Tail strob/nav replacement

[Mike A]

I need to replace the nav/strobe light on my 231. I looked up the Whelen replacement part number on their website and ordered it from Aircraft Spruce. When I got it, I realized the wires are about 3 feet too short. Has anyone replaced their rear nav/strobe? I would like to eventually replace all my strobes and position lights with LED, but right now it does not look like there are that many good options for certified aircraft.

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

I was looking at aveo engineering. Their stuff is tso'd and some mooney owners received FAA approval to install.

[Mike A]

I was looking at aveo engineering. Their stuff is tso'd and some mooney owners received FAA approval to install.

 

I would prefer to not have to get FAA approval for installation until I redo everything, which will be at some point in the future.

[fantom]

I would prefer to not have to get FAA approval for installation until I redo everything, which will be at some point in the future.

 

Sounds like a job for the hanger fairies....

[tony]

yep, I think the hanger fairies would know how to cut the wires from the existing light and put on new connectors so the new LED light would just plug right in.....what do you think Gary?

[Alan Fox]

Just buy the molex connectors and make a jumper , real simple....

[1964-M20E]

TSOed sounds like a simple minor mod to me.

[Mike A]

Thanks for the help everyone.

I went back out to it, cleaned some of the wiring up, did a little dance, and like magic the strobe started to operate again. The nav light is still out, so my next mission prior to working on a replacement assembly is to attempt to replace the bulb.

Has anyone removed the rear nav bulb in a SDI rudder nav/strobe assembly? The SMM states to "Remove lamp (6) with S.D.I. special tool no. 203541 or equivalent" but I cannot find this tool anywhere. My guess is going to be that the bulb pulls straight out and the "special tool" is nothing more than tweezers of some sort.

Also, once I get the bulb out, does anyone know the replacement bulb number?

The assembly is SDI P/N 701557-1M.

[bumper]

AeroLed (Idaho, USA) has TSO's nav and strobes. I have them on my Husky (Aviat offers all AeroLeds exterior lighting as an option on new Huskys).

 

http://www.aeroleds.com/shop/category/faa-certified/

 

bumper

[NotarPilot]

I replaced my nav, strobe and rear position lights with Whelen Orion 600 LED lights. They are TSO'd and I'm very happy wi them. I posted a video of it on YouTube and linked it on a post I did here. Although I got mine field approved I don't believe it's necessary. I believe a logbook entry is appropriate and if you feel the need, a 337 submitted to the FAA letting them know what you did. PM me if you would like to see the 337 I submitted which was actually written by the FAA maintenance inspector I submitted it to and who approved it.

[fantom]

Those Orion 600's are very slick....do they include day recognition lights?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFBU6_bQoZM

[fantom]

yep, I think the hanger fairies would know how to cut the wires from the existing light and put on new connectors so the new LED light would just plug right in.....what do you think Gary?

 

I don't know what your snippy point is

[TWinter]

Not to jump the post, but quick question. My planes in for annual so I don't have access from work. I'm thinking of getting the "Aeroled' landing light w/ pulse. Does the 73-74 M20E have a 36 or 46 landing light? orrrr do I need to drive to the shop and look? Anybody know off hand? Thanks, TW

[N601RX]

It seems to me that changing one TSO'd light for another TSO'd light would fall under AC20-41A.  Substituting TSO'd parts for a similiar TSO'd part.

AC20-41A.pdf

[Mike A]

Can anyone help with the removal of the burnt out tail position lamp?  I tried to get it out and broke the tip off......

[OR75]

Can anyone help with the removal of the burnt out tail position lamp?  I tried to get it out and broke the tip off......

 

??? 

[bumper]

 My guess is going to be that the bulb pulls straight out and the "special tool" is nothing more than tweezers of some sort.

My bet is it's gonna be a screw in or more probably a bayonet base. That's just a WAG though. If the glass envelope is broken and you can see a metal base, try grabbing the edge with a needle nose plier and try to turn it. Better yet, before you try that, hose it  down with some silicone spray in case corrosion is helping to make it tough to remove.

 

bumper

[jwilkins]

Or get the replacement bulb first and KNOW how the base comes out.

[Mike A]

Thanks for the help everyone.

Also, once I get the bulb out, does anyone know the replacement bulb number?

The assembly is SDI P/N 701557-1M.

[Awqward]

I am also struggling to decode the MM for lights.... My plane has aft position lights on the wing tips as well as the rudder....(SN 24-3035)....are these the same bulbs? And are they whelen-h35w28v? The apparent part no. In the MM is 34-0228030-85....I think!

And I am also struggling to find any reference on the web to the SDI Tool No. 203541....

Can anyone help?

AnthonyQ

[fantom]

This NavStrobe LED kit, just approved as a drop in plug replacement, was getting a lot of attention at the AOPA Summit Spruce desk last week.

 

Turns Nav position lights into bright LED recognition/strobe lights, at low cost. What's not to like?

 

http://www.navstrobe...robes,-30w.html

 

Kinda cool, IMO.

[philiplane]

The NavStrobe kit is a great idea but has one major problem.

 

It is not approved for Type Certificated aircraft. So it's currently only for the experimental market.

 

The manufacturer does not possess a PMA to manufacture this product in accordance with a TSO. It's a two step process if your product fulfills the Fit Form and Function tests of a duplicate or improved version of an existing TSO'd product. You design a product as a direct replacement (which this mostly is, but at the same time is not, because it adds a strobe function to the nav lights), then apply to the FAA for a PMA, and if your product is proven to meet the TSO, you get a PMA to produce it. There is no such thing as "making it to the standard" and just selling it. Because this product combines a strobe function, the TSO is not just for the nav lamp. It is also for a strobe light, and there is no TSO that combines the two. It will be complicated under the current rules, which is unfortunate. 

 

They will probably need an STC unless Transport Canada agrees to combine the nav and strobe functions under a single, new TSO, or issues approval for both functions under existing orders. That will include placarding to explain the system function at the nav light switch. 

 

Someday this will be simple and we'll get great products with less hassle. But not today.

 

Bottom line, if you install this on your TC'd plane today, you've rendered it unairworthy due to installation of Unapproved Parts.

[jetdriven]

An interesting thread over on VAF about these lights. One interesting poster says they only radiate 42 candela, which is far short of the 400 effective candela required.

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=43943&highlight=Navstrobe

[chrisk]

I replaced my nav, strobe and rear position lights with Whelen Orion 600 LED lights. They are TSO'd and I'm very happy wi them. I posted a video of it on YouTube and linked it on a post I did here. Although I got mine field approved I don't believe it's necessary. I believe a logbook entry is appropriate and if you feel the need, a 337 submitted to the FAA letting them know what you did. PM me if you would like to see the 337 I submitted which was actually written by the FAA maintenance inspector I submitted it to and who approved it.

 

What is involved involved with the field approval process?   Assume I wanted to replace my current position lamps with the navstrobe lamp.  Is it as simple as flying to where ever the FAA field office is, replacing the bulbs, and then getting them to look at it?   --And if they don't like it, just put the old bulbs back in?

[jetdriven]

You must fill out an FAA Form 337 and check the box for "field approval".  Then you submit that with a detailed proposal outlining how the Navstrobe lights meet or exceed the OEM lamps in brighness, light distribution patterns, MTBF, 12 points of airworthiness, etc.   But as that VAF thread looks, its not viable because LED's dont put out light patterns like incandescent bulbs do, and they likely fall well short of the requirements. The blinking mode is another issue.

 

Many FSDO's flatly refuse to do any field approvals. Some do, but you still have to make a case.

http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/design_approvals/field_approvals/field_approv_proc/

 

 

the first line in that page is that you determine it to be a major alteration. I dont think it is, and you could install them with a log sign off as a minor alteration. But you better have something to stand on if ever asked about them. Usually the manufacturer of the item puts out enough data to make that determination.