Tell me if this is a silly idea or not...
Tell me if this is a silly idea or not...
I was looking through the AS&S online catalog for LED lighting, and I came across this map light.
Now, my idea is not to use it as it's intended, but to use it as a tail position light. It looks to be about the right size to fit in the spot for the tail light.
Here's the page with additional info...
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... plight.php
I'd rig up something inside the tail to keep it inside, and just let the rim protrude.
Think it would work?
Now, my idea is not to use it as it's intended, but to use it as a tail position light. It looks to be about the right size to fit in the spot for the tail light.
Here's the page with additional info...
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... plight.php
I'd rig up something inside the tail to keep it inside, and just let the rim protrude.
Think it would work?
- captain_john
- Sparky
- Posts: 5880
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
- Location: KPYM
Craziest thing I ever heard! Na, just kidding.
I plan on building my own LED version of the lights. Well, actually, I've talked a friend who is an electircal engineer into helping me build them. Looks like about $50 for a bright multiple LED taillight so far.
I plan on building my own LED version of the lights. Well, actually, I've talked a friend who is an electircal engineer into helping me build them. Looks like about $50 for a bright multiple LED taillight so far.
JohnR
RV-7A - Fuselage - SOLD, just not supposed to be
Numbers 6:24 - The LORD bless thee, and keep thee
RV-7A - Fuselage - SOLD, just not supposed to be
Numbers 6:24 - The LORD bless thee, and keep thee
-
- Class E
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:46 pm
- Location: Torquay England
But does it comply with the requirements/specifications for a rear light:
http://www.creativair.com/source/_inst/requirements.pdf
Best regards - John
http://www.creativair.com/source/_inst/requirements.pdf
Best regards - John
-
- Chief Rivet Banger
- Posts: 4013
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 8:40 pm
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Contact:
Dunno Chad, I think its a bit silly. I dont think there will be enough output. What about protecting it from the elements?
- John
- John
http://www.rivetbangers.com - Now integrating web and mail!
Current Build: 2 years into a beautiful little girl
Current Build: 2 years into a beautiful little girl
No go
Chad,
The light in question is also sold by Stein and is not designed to be used in an exterior environment (i.e. NOT weatherproof).
I like the way you think, though.
The light in question is also sold by Stein and is not designed to be used in an exterior environment (i.e. NOT weatherproof).
I like the way you think, though.
Bret Smith
9A Flying (N16BL)
Blue Ridge, GA
http://www.FlightInnovations.com
APRS Tracking: http://www.flightinnovations.com/tracking.html
9A Flying (N16BL)
Blue Ridge, GA
http://www.FlightInnovations.com
APRS Tracking: http://www.flightinnovations.com/tracking.html
- captain_john
- Sparky
- Posts: 5880
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
- Location: KPYM
A bit to far on the other subject there, Johnny boy.
The light requirements were the main concern. LED's are cheap, and can easily be changed out, depending on the actual design of this light. I'll probably just end up with the standard bulb back there, but I still think this COULD be made to work. Protecting it from the elements would be as simple as mounting a dome over it, similar to the standard bulb that would go back there.
The light requirements were the main concern. LED's are cheap, and can easily be changed out, depending on the actual design of this light. I'll probably just end up with the standard bulb back there, but I still think this COULD be made to work. Protecting it from the elements would be as simple as mounting a dome over it, similar to the standard bulb that would go back there.
Chad,
Weatherproofing (and certification issues) aside, I think the light output is the best argument against doing this. I think it would be just as easy to buy some luxeon LEDs and make your own. There are also automotive companies that make LED lightbulb replacements for incandescent bulbs. Here's one: http://www.theledlight.com/dcbulbs.html
There are others out there but that was the first one to pop up on google searching for "led light bulb" I'm definately going with LED tail lights but I'm hoping to find an automotive led bulb. I think you could even buy just the standard aft white light and find an LED bulb to put in place of the incandescent bulb that comes with.
Weatherproofing (and certification issues) aside, I think the light output is the best argument against doing this. I think it would be just as easy to buy some luxeon LEDs and make your own. There are also automotive companies that make LED lightbulb replacements for incandescent bulbs. Here's one: http://www.theledlight.com/dcbulbs.html
There are others out there but that was the first one to pop up on google searching for "led light bulb" I'm definately going with LED tail lights but I'm hoping to find an automotive led bulb. I think you could even buy just the standard aft white light and find an LED bulb to put in place of the incandescent bulb that comes with.
Last edited by svanarts on Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Scott VanArtsdalen
Token Heretic
Nirvana Rodeo / Dudek Universal
S-6ES N612SV - GONE but not forgotten
RV-4 N311SV - SOLD
Token Heretic
Nirvana Rodeo / Dudek Universal
S-6ES N612SV - GONE but not forgotten
RV-4 N311SV - SOLD
- cnpeters
- Class E
- Posts: 185
- Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:04 pm
- Location: Eureka (St. Louis), MO
- Contact:
I've been talking to Chad privately about this, as I am wholeheartedly interested in making a better (?) and MUCH cheaper strobe/nav light system than the Whlelen and other commercial units. Some interesting thoughts and links are in this article (including a link to Luxeonstar.com - they have some new K2 130 candlepower LED's now, which are about 1/3 of a strobe output, so 3 at $8.99 would get you close including a simple flasher circuit):
http://www.eaa724.org/TechnicalStuff%20.html
The electrical work is really trivial.
For the tail position/strobe, one could use the LEDs - the bright ones on flasher, and a lower output one on constant wired separately with a resistor. You can provide a lens/shell to cover it (it should fit on the rudder bottom footprint - each LED is 1.1 cm or less in diameter). Another option I'm debating is to just eliminate the tail strobe light and mount strobes in the most lateral part of the wing tips. This may require some minor fiberglass work, but has anyone seen this on an RV? I would leave the forward recess with lens for the landing light. At least this config would satisfy the requirements of 360 degree coverage from 1200 feet away and 30 degree vertical. Drag/airspeed reduction would be immeasurable.
Carl
http://www.eaa724.org/TechnicalStuff%20.html
The electrical work is really trivial.
For the tail position/strobe, one could use the LEDs - the bright ones on flasher, and a lower output one on constant wired separately with a resistor. You can provide a lens/shell to cover it (it should fit on the rudder bottom footprint - each LED is 1.1 cm or less in diameter). Another option I'm debating is to just eliminate the tail strobe light and mount strobes in the most lateral part of the wing tips. This may require some minor fiberglass work, but has anyone seen this on an RV? I would leave the forward recess with lens for the landing light. At least this config would satisfy the requirements of 360 degree coverage from 1200 feet away and 30 degree vertical. Drag/airspeed reduction would be immeasurable.
Carl
-
- Class C
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 8:37 pm
- Location: Sartell MN
Legal Tail Lights
The LED map light that you want to use does not quailfy as a legal tail light in the United States! My friend builds and sells those lights to Aircraft Spuce and Vans. Go to Bob Collins Rivet Builders Hotline of 12/16/06 where the LED builder Tim Mahoney gave a detailed analysis of FAR requirements for external aircraft lights for the United States. Tim currently is not producing external lights and discussed the requirements for legal tail lights with both the EAA Legal Department and the FISDO office. There are required visibility requirements for wing tip lights and tail lights. In fact there is a legal difenition in the FAR's for U.S. aircraft red and U.S. Aircraft green lights. Knowledgeable DAR's will not sign off on an homebuilt airplanes that do not meet specs for night flying. They can be signed off for day VFR only if the external lights do not pass FAA requirements. I had asked Tim to make up a set of lights for my RV-6A and he said he couldn't make up lights that are legal with the FAA.
- captain_john
- Sparky
- Posts: 5880
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
- Location: KPYM
CreativAir
Hi
Does CreativAir still Exist?
Ed
Does CreativAir still Exist?
Ed