LED Replacement for Whelen Model #70303 Light

[kortopates]

Depends on how complicated you want to make wigwag.  I went with the MaxPulse for simplicity and it's perfect for ease of install and cost.  I had it wired past the circuit breaker rocker switch, so I have the MaxPulse set on alternating mode and just use the rocker switch to turn on and off.  It makes the recog switch much more visible.  ~$300 for the MaxPulse, about 1-2 total hrs for install of recogs and MaxPulse = WIN in my book.
But check out [mention=7354]donkaye[/mention]'s video

The Precise Flight is pretty darn slick (albeit heavier, more expensive, and needing another rocker switch on your panel).  I've heard from [mention=50295]Pinecone[/mention] that the Whelen pulser is similar but a little cheaper (but still 3x the price of MaxPulse)...Terry, do you have the same lights wig wag'd as Don?
...although I'm kinda disappointed in Whelen that when they made a Mooney specific light they didn't research to see where the glare fence sits and make sure all of the LEDs were outside of this.  I've yet to see a WAT Mooney Recog light that didn't have the inboard 2 LEDs blocked by the wing.  Although no melted wingtip lens so it's STILL a welcomed addition to the WAT family of lights on my Mooney.  [mention=13533]OSUAV8TER[/mention] I spoke with WAT at Osh this year and certainly would think that if they could put out a Version 2.0 that had the LEDs more outboard that would be a great move!  (I didn't get the impression from WAT this was a priority )

I agree on the limited product development testing/prototyping resulting in a less than ideal design. But as for ever seeing a versions 2 don’t forget how many years it took ver 1 to come on the market. It must be well over a decade! the hidden leds should be an embarrassment to Whelen but i think it’s still mostly effective as is. As you say, still a big Win.


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[donkaye]

16 hours ago, Marc_B said:

...although I'm kinda disappointed in Whelen that when they made a Mooney specific light they didn't research to see where the glare fence sits and make sure all of the LEDs were outside of this.  I've yet to see a WAT Mooney Recog light that didn't have the inboard 2 LEDs blocked by the wing.  Although no melted wingtip lens so it's STILL a welcomed addition to the WAT family of lights on my Mooney.  @OSUAV8TER I spoke with WAT at Osh this year and certainly would think that if they could put out a Version 2.0 that had the LEDs more outboard that would be a great move!  (I didn't get the impression from WAT this was a priority )

At least on the Bravo the glare fence is effective in preventing light from getting through to the pilot.  In fact there is a small space where the fence connects to the wing where a sliver of light gets through and I can confirm that the light is working.  It definitely doesn't interfere with my flying.  Melting of the wing tip plastic is gone with this LED addition, installation is under an hour for both lights, and the cost is reasonable.  I highly recommend them.

Edit: Yes, the inboard 2 lights are hidden by the wing, but the other 4 are still brighter than the old single light that would melt the plastic if left on by mistake.

[RoundTwo]

14 minutes ago, donkaye said:

This is surprising.  At least on the Bravo the glare fence is effective in preventing light from getting through to the pilot.  In fact there is a small space where the fence connects to the wing where a sliver of light gets through and I can confirm that the light is working.  It definitely doesn't interfere with my flying.  Melting of the wing tip plastic is gone with this LED addition, installation is under an hour for both lights, and the cost is reasonable.  I highly recommend them.

I agree with @Marc_B’s conclusion that a bit more development would yield approximately 33% more functional lighting by moving the light outboard and uncovering the 2 inboard LEDs. Oh well, still better than melted lenses.

 

[Pinecone]

On 9/24/2024 at 9:18 PM, Marc_B said:

I've heard from @Pinecone that the Whelen pulser is similar but a little cheaper (but still 3x the price of MaxPulse)...Terry, do you have the same lights wig wag'd as Don?

 

I have the cowl mounted landing and taxi lights.  So I am set up for both wingtip recog lights being on at the same time, alternating with the cowl mounted landing light.

Again, what I like about the PulseLight and the Whelen, is that turning the landing light switch ON makes the landing light stop pulsing and be ON.

[shawnd]

As part of my avionics install work, I had the local shop install the LED recognition lights that @OSUAV8TER helped bring to life. They look great! Haven’t turned it on yet but sure glad that I won’t have to worry about holes in the new lens installed a couple annuals ago!

 

Also, thanks to Regal Air at KPAE for paying attention to details when installing these (and the rest of the work they are doing).

[OSUAV8TER]

3 minutes ago, shawnd said:

As part of my avionics install work, I had the local shop install the LED recognition lights that @OSUAV8TER helped bring to life. They look great! Haven’t turned it on yet but sure glad that I won’t have to worry about holes in the new lens installed a couple teammates ago!

 

Also, thanks to Regal Air at KPAE for paying attention to details when installing these (and the rest of the work they are doing).

Looks really nice, thank you for sharing!

[M20Time]

Back in 2018 I bought a 86J that was equipped with these recognition lights. I had worked with a designer/engineer for Whelen in hopes to design a replacement LED light for this same task. I went as far as fabricating a wingtip model that could have the exact placement and size in designing a replacement LED light at there request. After a year of working with the designer on the project, it was decided there was not enough market for the cost of manufacturing and approval of the product. I wish you better luck than I had, but after communicating with him again a few years back, the outcome was still the same. I would be happy to help if I can. The main thing that will persuade them is the number in sales they would be selling. There is not enough Mooneys out there to support these numbers. I don’t know of any other Air Craft that use these lights.

 

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, M20Time said:

Back in 2018 I bought a 86J that was equipped with these recognition lights. I had worked with a designer/engineer for Whelen in hopes to design a replacement LED light for this same task. I went as far as fabricating a wingtip model that could have the exact placement and size in designing a replacement LED light at there request. After a year of working with the designer on the project, it was decided there was not enough market for the cost of manufacturing and approval of the product. I wish you better luck than I had, but after communicating with him again a few years back, the outcome was still the same. I would be happy to help if I can. The main thing that will persuade them is the number in sales they would be selling. There is not enough Mooneys out there to support these numbers. I don’t know of any other Air Craft that use these lights.

 

Step over into 2024. The lights were approved a couple of years ago and hundreds of them have been sold:

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

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

[Pinecone]

But it took @OSUAV8TER to commit to ordering a substantial number to make it happen.