Landing/Taxi Lights for M20J

[joegoersch]

Last night went to take off and, bummer, landing light burned out AGAIN !  Just had bulb replaced maybe 20 flight-hours ago.  I have wingtip recognition lights, but I really don't like to taxi with them.  They get so hot, when I bought the plane a few years ago I had to replace the lense caps over the recognition lights as they were melted and deformed.  Fine for use in flight, just not taxiing.

I'm sick of changing the lightbulbs and thinking about other options.  I'm considering XeVisions HID lights (requires a 337 and FSDO approval), LoPresti's STC'd HID (at about $1000, twice the cost of the XeVision).  The other possibility is to wait for the PAR46 LED to get STC'd.

I have a few questions I'd appreciate any comments anyone might have.

1)  Any thoughts--wait for the LED ?  How is the LED for taxiing ?  I can use the recognition lights for landing but really need to see when taxiing...

2) How is the HID for taxiing compared to the standard GE 4553 (on the rare occasions when it works!) ?

3) Keep replacing the standard GE 4553 ?

4) Am I the only one with this problem ?  How often do other people change their bulb ?  My plane seems to run smoother than other J's in which I've flown.  Would dynamic prop balancing help ?

Thanks,

Joe

 

 

[jelswick]

I think one of the recent Aviation Consumer (www.aviationconsumer.com) issues had an update on the LEDs.  They'd initially not liked them much, but said there's been enough development in them recently that there are some very good ones now available we can use.  I'm sorry I don't recall the models they discussed, but if you don't already subscribe to them, IMHO it's one subscription very worth it's price for all of the products they cover every month.  Mine have (knocking on wood now) not been too bad, but then my flying hours have unfortunately been down too the last year or so, so I haven't had to replace the landing light on my J recently.  One thing that I know noticeably improved the landing light lifespan on both the C model I owned earlier and now the J was mounting it so that the wire in the light was vertical rather than horizontal; just less stress if I understand it correctly on the unit during landings.

[Piloto]

I would wait for the LED. Any light that uses a gas requires a high voltage power supply that is subject to fail or generate radio noise. LEDs on the other hand are high efficient low voltage devices (1 volt) with a much greater reliability than any of the gas lamps. GE and others are developing low cost LED household lights to replace the old fashion tungsten filament light bulbs.

José

  

[joegoersch]

I can't imagine how mounting wires vertical instead of horizontal might help.  But then again, the last time on got on a 747 I couldn't imagine how a hunk of steel like that could fly  !

[sellis]

Joe,

See Mooney SI M20-104. This SI can be found at www.mooney.com

 

[FlyDave]

AvWeb/Paul Bertorelli did this video on landing lights:

[joegoersch]

Quote: sellis

Joe,

See Mooney SI M20-104. This SI can be found at www.mooney.com

 

[DaV8or]

I would wait for the LED. Taxiing is where they are great. If you can land using your recognition lights, then you'll be fine with LED. LEDs so far are weak on landing because they just don't throw that far. What's nice about LED is, you can leave them on all the time for collision avoidance in the day and they can be rigged to strobe. I fly in busy airspace and so this is why I'm axiously awaiting the PAR 46 LED.

[flyboy0681]

Our '83 M20J has the LoPresti Boom Beam. The company guarantees it for 5 years and claims that it has a minimum of a 5000 hour life. It was installed 3 years ago and is still going strong. It throws more light than a conventional bulb but it's more focused on a smaller area, so there are trade offs.

 

According to Aviation Consumer (a great publication by the way), LED's are not ready for prime time, and if you watch the aforementioned video, you will see why.

 

[HopePilot]

My Christmas present is a Sunspot 36HX.  It is more powerful than the LX was and delivers 3,600 lumens at 45W.  The real reason I want it is the built in Wig/Wag feature.  It is on back order so I can't provide any PIREP yet.

[joegoersch]

I hope you get it by Christmas !  Please, please follow up with the PIREP !!!

[fantom]

I did the SI ten years ago, so the filaments are vertical rather than horizontal yielding less stress during perfect landings on bumpy runways and taxiways.

Haven't burned out a landing or taxi bulb since!

 

[tony]

Orienting the bulb, so the filament is vertical will make a noticeable difference.  Why dont you try it in the mean time?

[joegoersch]

Quote: tony

Orienting the bulb, so the filament is vertical will make a noticeable difference.  Why dont you try it in the mean time?

[joegoersch]

Quote: fantom

I did the SI ten years ago, so the filaments are vertical rather than horizontal yielding less stress during perfect landings on bumpy runways and taxiways.

Haven't burned out a landing or taxi bulb since!

 

[tony]

Oh forget the SI, it’s just old folklore that the old experienced A&P’s pass on to the next generation of kids coming along as they get mentored.  Sometimes I like to listen to them.

[fantom]

Quote: joegoersch

 You have a cowl or wing-mounted landing light ?

[eaglebkh]

Quote: Paul Bertorelli

And by the way, if I wanted one of these LEDs for a certified airplane—and I do—I'd simply install it, approval or not. My interpretation of the FARs indicates I'm in compliance if the lamp provides sufficient light and doesn't present a fire hazard. I deem myself smart enough to determine both. Furthermore, since there's no such thing as an approved landing light bulb anyway, I'm miles away from the stench of unapproved parts. Like I said, common sense. There are little capillaries of it in the FAA, but the veins run dark with baffling illogic and flawed thinking.

[KLRDMD]

Quote: joegoersch

Last night went to take off and, bummer, landing light burned out AGAIN !  Just had bulb replaced maybe 20 flight-hours ago. I'm sick of changing the lightbulbs and thinking about other options. 

[sixsixX]

Check out http://www.scn.org/~bk269/eclipse/  Glad to know some one has done this and had good luck with it.

[joegoersch]

Quote: KLRDMD

I have it on my current F model and put it on my previous C model too. I turn it on when taking the runway and turn it off when exiting the runway (leave it on at all times during flight). I put it on one year ago now immediately after purchasing my current airplane and I'm still on the first bulb (+/- 150 hours). Replacements are only $10 and you can get them at a NAPA store and it takes less then five minutes to swap out the bulbs once installed.

[mooney11x]

What's your experience with Stan's Landing Light? Is it bright enough?

[KLRDMD]

Quote: joegoersch

I have it on my current F model and put it on my previous C model too. I turn it on when taking the runway and turn it off when exiting the runway (leave it on at all times during flight). I put it on one year ago now immediately after purchasing my current airplane and I'm still on the first bulb (+/- 150 hours). Replacements are only $10 and you can get them at a NAPA store and it takes less then five minutes to swap out the bulbs once installed.

[KLRDMD]

Quote: mooney11x

What's your experience with Stan's Landing Light? Is it bright enough?

[rbridges]

I was wanting to replace mine, also.  I had one blow when I flipped the toggle switch last month.  Luckily I was on the ground.  I really don't want to land at night w/o it.  Unfortunately, you can't pick and choose when it's going to give out.