LED Replacement for Whelen Model #70303 Light

[jaylw314]

15 hours ago, rbp said:

and you think that makes a material difference?

polycarbonate is pretty easy to scratch with a higher index of refraction, acrylic is more scratch resistant.  It makes sense to make focusing lenses out of polycarbonate, and external light covers out of acrylic

[OSUAV8TER]

I'm now taking full price orders for the recog lights and I will soon start collecting balances owed for deposits. 14V is expected to ship mid-February and 28V toward the end of February. The vast majority of pre-orders are 28V but the creation of two models caused the delay. It was the right thing to do to make sure a good quality product is shipped out the first time.

https://www.gallagheraviationllc.com/WAT-Mooney-28V-Recognition-Light_p_337.html <-- 28V Model Link

https://www.gallagheraviationllc.com/WAT-Mooney-14V-Recognition-Light_p_140.html <--14V Model Link

 

[PeteMc]

@OSUAV8TER  I just checked the Whelen site and didn't see anything on the Lumen output.  Any chance you can find out from your contacts what the old 14v bulb and the new 14v LED Lumen outputs are for comparison? 

(Guessing the 28v crowd would like to know too...)

 

[OSUAV8TER]

On 1/27/2023 at 4:24 PM, PeteMc said:

@OSUAV8TER  I just checked the Whelen site and didn't see anything on the Lumen output.  Any chance you can find out from your contacts what the old 14v bulb and the new 14v LED Lumen outputs are for comparison? 

(Guessing the 28v crowd would like to know too...)

 

They told me they do not have a measurement on them but they are brighter than the old ones. I'm sorry but that is all I have.

[PeteMc]

2 hours ago, OSUAV8TER said:

They told me they do not have a measurement on them but they are brighter than the old ones. I'm sorry but that is all I have.

No problem.  Figured they'd have the info, but good to know it will be brighter.  (Figured it would be.)

 

[rbp]

On 1/17/2023 at 11:56 AM, jaylw314 said:

polycarbonate is pretty easy to scratch with a higher index of refraction, acrylic is more scratch resistant.  It makes sense to make focusing lenses out of polycarbonate, and external light covers out of acrylic

we were talking about melting temperature

[201Mooniac]

So has anyone gotten a set of these installed and done a melt test yet?

[PeteMc]

4 hours ago, 201Mooniac said:

So has anyone gotten a set of these installed and done a melt test yet?

The release date is still a bit fluid, but later this month.  So I'm guessing only a few Beta tests have been done. 

 

[Pinecone]

Considering the stated amp draw, there will be no issues with melt tip lenses.  Even if they just produced heat and no light, there isn't enough energy to cause problems.

[RoundTwo]

@OSUAV8TER, any update on shipping dates? I need a pair of these.

[OSUAV8TER]

On 3/12/2023 at 7:59 AM, RoundTwo said:

@OSUAV8TER, any update on shipping dates? I need a pair of these.

@RoundTwo Manufacturing is complete and I hope to have a good shipping date here in the next day or so. 

[Airways]

6 minutes ago, OSUAV8TER said:

@RoundTwo Manufacturing is complete and I hope to have a good shipping date here in the next day or so. 

14V and 28V as well ?

[OSUAV8TER]

2 minutes ago, Airways said:

14V and 28V as well ?

They weren't specific on that but I assume both because they were targeting for the 14V to come out before the 28V version, plus the 14V was the original model before they decided to do a 28V model. I hope to have additional detail soon. 

[OSUAV8TER]

Here are some application photos. Still waiting on a date. Something with engineering and drawings.

[LANCECASPER]

I swear that the Apollo Lunar Module took less time to develop that this light 

[ArtVandelay]

Here are some application photos. Still waiting on a date. Something with engineering and drawings.

Interesting they still have old strobes/position lights instead of their Orion LEDs, clearly this wasn’t done by the marketing department.
And the light doesn’t look that bright.

[RoundTwo]

57 minutes ago, ArtVandelay said:

Interesting they still have old strobes/position lights instead of their Orion LEDs, clearly this wasn’t done by the marketing department.
And the light doesn’t look that bright.

Definitely need to see some comparison photos of a hybrid plane with one wingtip LED and one wingtip halogen. Photos need to be from both pilot and ramp bystander prospectives, day and night.

[Marc_B]

2 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

And the light doesn’t look that bright.

That may be from the picture being taken "off axis".  I took a look at these at Osh22 and my eyeball thought they were brighter than current.  But so much of "brightness" is not only total volume of light but the distribution.  I'm definitely interested in getting some of these on the aircraft and seeing the light in the day and night.  The truth is that ANY light is brighter than the darkness emanating from the bulbs now as I don't use them.  Ha ha.

Spruce has ship date of 24V as 3/24 and 18V as 5/1 for whatever that's worth...funny thing is, Spruce doesn't say 2023, so that could be 3/24/25...

[OSUAV8TER]

I have been told they are brighter than the legacy lights but in the photos keep in mind two things. First, the photo was taken in broad daylight so that is not an accurate depiction of how they will perform at night. Second, it is off axis as Marc_B noted. Finally, these are recognition lights, not your landing lights. There is no way they will be brighter than say a G3 on the nose or in the wings. If you want bright landing lights, you need the G3 (G3 Link). 

[mcarterak]

4 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

Interesting they still have old strobes/position lights instead of their Orion LEDs, clearly this wasn’t done by the marketing department.
And the light doesn’t look that bright.

I've seen them in person illuminated and they are very bright. The best use case for these things is wagging for visibility, not for ground illumination. 

Also, PIREP for the PAR46 G3, my homebase tower could see me from over 50 miles out last night. 

Edited March 16, 2023 by mcarterak

[OSUAV8TER]

Drawings have been released and the 14V are shipping out. They go from the manufacturing facility in the Northeast to Florida, then to me. 28V will shortly follow but I still do not have exact dates yet. I'd expect me to start shipping 14V mid to late next week. I have a few 14V and 28V lamps on order that are not called for so if you order, they will go out with everyone else (in order received of course). If you still have a balance with me I will reach out soon to take care of that.

https://www.gallagheraviationllc.com/WAT-Mooney-14V-Recognition-Light_p_140.html <-- Link to 14V lamp

https://www.gallagheraviationllc.com/WAT-Mooney-28V-Recognition-Light_p_337.html <-- Link to 28V lamp

 

[Fly Boomer]

3 hours ago, OSUAV8TER said:

28V will shortly follow but I still do not have exact dates yet.

What is involved in installing these (28-volt 252)?  Annual inspection coming up in May.

[OSUAV8TER]

2 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

What is involved in installing these (28-volt 252)?  Annual inspection coming up in May.

It will come with a 2 wire flying lead (power and ground) so installing a matching wire connector is preferred. 

[Fly Boomer]

Just now, OSUAV8TER said:

It will come with a 2 wire flying lead (power and ground) so installing a matching wire connector is preferred. 

So, aside from the electrical connection, it replaces the existing light in fit and form?  I'm thinking take out a couple of screws, drop new light in, replace screws?

[OSUAV8TER]

1 minute ago, Fly Boomer said:

So, aside from the electrical connection, it replaces the existing light in fit and form?  I'm thinking take out a couple of screws, drop new light in, replace screws?

Yes, that is it as I understand it.