Whelen LED Taillight Question...

[Kefferch]

Can anyone tell me which part number I need for the tail light? 1977 M20J

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/el/ledlighting_tail/whelen14volt.php

 

Santa was good to me this year...brought me the Whelen LED Nav/Strobe (both sides), AeroLED landing light and new seatbelts from Alpha Aviation.

[Cyril Gibb]

Or http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/orion500series.php

if you also want the tail strobe

[Kefferch]

@Cryril what's the difference?? this is white led and it strobes?


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[Cyril Gibb]

Yes.  That's what I installed during the recent annual.   I synched the tail and wingtip strobe function together.  REALLY bright! I had heard that some people experienced some radio interference when the strobe flashed, so I ran shielded cable to the tail light/strobe. The most difficult part was running the synch cable to the tips and tail. That's when I deferred to Clarence who managed to feed the synch wire through the existing grommets in the wing ribs.

[Marauder]

19 minutes ago, Kefferch said:

@Cryril what's the difference?? this is white led and it strobes?


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The original light on your J is a solid on bulb. The Orion is a strobe. This is the one you want if you go that route: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/orion500series.php?clickkey=247729

Here is what one looks like on my plane: 

 

[Kefferch]

The original light on your J is a solid on bulb. The Orion is a strobe. This is the one you want if you go that route: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/orion500series.php?clickkey=247729
Here is what one looks like on my plane: 
 

Perfect! I just ordered that light. Now to have it all installed! How much shop time you think I'm looking at?


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[Marauder]

Just now, Kefferch said:

 

 

Perfect! I just ordered that light. Now to have it all installed! How much shop time you think I'm looking at?


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Less than 30 minutes -- unless you have all the strobes and run a sync wire. Mine are not synced.

[Kefferch]

Less than 30 minutes -- unless you have all the strobes and run a sync wire. Mine are not synced.

I just opened the strobes for christmas. I also got an AeroLED landing light! I just ordered the tail light strobe you sent me. So it all needs to be installed.


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[Cyril Gibb]

1 minute ago, Marauder said:

Less than 30 minutes -- unless you have all the strobes and run a sync wire. Mine are not synced.

Wow ! You are a better man than I.

Each wingtip light needs to have a bit of work bypassing/removing the existing strobe power supply.  Probably about 1/2 hour to an hour per side if you're good.

The tail strobe needs a new power wire from your existing strobe power unless you just want to power the strobe from your nav light power.  Not friendly around the airport waiting to takeoff at night.  That means running a wire through the cabin wall to the tail.

If you want the strobes synched, you need a wire from wingtip to wingtip and then to the tail.  That was a bit of effort.

[Marauder]

2 minutes ago, Cyril Gibb said:

Wow ! You are a better man than I.

Each wingtip light needs to have a bit of work bypassing/removing the existing strobe power supply.  Probably about 1/2 hour to an hour per side if you're good.

The tail strobe needs a new power wire from your existing strobe power unless you just want to power the strobe from your nav light power.  Not friendly around the airport waiting to takeoff at night.  That means running a wire through the cabin wall to the tail.

If you want the strobes synched, you need a wire from wingtip to wingtip and then to the tail.  That was a bit of effort.

I think he was asking just about the tail strobe. I watched my mechanic hook up the tail strobe. We did re-use the Nav light since I was only concerned about that light being on at night time and with the position lights. Between my belly and wing strobes, I am happy with the coverage for daytime.

You're right about the wing strobes. There is some additional time needed to remove the original strobe ballasts and if you want them to sync, the time to run that wire. I saw NotarPilot's sync video. Do you have a video of yours? 

[Kefferch]

I think he was asking just about the tail strobe. I watched my mechanic hook up the tail strobe. We did re-use the Nav light since I was only concerned about that light being on at night time and with the position lights. Between my belly and wing strobes, I am happy with the coverage for daytime.
You're right about the wing strobes. There is some additional time needed to remove the original strobe ballasts and if you want them to sync, the time to run that wire. I saw NotarPilot's sync video. Do you have a video of yours? 

I was talking shop time to install all the lights, wires, etc. Do you guys recommend syncing the strobes and tail too?


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[Marauder]

Just now, Kefferch said:

 

 

I was talking shop time to install all the lights, wires, etc. Do you guys recommend syncing the strobes and tail too?


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I didn't catch on your original post that you got all the strobes. Cyril is right about 30 minutes per side. The big time comes into play if you want to run a sync wire or a separate power supply line from the main strobes to the tail strobe. For installing my wing, belly and tail strobes, my mechanic charged me 2 hours. 

[Kefferch]

I didn't catch on your original post that you got all the strobes. Cyril is right about 30 minutes per side. The big time comes into play if you want to run a sync wire or a separate power supply line from the main strobes to the tail strobe. For installing my wing, belly and tail strobes, my mechanic charged me 2 hours. 

What's the reason for a separate power supply line and sync wire to the tail?


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[Cyril Gibb]

Just now, Marauder said:

I think he was asking just about the tail strobe. I watched my mechanic hook up the tail strobe. We did re-use the Nav light since I was only concerned about that light being on at night time and with the position lights. Between my belly and wing strobes, I am happy with the coverage for daytime.

You're right about the wing strobes. There is some additional time needed to remove the original strobe ballasts and if you want them to sync, the time to run that wire. I saw NotarPilot's sync video. Do you have a video of yours? 

Ok.  I misunderstood.

I'm a bit anal as a result of Clarence's influence.   I didn't like the way Mooney had routed the tail nav light wires across the rudder hinge area with potential contact between the wiring bundle and bare metal, so it's now better supported and passes through grommets.  Every time I have a cover off, I try to improve anything I see.

[Cyril Gibb]

Just now, Kefferch said:

 

What's the reason for a separate power supply line and sync wire to the tail?


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If you want all three strobes flashing in synch, you need it.  I thought about it for a while and then decided I wanted it synched.  Just personal preference.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Cyril Gibb said:

Ok.  I misunderstood.

I'm a bit anal as a result of Clarence's influence.   I didn't like the way Mooney had routed the tail nav light wires across the rudder hinge area with potential contact between the wiring bundle and bare metal, so it's now better supported and passes through grommets.  Every time I have a cover off, I try to improve anything I see.

I'm not sure how to take that, some say it's a great quality!!

Clarence

[Kefferch]

If you want all three strobes flashing in synch, you need it.  I thought about it for a while and then decided I wanted it synched.  Just personal preference.

I kinda like that idea i feel like it makes you more visible day and night. What about dedicated power supply? any reason why that's beneficial?


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[Marauder]

1 minute ago, Kefferch said:

 

I kinda like that idea i feel like it makes you more visible day and night. What about dedicated power supply? any reason why that's beneficial?


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If you install it like mine, the tail strobe will be blinking anytime the nav lights are on. Being a nice guy, Cyril has wired it to the wing strobes so they only come on when the wing strobe units are on. I like what he did, but it is a lot of work to remove the interior and run that wire. If I have my interior out, I may do what he did but I bet it added 3 or so hours to the install cost.

[Cyril Gibb]

1 minute ago, Kefferch said:

 

I kinda like that idea i feel like it makes you more visible day and night. What about dedicated power supply? any reason why that's beneficial?


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You can just wire the tail strobe along with the tail nav, but that means when you turn on the nav lights at night the tail strobe is flashing.  It's really bright and would annoy anyone else lining up for takeoff behind you.  If you fly out of a less busy airport, it's probably not an issue.  There's often a lineup at my home airport.

[Marauder]

4 minutes ago, M20Doc said:

I'm not sure how to take that, some say it's a great quality!!

Clarence

One thing I have learned about Clarence is his power of observation. Someone can post a picture of a dog and Clarence will see the flea on that dog. Bow wow!

[Kefferch]

You can just wire the tail strobe along with the tail nav, but that means when you turn on the nav lights at night the tail strobe is flashing.  It's really bright and would annoy anyone else lining up for takeoff behind you.  If you fly out of a less busy airport, it's probably not an issue.  There's often a lineup at my home airport.

Ahh ok so separate power allows you to separate the function of the tail light to be strobe and solid nav. Am i understanding that correctly?


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[Cyril Gibb]

Just now, Kefferch said:

 

 

Ahh ok so separate power allows you to separate the function of the tail light to be strobe and solid nav. Am i understanding that correctly?


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yes

[Guest]

Cyril did the bulk of the work for the installation, I just helped fish the sync wire through the the existing wire grommets in the wings. We used a 6' piece of hinge pin to act as a sewing needle, with the wire taped to it.  The first wing was a real challenge, the second went much faster.

I still have a few scars for the effort.

Clarence

[Kefferch]

Cyril did the bulk of the work for the installation, I just helped fish the sync wire through the the existing wire grommets in the wings. We used a 6' piece of hinge pin to act as a sewing needle, with the wire taped to it.  The first wing was a real challenge, the second went much faster.
I still have a few scars for the effort.
Clarence

Does that mean you're willing to come to St. louis and do it again since you already have the scars and experience? lol


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[Cyril Gibb]

5 minutes ago, Kefferch said:

 

Does that mean you're willing to come to St. louis and do it again since you already have the scars and experience? lol


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It was impressive indeed to see Clarence thread wire through a series of 1/4 inch grommets hidden in the leading edge while I held a borescope using the underwing access panels.