Ernest Christley wrote:

Scott Gettings wrote:
This site was noticed during my original research. $120 per position
light is not very reasonable in my opinion, when you can get a certified
light for not that much more.
On the other hand you can buy a pair of 1-watt red Luxeons for about $20,
and a single, 3-watt green one for about $15. Their 140-degree
"lambertian" pattern is easily wide enough for nav lights, especially if
you use two of them 90 degrees apart. Most other LEDs have very narrow
visibility geometry and have far less light output. Many trying to use
them have given up.

For strobes, surely you can solder together numerous white LEDs in a
360-degree or other geometry. If a "high-powered" LED produces 4
candlepower (4,000 mcd), you'll still need over 100 of them! Or you can
use a few, newer Luxeon LEDs that are still relatively inexpensive. I
calculated you'll spend about $75 for Luxeons that produce over 400 cp
and only have to assemble a small number of LEDs.

I have no financial interest in Luxeon or any other LED product. My
comments were solely to let builders know there is another viable option
and give them another possibility to save money by building it
themselves.

I'll have to agree with you on the advantage of the Luxeon for strobes.

However, for postition lights, the red and green have to span 110
degrees, and the white taillight has to span 140 degrees. Each one's
light output is to taper in the vertical direction. The individual
LED's are much easier to arrange and aim properly, and 10 or so aren't
that difficult to solder together. My airframe is steel tube, so I
already have a rather large heat sink 8*).

--
http://www.ernest.isa-geek.org/
"Ignorance is mankinds normal state,
alleviated by information and experience."
Veeduber

Go for it. Remember that the Lambertian pattern Luxeons have a 140-degree
pattern.

Scott