Guys (and gals, let's be PC), my situation is getting worse by the day. In Paris, I did not have my aircraft with me. Here, in Canberra, Australia, I don't even have my workshop! My aircraft and my house contents are not likely to arrive here anytime soon, so, I'm down to making research on accessories (sob!)
Anyway, I have long wanted to find a LED-based solution for my lighting. Why LED? Well, apart from the fact that they drain a fraction of the current that conventional, incandescent bulbs drain, they are also cold, and therefore, do not crack the plastic used for the fairings! Even Whelen is now making LED-based lights (although at awful prices), so it is clearly the future, even in the conservative world of general aviation. The tail light is now a no-brainer. Having bought a LED-based replacement light for a car indicator light (BA-15S type), I have tested it, and I can tell this is plenty bright. It beats a conventional (incandescent) bulb My worry was that being LED-based, I suspected it would be way too directional for the application. Not so. Now, I just have to find the right cover (ideally, a 1 inch diameter dome-shaped diffuser). To see what that kind of bulb looks like: http://www.boatshop.com.au/prod129.htm The position lights gave me more trouble, until I recently discovered that cheap LED-based solutions have arrived in the boat market. I have found one with a stainless steel case (white or black plastic cases are also available) and an acceptable teardrop shape. There is little effort required to adapt them to the KR2: just install a nut to screw them in place! These things are sealed, waterproof, and they cover a wide vertical angle, because they are meant to work when the boat has bank. So, they are nearly perfect for our application. See them at: http://www.boatshop.com.au/prod142.htm While I was at it, I also bought some LED festoon lights, and after testing, I believe I will be able to make a decent instrument panel lighting system out of them. I will simply machine some Nylon holders, in two parts, allowing to pinch the bulb in between the two halves at the desired angle. It should take 4 or 5 to light the entire useful section of the instrument panel. Have a look at: http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_leds_festoon.htm (I will use the flush 6 LED ? last one on the page) Next item on the list will be the landing light. I'm considering installing two 3W 12V LED bulbs (these are direct replacement for 12V dichroic halogen bulbs). This would give me roughly the equivalent of 40W of conventional incandescent light, with only 6W of battery drain. And since the technology is likely to improve fast, I will be able to upgrade in the future. I'm not too sure whether I should go for 20° angle or 50° angle. Any opinions on that? (actually, this is going to give me a solution to upgrade my homebuilt scuba diving torches too, but that's another story - and not KR related). See: http://www.ledshoponline.com/ledlowvoltagebulbs.htm#3w I can't believe how fast the LED technology is coming to life. Two years ago, I could not find any affordable LED based solution. Amazing! Serge Vidal KR2 "Kilimanjaro Cloud" Canberra, Australia " Ce courriel et les documents qui y sont attaches peuvent contenir des informations confidentielles. Si vous n'etes pas le destinataire escompte, merci d'en informer l'expediteur immediatement et de detruire ce courriel ainsi que tous les documents attaches de votre systeme informatique. Toute divulgation, distribution ou copie du present courriel et des documents attaches sans autorisation prealable de son emetteur est interdite." " This e-mail and any attached documents may contain confidential or proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, please advise the sender immediately and delete this e-mail and all attached documents from your computer system. Any unauthorised disclosure, distribution or copying hereof is prohibited."
