http://www.whelen.com/aviation/product.php?head_id=13&prod_id=125

[PMcClure]

Thanks a lot for the help. So there is no LED replacement?

 

[jetdriven]

Not that I know of.  

[ArtVandelay]

  On 11/26/2015 at 2:50 AM, jetdriven said:

Whelen glues the recog light into the reflector so you have to replace the whole thing for 200$+. Then they don't include the .50c molex connector, it's bare wires, so your installer must cut and crimp the connector on.  

There is another thread about recognition light, there are actually a cut version of a halogen light that's available for $10. If you can use a dremal tool, you can modify it and save yourself $200

[goncaloareia]

  On 11/27/2015 at 11:36 AM, teejayevans said:

There is another thread about recognition light, there are actually a cut version of a halogen light that's available for $10. If you can use a dremal tool, you can modify it and save yourself $200

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I did that following the tips from the other thread!

Placed a G4 led light instead of the halogen bulb, and its been there with zero problems for 3 years now.

Instead of not using the recognition lights at all, due to the bad design from Mooney (the halogen heats up so much that melts everything around it, from the plastic cover to wires... its really bad), I now use the recognition lights all time, and in crowded airspace I just leave in on!

 

[ArtVandelay]

A second option is to pulse the recognition lights, this prevents the overheating and makes you more visible

[Awful_Charlie]

For the reco lights, I had a word with my A&P,. and he was OK with me making the replacement bulbs: see this

$3 each from fleabay! (and about 30 mins to cut them down and move the leads over) Note you have to bend the pins on the back of the bulb to the side so it fits into the assembly. Note it is a 12V bulb with a dropping resistor in the wingtip

The compass light is a standard part: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/airpath_compass5.php Not terribly overpriced!

[jetdriven]

It likely doesn't have nearly the light output.  Recognition lighted are there to get you recognized.  

[LANCECASPER]

The best solution IMO for recognition lights are LED landing/taxi lights that you leave on during taxi and flight. They use almost no power - so virtually no heat to melt lenses, are super bright and have a life of over 10,000 hours.

[PMcClure]

  On 11/28/2015 at 1:58 PM, LANCECASPER said:

The best solution IMO for recognition lights are LED landing/taxi lights that you leave on during taxi and flight. They use almost no power - so virtually no heat to melt lenses, are super bright and have a life of over 10,000 hours.

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So for $109, I get a $1 bulb that burns out after 10 hours and melts my $300 plastic cover. Sounds like aviation!  I agree with your strategy and rarely use the recognition lights (only in very busy air space at night.) I bet I didn't even use them 10 hours since they were replaced. 

On second thought, I won't even replace the burned out bulb. 

[Bennett]

Its a real hassle, but if you can find a friendly FISDO you might have something like these installed under a 337 form. The Oakland FISDO, for some unknown reason will not approve another one like mine, but these were presented as a "safety" change. The new Recognition lights are sold as landing and or taxi lights for LSAs or Experimentals. I can pulse, alternate, or leave on (all the time) via a rotary switch made for that purpose. They are amazingly bright. I also replaced the strobes and nav lights with LEDs. The sides and back of the unit are made of mirror plastic. I don't know why the FAA is such a problem as these lights are so bright, and draw so little power that using them should be a no brainer.

[PMcClure]

  On 11/30/2015 at 7:56 PM, Bennett said:

Its a real hassle, but if you can find a friendly FISDO you might have something like these installed under a 337 form. The Oakland FISDO, for some unknown reason will not approve another one like mine, but these were presented as a "safety" change. The new Recognition lights are sold as landing and or taxi lights for LSAs or Experimentals. I can pulse, alternate, or leave on (all the time) via a rotary switch made for that purpose. They are amazingly bright. I also replaced the strobes and nav lights with LEDs. The sides and back of the unit are made of mirror plastic. I don't know why the FAA is such a problem as these lights are so bright, and draw so little power that using them should be a no brainer.

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That is pretty cool. We had a new FISDO guy in the area hassle local pilots about non STC'd LED lights. I heard of 3 or 4 pilots complaining about encounters. Not sure about all the details of each one. I would want to have a 337 to make it legal, even if it is safe. Too much hassle for a little light bulb that is barely used!

[DonMuncy]

  On 11/30/2015 at 8:21 PM, PMcClure said:

That is pretty cool. We had a new FISDO guy in the area hassle local pilots about non STC'd LED lights. I heard of 3 or 4 pilots complaining about encounters. Not sure about all the details of each one. I would want to have a 337 to make it legal, even if it is safe. Too much hassle for a little light bulb that is barely used!

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Was he ramp checking planes at random and then requesting logbooks from the ones that appeared to be LEDs.

[Bennett]

When I had my LED wingtip lights installed an inspector from the FISDO came out to the installer's location, and approved the 337 paperwork. Since then, I understand it is ever more difficult to obtain field approval for installations like mine. I believe that Paul at LASAR had done similar installations. I don't know any of the details, but you could call him. I leave the "recognition" and strobe lights on all the time, for every flight, and the HID boom box light in poor visibility, and always in the airport environment. The "recognition" lights run cool - no melting of the plastic lenses, and are bright enough to use as landing lights. I generally keep them in the slow alternating state. Very visible at a distance. Lots of hassle getting them installed, but I think they are well worth the time and trouble. An additional bonus was getting rid of the old strobe power supplies, and their weight.

[PMcClure]

  On 11/30/2015 at 10:01 PM, DonMuncy said:

Was he ramp checking planes at random and then requesting logbooks from the ones that appeared to be LEDs.

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That is what was reported.