LED Landing Light

[Ragsf15e]

@OSUAV8TER

[PharmDpilot]

Just Got and installed the par46 WAT G3! It’s bright! Was wondering about the voltage though, it say 14V, but my M20C says it’s a 12V system, is that a problem?

[outermarker]

I noticed the unit Spruce sells states 10 degrees of horizontal and 10 degrees of vertical. The Amazon unit states 8 degrees? Does anyone know what an additional 2 degrees looks like? For the price difference does anyone really care? It seems the LED unit draws 2.6 amps. What does the old halogen bulb draw?

[Hank]

35 minutes ago, outermarker said:

It seems the LED unit draws 2.6 amps. What does the old halogen bulb draw?

My old incandescent GE landing light drew enough amperage that turning it on and off was part of my Post-Engine Start checklist, to verify that the ammeter was working.

Now, I've had LED since April 2014, and it's only been turned off twice--once during annual and once halfway through pitot static test in my hangar, when he noticed it was on. It makes a great recognition light from the front, and goes on and off with the Master switch.

[carusoam]

5 hours ago, PharmDpilot said:

Just Got and installed the par46 WAT G3! It’s bright! Was wondering about the voltage though, it say 14V, but my M20C says it’s a 12V system, is that a problem?

Airplane lesson….  Car lesson…. 101.

We call it a 12V system…. Nominally.

And generally… the voltage is most often over 12V…

Unless, it has been draining slowly for a while… like a month without flying…

But, when the alternator is charging it… zooom… 14V!

 

 

Sooooo…

There is always a bit of confusion to people new to the game…

 

Realistically Mooneys have two available voltage systems…

12V and 24V…

 

24V has become the standard of many vehicles… because the tons of wires become 1/2 tons of wires with the higher voltage…

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic…

Best regards,

-a- 

[Denis Mexted]

My M20J has a Whelen PN: 01-079623-10 which is 14V.

How do I marry up those numbers and a par46 which I see Amazon sells, just not to the country I live in.

Anyway, what landing light options do I have on a J model?

Reading above, I see the LED's are polarity sensitive. Maybe operator error is the cause. 

It doesn't have continuity ATM. I assume a working light bulb would? Or is there something tricky with LED's in that department?

Thanks.

[Fly Boomer]

21 minutes ago, Denis Mexted said:

My M20J has a Whelen PN: 01-079623-10 which is 14V.

How do I marry up those numbers and a par46 which I see Amazon sells, just not to the country I live in.

Anyway, what landing light options do I have on a J model?

Reading above, I see the LED's are polarity sensitive. Maybe operator error is the cause. 

It doesn't have continuity ATM. I assume a working light bulb would? Or is there something tricky with LED's in that department?

Thanks.

If you want aircraft lights, ask @OSUAV8TER.

[OSUAV8TER]

59 minutes ago, Denis Mexted said:

My M20J has a Whelen PN: 01-079623-10 which is 14V.

How do I marry up those numbers and a par46 which I see Amazon sells, just not to the country I live in.

Anyway, what landing light options do I have on a J model?

Reading above, I see the LED's are polarity sensitive. Maybe operator error is the cause. 

It doesn't have continuity ATM. I assume a working light bulb would? Or is there something tricky with LED's in that department?

Thanks.

I don't know what that part number is. 

If you buy on Amazon, buyer beware. The quality and light they emit is all over the map.

If you have a first generation Whelen Parmetheus PAR-46, I recommend the third generation "G3." It is substantially better.

https://www.gallagheraviationllc.com/WAT-G3-PAR-46-LED-Landing-Light_p_134.html

[DonMuncy]

And yes, LEDs are polarity sensitive. If they don't light up, reverse the wires.

[Denis Mexted]

Thanks Don.

What I did yesterday while the cowls were off was measure the voltage from the aircraft. It was good. 

Then a continuity test on the globe. 

BUT, I now see that doesn't work with LED's. Some random internet search said the following.

It is highly possible I had the wires around the wrong way last oil change, and my diagnosis this time was up the creek. 

(thanks for the link Osuav8ter)

 

As mentioned, LED bulbs have a bunch of electronics inside & won't measure a resistance with the low voltage the meter uses to test.

That's a "12V" MR16 type LED bulb so it'll have a bridge rectifier (1.4V drop) + typically one or more strings of 3 white leds in series & a small resistor (approx 9V) ie you'd need to apply 10.4V or more to see much current flow.