Tail strobe light

[skyking1]

How easy is it to replace strobe in the tail? Any new strobes recommended? Thanks

[ArtVandelay]

I replace tail light with Orion 500 strobe,nav light combo, since I was replacing just a tail light a new wire needed to be run, so it a bit more complicated.

[StevenL757]

TJ is correct.  As the OR500 is a combination nav + flashing white (anti-coll.) light, you need another wire run for the nav portion of the lighthead.  If you want to sync the anti-collision portions of the OR500 with the OR650e wingtip assemblies (should you decide), you'll need 2 additional wire runs (20-ga.).  Your existing strobe has 1 power and 1 ground.  The OR500 has 4 flying leads - 1 anti-collision power (white), 1 ground (black), 1 nav power (red), and 1 sync (yellow).  Installation is straightforward - just need attention to detail when creating the new connections and running the wiring correctly.

By installing the pair of OR650e assemblies on the wingtips and the OR500, you can get rid of the two strobe power supplies and save about 5 pounds.  I saved a net total of 4.8 pounds after replacing all three.  One of the best choices I've made.  I frequently get comments on the ground about much visibility they provide.  I installed my own and had them signed off.

Whelen's website about the OR500:  http://www.whelen.com/aviation/product.php?head_id=11&prod_id=162

OR650e link:  http://www.whelen.com/aviation/product.php?head_id=10&prod_id=158

Message me if you need any help, should you decide on one or all of them.

Steve

[OR75]

Looks good but is it STC'd for a J model ?

[kortopates]

No, but no one will care if you do this as a minor mod citing the FAA approvals.

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[OR75]

20 minutes ago, kortopates said:

 

No, but no one will care if you do this as a minor mod citing the FAA approvals.

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Can you point to an example of an approval please. I am interested (because I am tired of those old yellowed plastic Mooney / Hoskins strobes) 

[ArtVandelay]

My MSC did the work, it only required a log entry.

[kortopates]

Here is a verbose/overkill example that gets the job done for the wing tip lights - substitute your actual units that were removed & installed. Also update the weight & balance for the removed power supplies.

Removed A650PG28, A650PR28 and Whelen strobe power supplies in wingtips and installed Whelen FAR SPEC compliant Orion replacement OR6502GE and OR6502RE LED lights that meet STC/TSO/ETSO-C96a Class II & TSO/ETSO-C30c Type I & III. The units were installed IAW Whelen Anti-Collision Light System Installation and Service Manual dated May 2015 including addition of placard on panel. Updated weight & balance this date. ---  signed by an A&P

Edited December 30, 2015 by kortopates

[skyking1]

Thanks for the info! How long did the install take?

[StevenL757]

I tend to work slower than others I'm sure, as I like to "learn" the airplane as I go along, so for me it was the better part of 2 days. Working consistently (and with someone else to help you) would get you through in half the time or less.

Paul is correct - a logbook entry for these, citing the Whelen info he mentions + W&B updates - is required to legally return to service.