Landing Lights at NAPA

Jay,

Perhaps they're trying to tell you something. Have you checked that the
voltage regulator is not spiking significantly over 14V? Just a thought.

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:eiX5f.451061$_o.173822@attbi_s71...
In discussing our relatively new Skycraft landing lights (the
cut-into-the-leading-edge-of-the-wings type) here the other day, I noted
that I had just burned out a GE 4509 after around 35 hours. This
surprised me, since, being out in the wing, I expected there to be less
filament-killing vibration, and had hoped for a longer life from the
conventional bulb.

So, after it burned out, I ordered a Q4509 -- the quartz-halogen
equivalent, with a proven much longer life -- from Spruce, which arrived
today.

Imagine my surprise when I get to the hangar, turn the lights on (because,
of course, I can't remember which light is burned out) -- and NEITHER wing
landing light works. At first I suspected a blown circuit breaker, but,
no, the OTHER 4509 had also blown, within 30 minutes of its mate.

I'll say this about them: They may be junk bulbs, but at least they are
*consistent* junk bulbs.

:-)

So, not wanting to wait another week for Spruce, I headed over to my FBO,
who (of course) only had 4509s in stock, for some OUTRAGEOUS price. I
declined, figuring if I'm going to pay thirty bucks for a stupid light
bulb, I wanted it to be the long-life quartz one.

Then, I think, hey -- didn't I remember you guys talking about "tractor
bulb equivalents" and the like? So, I pointed the Grape toward my local
NAPA auto parts store, burnt-out bulb in hand, and simply handed it to the
guy behind the counter and asked for a direct replacement.

To my delight, he instantly produced a NAPA equivalent bulb, made by
Wagner, same number (4509) and everything. Best of all, it costs a whole
$13.49.

Unfortunately, they don't make a quartz equivalent, so I suspect I'll be
replacing this bulb in another couple of months -- but it's just nice to
have a cheap, locally available alternative. Heck, the box even SAYS
"aircraft light" on it -- so it's probably even legal!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Perhaps they're trying to tell you something. Have you checked that the
voltage regulator is not spiking significantly over 14V? Just a thought.

Thanks, Bob, but I think the only thing those bulbs were trying to tell
me was "We're junk!"

It's stunning (to me, anyway) that GE continues to successfully market
a landing light bulb with a 25 hour design-life. (The 4509)

I'll bet they laugh every time they sell one.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

It's stunning (to me, anyway) that GE continues to successfully market
a landing light bulb with a 25 hour design-life. (The 4509)

Ok, smarty-pants -- *YOU* try to design a bulb that size that puts out that much
light.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

It's stunning (to me, anyway) that GE continues to successfully market
a landing light bulb with a 25 hour design-life. (The 4509)

Ok, smarty-pants -- *YOU* try to design a bulb that size that puts out that much
light.

Why re-invent the wheel? GE already has it, with the Q4509.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

Why re-invent the wheel? GE already has it, with the Q4509.

And has been discussed already, that's an inferior bulb for some applications.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

Expensive landing light bulbs from the FBO are expensive because he
has to pay way more for that bulb. In Canada, and I imagine it's the
same in the U.S., all aircraft parts have to be traceable all the way
back to the manufacturer, and the standards the manufacturer has to
meet are a bit tougher than the auto manufacturer's standards. So while
it's the same bulb, the manufacturer has to test one in ten instead of
one in a hundred (or some similar difference), and has to provide
certification paperwork for every bulb destined for aviation use. All
that extra time adds up. Add to that the liability factor: a dead
landing light on a 4X4 isn't quite the inconvenience or safety risk
that it is on a Navajo.
The Canadian aviation regulators have been considering "Commercial
Equivalent" legislation for some time now. They recognize that the
prices we pay are exorbitant, for little good reason, and are trying to
see if safety could be maintained while letting us use bulbs or
alternator belts or wheel bearings from NAPA or whoever. Their biggest
concern is the cheap knock-off from China that sometimes finds its way
into packaging that looks just like GE's or Timken's.

Dan