Raptor05121 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Posted July 14, 2017 Check this out. Whelen Chroma series. Supposed to be a drop-in PMA LED bulb to replace red and green nav lights. Better quality than the knockoff LED bulbs you see without the expensive price point. $115 each, $230 for both wingtips is very attractive! They currently are still awaiting FAA certification, per the ad. I doubt Whelen will have any issue getting it. AircraftSpruce is expecting 14v to arrive in their warehouse by July 27, and 28v early August: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/whelenchromaled.php 5 Quote
Hank Posted July 14, 2017 Report Posted July 14, 2017 $115 is still a lot for a light bulb, but it's a whole lot less than $500 per wingtip . . . And the red and green are the same price! 4 Quote
xcrmckenna Posted July 14, 2017 Report Posted July 14, 2017 Sweet, I would install the 650. But I think it's ridiculous that they require a 337. I hope they come out with a white one as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
carusoam Posted July 14, 2017 Report Posted July 14, 2017 Whelen does a nice job in the aviation and automotive lighting world... They are not stuck in the low volume world. Nice post Alex! Best regards, -a- 1 Quote
Raptor05121 Posted July 14, 2017 Author Report Posted July 14, 2017 1 hour ago, xcrmckenna said: But I think it's ridiculous that they require a 337 You're referring to the 650s and not the Chromas? 1 Quote
MB65E Posted July 14, 2017 Report Posted July 14, 2017 Bought some for a CJ, T182T, and actually sprung for them for the mooney!! I neglected to post until my order shipped!! Lol, I called whelen, they will be full up. They will meet all TSOs with out changing to clear lenses!!! will advise, -Matt Quote
Raptor05121 Posted July 14, 2017 Author Report Posted July 14, 2017 Matt, where did you order from? Please give us a full work up when they arrive. Pics/vids, before and after 1 Quote
Mcstealth Posted July 14, 2017 Report Posted July 14, 2017 9 hours ago, Raptor05121 said: Matt, where did you order from? Please give us a full work up when they arrive. Pics/vids, before and after First born, blood type, social, DL number. You know, the regular things. 2 Quote
smccray Posted July 14, 2017 Report Posted July 14, 2017 Are the Chroma series LED bulbs approved yet? I exchanged emails with Whelen a couple months ago- they said they expected the approval by Oshkosh but I their website is still says the approval is pending. Quote
Raptor05121 Posted July 14, 2017 Author Report Posted July 14, 2017 I assume Whelen would align their initial shipping with certification, so if its not here shortly, I'd expect them to be fully cert'd in the not-too-distant future. I'm probably about to order mine. 1 Quote
Cyril Gibb Posted July 15, 2017 Report Posted July 15, 2017 Does anyone with LED technical knowledge know why Whelen didn't use white LEDs under the existing coloured lens covers? Seems redundant to use coloured LEDs unless they come with clear lens covers. Quote
Hank Posted July 15, 2017 Report Posted July 15, 2017 4 hours ago, Cyril Gibb said: Does anyone with LED technical knowledge know why Whelen didn't use white LEDs under the existing coloured lens covers? Seems redundant to use coloured LEDs unless they come with clear lens covers. The picture above looks to me like colored LEDs under clear glass, rather like on my Whelen belly strobe (tiny compared to the old high voltage flasher). Quote
Dream to fly Posted July 15, 2017 Report Posted July 15, 2017 4 hours ago, Cyril Gibb said: Does anyone with LED technical knowledge know why Whelen didn't use white LEDs under the existing coloured lens covers? Seems redundant to use coloured LEDs unless they come with clear lens covers. It is because of the LED light spectrum. White thru colored lens drop light waves and color intensity is distorted. In some cases you get spots of bright color and can "see" the led. Also the lens drops the intensity of the output. Clear lens allow the light to spread so it appears from afar that the entire assembly is lit and because the light is not being altered thru a color it is more intense. Quote
aviatoreb Posted July 15, 2017 Report Posted July 15, 2017 Wouldn't you know - I installed LED wing lights - the more expensive variety, just 3 months ago. Quote
Raptor05121 Posted July 15, 2017 Author Report Posted July 15, 2017 10 hours ago, Cyril Gibb said: Does anyone with LED technical knowledge know why Whelen didn't use white LEDs under the existing coloured lens covers? Seems redundant to use coloured LEDs unless they come with clear lens covers. You want the LEDs to emit the same wavelength as the filter (lens) they are going through. The color used by automotive manufacturers isn't really red (620-640nm), but rather red-orange (610-620nm) Quote
milotron Posted July 15, 2017 Report Posted July 15, 2017 14 hours ago, Cyril Gibb said: Does anyone with LED technical knowledge know why Whelen didn't use white LEDs under the existing coloured lens covers? Seems redundant to use coloured LEDs unless they come with clear lens covers. Colored LEDs, especially red tend to have higher lumenous output per input watt. White tends to be the lowest due to the process needed to make them appear white. If I remember, blue has the highest lumens per watt output. Quote
StinkBug Posted July 16, 2017 Report Posted July 16, 2017 LEDs have a rather strange ability to be able to shine colored light through a different colored lens. Watch the rear turn signals on a newer model Range Rover some time. Amber LEDs that shine through a red lens, but definitely look amber when lit. I'll definitely be looking for these at OSH Quote
MB65E Posted July 16, 2017 Report Posted July 16, 2017 On 7/14/2017 at 4:29 AM, Raptor05121 said: Matt, where did you order from? Please give us a full work up when they arrive. Pics/vids, before and after All 3 sets were placed thru Spruce. One of the 28v sets shipped. Still waiting on the others. I believe Whelen was waiting on their paperwork to come thru with the FAA approvals. I bet they told their vendors to hold until the paperwork was compleated. If everything works out, these will be the first truly TSOd drop in lights to maker. Yes expensive still for a single unit, but reasonable considering the Orion system. Will do, -Matt 1 Quote
Raptor05121 Posted July 16, 2017 Author Report Posted July 16, 2017 Exactly. These are excellent for the Raptor methodology. I cant afford $600 LEDs but I dont want to stay with incandescent, nor do I want AircraftSpruce charging $40 for an automotive LED I can buy on a LED site for $6, even though they arent TSO'ed. I like how these are respectively priced and legal! 1 Quote
triple8s Posted July 16, 2017 Report Posted July 16, 2017 Sure would like an LED replacement for the recognition lights on the R model. Cant even use the factory ones unless you like replacing melted wingtips. 2 Quote
MIm20c Posted July 16, 2017 Report Posted July 16, 2017 Looks like a good deal. However, what I'd really like is a drop in strobe replacement vs the nav lights. I'm going to check at osh in a couple weeks for the or650 set. Might put the money down if I can get the price to $750. Any other options for the strobe replacements? Quote
cliffy Posted July 16, 2017 Report Posted July 16, 2017 As mentioned above- the colors have to meet certain wavelength requirements for the correct "color" emitted per FAR. This is why you can't just drop in any commercial LED bulb that fits the socket. The emitted "red" or "green" might not (will not) meet certification standards not to mention angle of view and intensity. I'm looking at OSH! Quote
carusoam Posted July 16, 2017 Report Posted July 16, 2017 When discussing LEDs while at KOSH... please please ask about the recognition lights for the LBs... More LEDs, the better... Melting lens covers is purely an annoying result of a simple distraction during a busy time... I no longer use my recog lights as often as I could... Best regards, -a- Quote
kortopates Posted July 16, 2017 Report Posted July 16, 2017 When discussing LEDs while at KOSH... please please ask about the recognition lights for the LBs... More LEDs, the better... Melting lens covers is purely an annoying result of a simple distraction during a busy time... I no longer use my recog lights as often as I could... Best regards, -a- Will never happen because their are only a handful of Mooney owners to buy them. Plus several of us just buy the $5 projection bulb so don't find them expensive to replace and use the pulsing system which eliminates the plastic lens melting - both issues solved! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote
ArtVandelay Posted July 16, 2017 Report Posted July 16, 2017 When discussing LEDs while at KOSH... please please ask about the recognition lights for the LBs... More LEDs, the better... Melting lens covers is purely an annoying result of a simple distraction during a busy time... I no longer use my recog lights as often as I could... I wig wag my rec lights and leave them on all the time. 1 Quote
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