The International Cessna^® 170 Association

(mod note: This topic was split from "L.E.D. Navigation/Strobes/Interior Lights")

n2582d wrote:

4-Shipp wrote:Maybe I missed this somehere: Any chance of an LED option for the landing/taxi light bulbs?

Yes, but the admission price is a bit steep. $495 vs. $10 for a G.E. 4509. http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... eroSun.php On their website AeroLED says the G.E. light costs $100 each. http://www.aeroleds.com/landinglights/s ... atrix.aspx Maybe if they realized the light they want to replace is 1/10th the price they think it is AeroLED might reduce their cost to $49.50.

AeroSun_spot_single.jpg

Here is a new offering http://www.pilotshop.com/alphabeam-led- ... -9598.html
Cost - $5.95
Approval - FAA/PMA
Installation - existing 4509 fixture
Light Quality - ?????

lowNslow wrote:...
Here is a new offering http://www.pilotshop.com/alphabeam-led- ... -9598.html
Cost - $5.95
Approval - FAA/PMA
Installation - existing 4509 fixture
Light Quality - ?????

Hmmm.... this is $325 at Spruce: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... glight.php

jrenwick wrote:

lowNslow wrote:...
Here is a new offering http://www.pilotshop.com/alphabeam-led- ... -9598.html
Cost - $5.95
Approval - FAA/PMA
Installation - existing 4509 fixture
Light Quality - ?????

Hmmm.... this is $325 at Spruce: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... glight.php

Better order it quick before they realize their mistake.

Is this a misprint or a new bulb? Spruce lists these things at $325! But, hey, at $5.75 a pop I've ordered 4 of them! They show up as being on backorder, so we'll see if they really ship!.....

Well, that didn't work! They've updated their price to $325! Oh well, it was worth a shot!

There was a video produced by AvWeb on LED versus incandescent land lights which leads one to believe that LED is the "cats meow" in that objects not directly "in the beam" are also illuminated by LEDs ...objects that do not show up well using incandescents. This is true.

The reason it's true is because LED landing lights do not focus their light, but instead scatter available light. They might do very well as recognition lights or perhaps even taxi lights,.... but they are horrible at illuminating the runway.

I have discussed this conversion with pilots of several different models of aircraft and, at first, they praise the system...but upon closer questioning they universally have acquiesced that LEDs do NOT light up the runway like incandescents do.
I think LEDs have their place, but current technology (pardon the pun) does not make them suitable for landing lights. They lack long-range penetration beams and they are very distracting in haze/mist because they light up/reflect every little drop of mist.

I'm currently considering installing these: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... 105648.php
on our 170B. We now have a top-of-the-fuselage mounted strobe, but those wingtip (and tail) position/strobe lights really show up great. Seems like a good safety move, if not good for originality.
The Whelen product seems to be the right choice... I've researched some previous discussions on this forum, but would welcome any new information or opinions!
Thanks,
Bruce (and Kathy)
N2865C

The LED landing lights seem to be best used as daylight recognition lights. Too many gripes on night or WX operation.

rhymes wrote:I'm currently considering installing these: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... 105648.php
on our 170B. We now have a top-of-the-fuselage mounted strobe, but those wingtip (and tail) position/strobe lights really show up great. Seems like a good safety move, if not good for originality.
The Whelen product seems to be the right choice... I've researched some previous discussions on this forum, but would welcome any new information or opinions!
Thanks,
Bruce (and Kathy)
N2865C

That's a good move, in my opinion, Bruce! It's what I did because the original airplane didn't have a fuselage-mounted strobe either, and might as well have the best if you're gonna have anticollision lighting. At least those units are not obvious/instrusive.
I would suggest that when you install them, you consider sequencing them alternately rather than simultaneously....which made for a cheap-drunk, ....but the alternate flashing was not a problem.

Alright; thanks for that George. I was looking for some confirmation that I wasn't corrupting our (mostly ) original plane with the Whelen wingtip lights. They don't seem too obtrusive... I think we may splurge on the replacement tail light assembly also. It fits the Grimes housing, and provides position as well as tail-strobe functions. We'd welcome any further ideas, as well!
B.R.

I'm planning to install these same nav light/wingtip strobes in a couple of weeks. I decided to go with the LED tail light instead of the strobe, which they don't have in combination with an LED light yet, just to keep all the position lights LED. I'll post how the install goes after we're done.

Well....I SPLIT this post from the original because the original was about "navigation, strobes, and instrument lights....and I deliberately topic-ed THIS post about LANDING LIGHTS...and now here you guys are talking about STROBES.

Beware... Whelan's claims they "fit Grimes" fixtures...because they DIDN'T FIT MY ORIGINAL GRIMES fixtures, and I had to change them out and obtain Whelan combination units. (Don't ask...I don't know why they didn't fit...I just know when my "prebuy/annual" inspector tried to install them during my initial prebuy/annual inspection...he called to inform me he would have to buy the Whelan nav units and remove the original Grimes units because they are NOT actually compatible.)

busav8or: The wingtip strobes ...alone....meet all requirements and are visible from all angles without the tail strobe...and that is what I did not only to save money and avoid having to run another wire to the tail.... but also to not have to go thru any "compatibility issues" Whelan might also have wrong on the tail lite. I'm happy with the results.

"Well....I SPLIT this post from the original because the original was about "navigation, strobes, and instrument lights....and I deliberately topic-ed THIS post about LANDING LIGHTS...and now here you guys are talking about STROBES."
I know, George... dealing with a buncha pilots is like herding cats!

But I may also skip the tail strobe, and just upgrade it to LED...
Keep the good ideas coming, and thanks!
-Bruce R.

gahorn wrote: Beware... Whelan's claims they "fit Grimes" fixtures...because they DIDN'T FIT MY ORIGINAL GRIMES fixtures, and I had to change them out and obtain Whelan combination units. (Don't ask...I don't know why they didn't fit...I just know when my "prebuy/annual" inspector tried to install them during my initial prebuy/annual inspection...he called to inform me he would have to buy the Whelan nav units and remove the original Grimes units because they are NOT actually compatible.)

In 2001 I installed the Whelen 3 position comet flash strobes in my 170. I have grimes position lights and had no problem fitting the Whelen strobes to them. I had to drill one small hole for the wires and remove the connector to pass the wires through the hole. Then reinstall the connector.

N2255D wrote:

gahorn wrote: Beware... Whelan's claims they "fit Grimes" fixtures...because they DIDN'T FIT MY ORIGINAL GRIMES fixtures, and I had to change them out and obtain Whelan combination units. (Don't ask...I don't know why they didn't fit...I just know when my "prebuy/annual" inspector tried to install them during my initial prebuy/annual inspection...he called to inform me he would have to buy the Whelan nav units and remove the original Grimes units because they are NOT actually compatible.)

In 2001 I installed the Whelen 3 position comet flash strobes in my 170. I have grimes position lights and had no problem fitting the Whelen strobes to them. I had to drill one small hole for the wires and remove the connector to pass the wires through the hole. Then reinstall the connector.

I wouldn't be surprised to discover something simple like that was the real issue. You'd have to understand the mentality of my seller. (not a criticism...only a humorous "jab", considering all the "jabs" I'm on the receiving-end of here at the forums, as the result of my "originality" theme.)

For instance, When I made the offer to buy my airplane, the seller, who I'll call "BG" to protect the guilty (having spent 16 or 17 years restoring it to a highly-original state...which itself was a major reason for my interest in this particular example) .. I offered a certain amount of money predicated upon the aircraft passing a fresh annual inspection. BG accepted the offer but was so picky in his workmanship and protective of his baby (something else I liked about him and his airplane) that he wanted to do the annual personally and my inspector supervised his work. Frankly, he did far more disassembly than I expected, perhaps I think in order to show-off his work to my guy.
Well...back to the subject... as for originality... When I made my offer, I also stipulated that Whelan wingtip anti-collision lighting be installed and BG's dedication to originality became evident when he declared "You KNOW that wasn't ORIGINAL...!!!...???"
I said, "Well...Yes...I know that but, ...and I hate to tell you this but plan to actually operate this airplane off a ranch-strip and I do a lot of my flying at night!"
BG gave a pause...then a sigh-of-concession and said, "Well...I guess that's what Cessna made it for..." as he agreed to do the work if I'd pay for the extra parts/labor.
A day or so later he called to describe some technical detail as to why the original Grimes nav light fixtures were unsuitable and asked if I'd authorize him to purchase replacement Whelan units. It may be that he simply hated to drill a hole in original fixtures and preferred someone more committed to originality than myself to have them.
(He more than made up for it when I came to pick up my new baby and he had her loaded down with boxes and boxes of surplus goodies, parts and supplies beyond my imagination. He was one of the most pleasant fellows with which to do business I've ever encountered.)

They might do very well as recognition lights or perhaps even taxi lights,.... but they are horrible at illuminating the runway.





--------------------------
led strip
high density led
Flexible LED Strip Lights