C-172 landing light switch

JFLEISC wrote:
My '61 Cessna landing light switch has two positions; First notch is the taxi
light, and the last notch turns on the landing light but leaves on the taxi
light. Does anyone know of a legal replacement switch that separates the two
lights? (taxi light goes off on the last notch). The reason I ask is that it
still has the generator and at engine idle the generator circuit breaker often
pops due to the high load and low output. A separating switch would presumably
cut the load way down.

Ummm. I don't know, but isn't the circuit breaker sensitive to the amount of
current from the generator? If there is "low output" how could the circuit
breaker be opening?

Assuming the generator and circuit-breaker were originally sized to handle the
load of both lights on simultaneously, my guess is that the circuit breaker is
worn out and tripping when it shouldn't, or the lights are imposing a larger
load than designed for (wrong bulb?).

Dave
Remove SHIRT to reply directly.

my guess is that the circuit breaker is
worn out and tripping when it shouldn't,

The circuit breakers are new (originally a '61 C-172 has fuses). Remember that
it is the generator breaker, not the bulb breaker that is tripping. Also, it
never trips when the idle speed is kept up (of course this wears out the
brakes).

Jim