HID Lighting Questions

Some questions on HID lighting. I have a 1974 PA28-151 and would like
to replace my landing light (cowl mounted) with an HID light. I know
about the boom beams, but I also see that Precise Flight makes HID
lighting also, and it's about half the price of LoPresti's.

I looked at Precise Flight's installation manual and noticed that it
was written by Knots2U. In addition, it states that the lighting is
for wing mounting only and for Piper models PA24/30/39 aircraft.

My question is... a PAR36 bulb is a bulb is a bulb, isn't it? Aside
from perhaps the legality of the FAA approving this STC for one
specific location, wouldn't this bulb and installation kit work just
as well for a cowl-mounted light? The specifications for this bulb are
exactly the same specs as for all of the other HID bulbs, i.e. 500,000
CP, 35 watts, 12 volts, 2.5 Amps, PAR36, etc.

Steve
KDMW

On Jun 27, 7:40 pm, Steve - KDMW <stevenspi...@netzero.net> wrote:
> Some questions on HID lighting. I have a 1974 PA28-151 and would like
> to replace my landing light (cowl mounted) with an HID light. I know
> about the boom beams, but I also see that Precise Flight makes HID
> lighting also, and it's about half the price of LoPresti's.
>
The HIDs are quite a bit deeper. And you need a place to mount the
power supply.

Around here, a local shop is installing them with a field approval. A
sample
337 that has been approved would help you.

I seem to be a corner case.... I installed one in my Bonanza and I've
had
trouble with the vibration killing the bulb. No one can figure it
out.

FWIW. Bill Hale Loveland CO


> I looked at Precise Flight's installation manual and noticed that it
> was written by Knots2U. In addition, it states that the lighting is
> for wing mounting only and for Piper models PA24/30/39 aircraft.
>
> My question is... a PAR36 bulb is a bulb is a bulb, isn't it? Aside
> from perhaps the legality of the FAA approving this STC for one
> specific location, wouldn't this bulb and installation kit work just
> as well for a cowl-mounted light? The specifications for this bulb are
> exactly the same specs as for all of the other HID bulbs, i.e. 500,000
> CP, 35 watts, 12 volts, 2.5 Amps, PAR36, etc.
>
> Steve
> KDMW

I installed HID lights in the wings of my Baron- they work great, use a lot
less current, and put out a lot more light. However, you do need some space
for the power supply, and the bulb itself is deeper than a standard
incandescent.

I wanted to put one on the nose gear taxi light, but because of space
concerns and the need to mount the power supply in the wheel well, where it
might interfere with gear retraction, stuck with the standard taxi light.

You will also need a field approval. We got ours approved prior to
installation, which then took around three hours a side. I got mine from
Xevision, since they make a 50W setup, which puts out more light, and was
also a bit cheaper.

Aviation Consumer had a great review of the various systems fairly recently.

On Jun 28, 12:02 pm, "bill_h...@verigy.com" <33bona...@**********>
wrote:
> On Jun 27, 7:40 pm, Steve - KDMW <stevenspi...@netzero.net> wrote:> Some questions on HID lighting. I have a 1974 PA28-151 and would like
> > to replace my landing light (cowl mounted) with an HID light. I know
> > about the boom beams, but I also see that Precise Flight makes HID
> > lighting also, and it's about half the price of LoPresti's.
>
> The HIDs are quite a bit deeper.  And you need a place to mount the
> power supply.
>
> Around here, a local shop is installing them with a field approval.  A
> sample
> 337 that has been approved would help you.
>
> I seem to be a corner case.... I installed one in my Bonanza and I've
> had
> trouble with the vibration killing the  bulb.  No one can figure it
> out.
>
> FWIW.  Bill Hale Loveland CO
>
>
>
> > I looked at Precise Flight's installation manual and noticed that it
> > was written by Knots2U. In addition, it states that the lighting is
> > for wing mounting only and for Piper models PA24/30/39 aircraft.
>
> > My question is... a PAR36 bulb is a bulb is a bulb, isn't it? Aside
> > from perhaps the legality of the FAA approving this STC for one
> > specific location, wouldn't this bulb and installation kit work just
> > as well for a cowl-mounted light? The specifications for this bulb are
> > exactly the same specs as for all of the other HID bulbs, i.e. 500,000
> > CP, 35 watts, 12 volts, 2.5 Amps, PAR36, etc.
>
> > Steve
> > KDMW- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

A field approval sounds like a good option. I don't think space is an
issue for me, I have a good 8-10 inches clearance behind the bulb.
Mounting the power supply to my firewall should be easy... that's how
the boom beam would be done if I bought that (for $1100 versus the
Precise Flight at $550).

Steve
KDMW

On Jun 27, 6:40 pm, Steve - KDMW <stevenspi...@netzero.net> wrote:
> Some questions on HID lighting. I have a 1974 PA28-151 and would like
> to replace my landing light (cowl mounted) with an HID light. I know
> about the boom beams, but I also see that Precise Flight makes HID
> lighting also, and it's about half the price of LoPresti's.
>
> I looked at Precise Flight's installation manual and noticed that it
> was written by Knots2U. In addition, it states that the lighting is
> for wing mounting only and for Piper models PA24/30/39 aircraft.

A bunch of us bought them around here. The shops started installing
them until they realized the FSDO said there was no way they would
ever approve them. I know some FSDOs have been totally happy with them
but our FSDO doesn't want anything to do with them. Either call your
FSDO or have your IA call before you get into the job.

-robert

You also need a place to mount the separate power supply, which is connected
via a cable to the bulb. It can be a distance away, like on the firewall,
although you need to watch out for the generation of electrical noise in
your radios/nav gear when doing so.

I paid around $550 each from Xevision, for their brighter 50W bulbs.