m20k Landing Light question

[ChrisH]

On a flight today, landing light rocker switch switched itself off, after playing with it in flight, noticed that when I turned it on got good oscillation on the ammeter, before it would turn itself off. On the ground, looks like landing light is not illuminating anymore. 

 

Simple bulb outtage? Or should I look for more?

 

Chris, N1163D M20k (82 231)

[N201MKTurbo]

Switch is a circuit breaker. Either the circuit breaker is old and weak or you have a short in the light circuit.

[The-sky-captain]

I had the same problem a couple years ago due to my landing light wiring touching the exhaust pipe, melting and causing the short. Maxwell re-routed the wire like the newer Mooneys have up the side of the lower cowl i and haven't had the problem since. Once the bottom cowl is off its pretty obvious if the wire is melting.

[carusoam]

+1 on old circuit breaker....

As they age, they carry less load before tripping.

They are a thermal switch, so as the days get hotter, the trip outs get frequenter???

Best regards,

-a-

[dcastor]

Found melted insulation on wiring for my J model as well. No indications it was actually shorting, but would have at some point.

[fantom]

Found melted insulation on wiring for my J model as well. No indications it was actually shorting, but would have at some point.

 

Thank you so much for the follow up resolution.

 

Sometimes folks ask questions here, and repeat them on MAPA, Mooney Talk, AOPA, etc, and we never get the resolution to their issue.    

 

Good form, dcastor

[Marauder]

Thank you so much for the follow up resolution.

 

Sometimes folks ask questions here, and repeat them on MAPA, Mooney Talk, AOPA, etc, and we never get the resolution to their issue.    

 

Good form, dcastor

 

 

He's not the original poster. We're still in the dark (pun intended) on the OP's problem resolution.

[fantom]

 My bad....but the point is still valid.

[ChrisH]

I appreciate the advice, and will respond with update on what I find.