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koppk1

Joined: 11 Sep 2008
Posts: 7
Location: Jacksonville, FL

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 9:52 am Post subject: Lights

Fellow RV8 builders -



This is my first post (not sure it will even go through?). I'm complete with Emp/Wings, awaiting my fuselage kit (mid June).  



Looking at lighting options I'm shocked at the cost of postion/strob lights, particularly the LED type.  



Has anyone considered or is currently using automotive LED lighting?  



Any other low cost options out there?



Thanks!



Ken

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Matt Dralle
Site Admin

Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 25203
Location: Livermore CA USA

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject: Lights

At 10:50 AM 5/7/2009  Thursday, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Fellow RV8 builders -



This is my first post (not sure it will even go through?). I'm complete with Emp/Wings, awaiting my fuselage kit (mid June).  



Looking at lighting options I'm shocked at the cost of postion/strob lights, particularly the LED type.  



Has anyone considered or is currently using automotive LED lighting?  



Any other low cost options out there?



Thanks!



Ken




	


Hi Ken and Welcome!



Wait until you start shopping for an engine...  Try on $20-30k for basically what is a VW Bug engine is enough to rankle anyone.  Nothing's cheap in this hobby.  And just because its "aircraft quality" doesn't necessarily mean its good quality or worth the premium cost.  That's being said, most of the components I've been getting on for the RV-8 project in circa 2009 are better overall quality than the stuff I was getting in circa 1989 for the RV-4 project.



More specifically to your question, I think I paid something like $825 for the Whelen 3-strobe setup with integrated incandescent position lights (Van's calls it their "System 6").  Good quality throughout, smaller power supply than the circa 1990s system, and it works as advertised.



Another thing to consider when choosing components is the resale implications.  If you ever go to sell your plane - finished or not - being able to say that you have all the "standard", "aircraft-grade" components will allow you to demand the highest possible price.



I look at it this way.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime, $100k-$150k project that I may never get another chance to do in my life.  Might as well not compromise on any aspects.



My $.02



Matt Dralle

RV-8 #82880

Laying Out Carpet Patterns in CAD...

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Matt Dralle
Matronics Email List Administrator

madman266(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject: Lights

matt , when your finished with your carpet patterns , sell me a set...james 

rv 8  n6830v

N8RV(at)gte.net
Guest

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 3:19 pm Post subject: Lights

Welcome!



Another thing to consider in the realm of strobes/nav lights is the recent 

revelation on VAF that some people have had their wingtip lenses melt from 

the heat of the incandescent nav lights (Whelen).



I haven't even flown yet and mine are already starting to melt, just from 

testing them!  So, before you whip out your Visa card and order the standard 

Whelen strobe/nav light kit, consider the new LED nav lights.  I'll be 

buying them to replace my (brand new) incandescents.



Harrumph.



-- Don McNamara

    N8RV



---

Matt Dralle
Site Admin

Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 25203
Location: Livermore CA USA

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 5:14 pm Post subject: Lights

At 02:29 PM 5/7/2009  Thursday, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



matt , when your finished with your carpet patterns , sell me a set...james rv 8  n6830v 


	


No problem.  We'll see what we can work out.  I'm doing a pretty precise layout, so hopefully the fit will be nearly perfect and more importantly repeatable.



Ask me again in a month or so.



Matt





Matt G Dralle | Matronics | PO Box 347 | Livermore | CA | 94551

925-606-1001 V | 925-606-6281 F | dralle(at)matronics.com Email

http://www.matronics.com/ WWW | Featuring Products For Aircraft

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Matt Dralle
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Matt Dralle
Site Admin

Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 25203
Location: Livermore CA USA

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject: Lights

Oh great, now you tell me!  



I wonder what Van's has to say about the melting issue.  Sounds like they're using the wrong kind of clear plastic to form the lens.



I sure wish that Van's would just go with the older style boss-mount on the tips.  Those seemed like the cat's meow in terms of their ease of installation and maintenance aspects.



Matt Dralle

RV-8 #82880

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Last edited by Matt Dralle on Fri May 08, 2009 7:48 am; edited 1 time in total

robin1(at)mrmoisture.com
Guest

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 5:33 pm Post subject: Lights

Just jumping in on this Nav Light conversation.   

I paid a bundle for my -10 LED nav lights (impregnated on a circuit board).  



For my 8A I was considering some Green/Red LED Nav lights from eBay. There are a million of them available.  

Any reason why these will not work? $4.00, Free Shipping!



[img]cid:image004.jpg(at)01C9CF41.B672CAD0[/img]   

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[img]cid:image007.jpg(at)01C9CF41.B622D610[/img]  

[img]cid:image003.jpg(at)01C9CF41.644FE030[/img]  

   

   

Robin

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Matt Dralle
Site Admin

Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 25203
Location: Livermore CA USA

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 6:09 pm Post subject: Lights

You'll definitely want to consider the actual brightness of these.  I suspect they really aren't that bright when compared to the traditional incandescent lights or even the newer aircraft LED units.



Check the lumens.



Matt



At 06:29 PM 5/7/2009  Thursday, you wrote:

[quote]Just jumping in on this Nav Light conversation. 

I paid a bundle for my -10 LED nav lights (impregnated on a circuit board).



For my 8A I was considering some Green/Red LED Nav lights from eBay. There are a million of them available.

Any reason why these will not work? $4.00, Free Shipping!



 

 

Robin 

 

--

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Matt Dralle
Matronics Email List Administrator

robin1(at)mrmoisture.com
Guest

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject: Lights

They are a heck of a lot brighter that the traditional Nav/Strobe combination like these:  



                                                     <![endif]--><![if !vml]>[img]cid:image001.jpg(at)01C9CF52.6E9ED260[/img]<![endif]>  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Robin  

   

   

   

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N8RV(at)gte.net
Guest

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject: Lights

Sorry, Matt.  Hurts me as much as it does you.  



-- Don

---

koppk1

Joined: 11 Sep 2008
Posts: 7
Location: Jacksonville, FL

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:03 am Post subject: Re: Lights

Thanks Matt but this isn't my first go round. I plans built a BD-4 awhile back (sold it to pay for the RV8). I'm using my brand new Xp-360 from the BD4 for the RV8 so that is covered along with most of the avionics.  Luckily the sale of the BD mostly paid for the cost of the RV8 kit.



As far as lights are concerned I've found several places that produce/sell automotive LED lighting systems for mere fractions of the cost of the aviation brands check this site out : http://www.superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html  and I'd venture the road environment is much harsher than where we normally fly.  



I ordered several different bulbs and will test them out upon arrival.



I'll post my results soonest.  thanks!



ken

Jesse Laub

Joined: 24 Oct 2008
Posts: 5

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 7:15 am Post subject: Lights

I have a Vans "6 Lighting System" for sale.  I'm parting out my RV8A 

project.  It's complete except for the cables and connectors.  My site 

is www.rv8projectparts.net to check them out. $700  I won't be able to 

reply for a few days, but can get back to you early next week.

Jesse



koppk1 wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Thanks Matt but this isn't my first go round. I plans built a BD-4 awhile back (sold it to pay for the RV8). I'm using my brand new Xp-360 from the BD4 for the RV8 so that is covered along with most of the avionics.  Luckily the sale of the BD mostly paid for the cost of the RV8 kit.



 As far as lights are concerned I've found several places that produce/sell automotive LED lighting systems for mere fractions of the cost of the aviation brands check this site out : http://www.superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html  and I'd venture the road environment is much harsher than where we normally fly.  



 I ordered several different bulbs and will test them out upon arrival.



 I'll post my results soonest.  thanks!



 ken





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