Strobe lights

[Chadth]

Hey everyone,

Looking for some thoughts on best Strobe lights to put on the taylorcraft wings. Have a '46 BC-12-D.

Lightweight, cost effective, good quality, low power (LED), are all concerns.

Chad

[astjp2]

Re: Strobe lights

Do you have an engine driven electrical system? if not, waste of time and money.

[Chadth]

Re: Strobe lights

Yes I do

[astjp2]

Re: Strobe lights

Ok, strobes need to meet a TSO for the flash. I recommend that you get the Atlee tail strobe mount and figure out how to afix it to your rudder. http://www.fadodge.com/strobe-light-mounting-bracket/ Aeroflash has one that may fit your needs without breaking the bank. Whelan is uber expensive, good quality but not affordable. Also get one that has a built in power supply, separate power supplies create a lot of noise if not done properly.

Nav lights you can put on ones that you can get LED position lights but they need to meet the spec also. Then you weld the mount bracket on your wing tip bows, and the little bracket on the back of the rudder. I would look at spruce, wicks and other catalogs to see what you like and then post them on here to find out if they would work.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Strobe lights

How about something like this on the wingtips? http://aeroleds.com/shop/pulsar-nsp-2/?val=aeroleds

[skip]

Re: Strobe lights

One thing to consider is the wiring in the wing. The standard BC12-D had a single power wire running out through the ribs to the tip light. The idea was that a battery under the seat could allow night operations. With the C-85 STC, the tip lights are part of the new electric system, but they still use the existing wiring. The power wire is OK, but the ground runs back through the tip bow (steel) to the leading edge aluminium screwed to the tip bow, to the inner leading edge aluminium screwed to the outer and so on. Lots of places to have a poor ground plane.

When I rebuilt the wings on my BC12D/BC12-D-4-85 a few years ago I used both a power and ground wire out to the tip lights, and then added the coax for a Whelen Strobe kit I happened to have. The Whelen STC covers the Taylorcraft helping keep the paperwork all FAA-proper. The whole thing added a couple of pounds to the rebuild, but I get continuous comments on how much more visible the strobes make the aircraft in flight. I think The strobe kit was one of the best additions I have made to the plane (that and the shoulder harness of course).

The LEDs are probably a better choice these days, but do consider the grounding for the install. It should not be that much trouble to use the existing power wire to pull a power/ground pair out to the tip without needing to open up the wing.

[skip]

Re: Strobe lights

Ok, strobes need to meet a TSO for the flash...

Tim's comments are on target. The position lights and strobes must meet TSO and other requirements from the FARs, but its not that difficult.

When I read the STC for my Whelen strobes, they specify the coverage requirements for Part 23 aircraft and a long list of eligible aircraft models (Taylorcraft not included naturally). Then under "Aircraft not specifically mentioned on the eligibility list" it says:

Note: Aircraft whose application for type certification was made before April 1, 1957, may, but need not, comply with the field of coverage requirements of FAR 23(27).1401(b).

As our birds are CAR3A planes rather than FAR23 planes, the coverage requirements need not apply to us so we get a bit of freedom to add to the safety of our aircraft without all the special requirements of newer airplanes. In any case, the 2-wingtip strobe installation does meet the converge-by-1200-feet requirement so they could pass anyway we just don't need to do the tests.

There are also flash intensity specs that off-brand position LEDs will have to meet, but any PMA/TSO'd light should meet those in any case. FAR 23.1401 specifies 400 effective candles for aircraft certified after August 11, 1971. All other aircraft (e.g. our Tcrafts) require only 100 candles which is really pretty dim. If your new LEDs can't meet those requirements, you should probably take them back to the free-gift desk at Harbour Freight from whence they probably came and get something designed for aircraft.

Finally, The comment about external power supplies is appropriate. My Whelen installation has a power box in the baggage wall area. I was very careful to properly ground the shield on the coax out to the lights and I have had no noise interference problems with the radios, but it is a tricky area. Not impossible, but pay attention to the grounding and separation requirements.

OK, I'm an amateur not an IA. Check with yours for the real scoop, but remember to read the fine print for our properly aged planes.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Strobe lights

He is in Canada!

[astjp2]

Re: Strobe lights

The bi-lateral agreement between the FAA and CAA should mean that the TSO for the Yanks mustshould be the same and equal to the Canuck requirements....

[3Dreaming]

Re: Strobe lights

The bi-lateral agreement between the FAA and CAA should mean that the TSO for the Yanks mustshould be the same and equal to the Canuck requirements....

Depending on how the aircraft is registered they seem to have more latitude in making modifications that we do here in the USA.