Panel lighting

[Corky Scott]

One of the things I still have to do is install instruments in my
instrument panel. Well another thing is actually get the instruments
too. ;-)

I guess panel lighting isn't the most critical issue I'm dealing with
but I'd like to hear about options. There seem so many choices now
for lighting, what with fiber optics, LED's and luminescent lighting.

One of the options I saw was somehow using clear plastic around each
guage to light it. The actual light bulbs were elsewhere and and
light passed through the plexiglass to shine down on the instrument.

This might end up being too complicated and too heavy but I thought
I'd ask if anyone had done this.

Most of the instruments should come with their own lighting so perhaps
this is a moot subject, but it's worth talking about.

I made a mental note to explore this subject when flying at night in
the C172 trainer. There were several instruments that did not light
up well, even though it was a new airplane.

I doubt I'll make a habit of flying at night but it is still a good
idea to check out the possibilities.

Thanks, Corky Scott

[Rich S.]

"Corky Scott" > wrote in message
...
>
> One of the options I saw was somehow using clear plastic around each
> guage to light it. The actual light bulbs were elsewhere and and
> light passed through the plexiglass to shine down on the instrument.

Most aircraft instruments do not come with their own lighting. Most are
intended to be mounted in an aluminum sheet panel with no acrylic between
the bezel and the panel. Having fought this battle, I would either buy post
lighting and be done with it or make my own LED post lighting.

Some points to consider:
1. If acrylic is used between the instruments and the panel, there will be a
parallax "shadow" around the near edge of those instrument not directly in
front of your eyes.
2. Edge lighting does nothing to illuminate switches or anything except
instruments. You will still need "flood" lights.
3. Google up "LED lighting". You will find a jillion lights which can be
mounted on the cockpit sides or glare shield to light up your panel in any
color you want.

You want to build a plane - not spend hours designing or building
behind-the-panel fiberoptic lighting that only does half the job. :))

Rich S.

[nauga]

Corky Scott wrote...

> I doubt I'll make a habit of flying at night but it is still a good
> idea to check out the possibilities.

I don't plan on doing much night flying but wanted the
capability. After pricing lighted instruments and post lights,
I just put a couple of adjustable cockpit floods on the canopy
rail. I figure those and a good-tasting flashlight will
do in a pinch. The only lighted 'instruments' I have are
the avionics and the compass.

Dave 'flashpop' Hyde

RV-4 in flight test (day VFR only)
EAA Technical Counselor

[Blueskies]

http://www.umainstruments.com/el.htm

--
Dan D.



..
"Corky Scott" > wrote in message ...
> One of the things I still have to do is install instruments in my
> instrument panel. Well another thing is actually get the instruments
> too. ;-)
>
> I guess panel lighting isn't the most critical issue I'm dealing with
> but I'd like to hear about options. There seem so many choices now
> for lighting, what with fiber optics, LED's and luminescent lighting.
>
> One of the options I saw was somehow using clear plastic around each
> guage to light it. The actual light bulbs were elsewhere and and
> light passed through the plexiglass to shine down on the instrument.
>
> This might end up being too complicated and too heavy but I thought
> I'd ask if anyone had done this.
>
> Most of the instruments should come with their own lighting so perhaps
> this is a moot subject, but it's worth talking about.
>
> I made a mental note to explore this subject when flying at night in
> the C172 trainer. There were several instruments that did not light
> up well, even though it was a new airplane.
>
> I doubt I'll make a habit of flying at night but it is still a good
> idea to check out the possibilities.
>
> Thanks, Corky Scott
>
>

[Paul Lee]

I used 12V lamp like LED's, available from Digi-Key Electronics, part
number: 441-1008-ND. Inexpensive and each can illuminate about
half the panel - and long bulb life.
http://www.abri.com/sq2000/control42.jpg

-----------------------------------------------------
Paul Lee, SQ2000 project, http://www.abri.com/sq2000/

(Corky Scott) wrote in message >...
> One of the things I still have to do is install instruments in my
> instrument panel. Well another thing is actually get the instruments
> too. ;-)
>
> I guess panel lighting isn't the most critical issue I'm dealing with
> but I'd like to hear about options. There seem so many choices now
> for lighting, what with fiber optics, LED's and luminescent lighting.
>
> One of the options I saw was somehow using clear plastic around each
> guage to light it. The actual light bulbs were elsewhere and and
> light passed through the plexiglass to shine down on the instrument.
>
> This might end up being too complicated and too heavy but I thought
> I'd ask if anyone had done this.
>
> Most of the instruments should come with their own lighting so perhaps
> this is a moot subject, but it's worth talking about.
>
> I made a mental note to explore this subject when flying at night in
> the C172 trainer. There were several instruments that did not light
> up well, even though it was a new airplane.
>
> I doubt I'll make a habit of flying at night but it is still a good
> idea to check out the possibilities.
>
> Thanks, Corky Scott

[Jay]

Thats a cool setup you have there. And the "bulbs" will outlast your
airframe to boot, go ahead and glass 'em in.

(Paul Lee) wrote in message >...
> I used 12V lamp like LED's, available from Digi-Key Electronics, part
> number: 441-1008-ND. Inexpensive and each can illuminate about
> half the panel - and long bulb life.
> http://www.abri.com/sq2000/control42.jpg
>
> -----------------------------------------------------
> Paul Lee, SQ2000 project, http://www.abri.com/sq2000/
>
> (Corky Scott) wrote in message >...
> > One of the things I still have to do is install instruments in my
> > instrument panel. Well another thing is actually get the instruments
> > too. ;-)
> >
> > I guess panel lighting isn't the most critical issue I'm dealing with
> > but I'd like to hear about options. There seem so many choices now
> > for lighting, what with fiber optics, LED's and luminescent lighting.
> >
> > One of the options I saw was somehow using clear plastic around each
> > guage to light it. The actual light bulbs were elsewhere and and
> > light passed through the plexiglass to shine down on the instrument.
> >
> > This might end up being too complicated and too heavy but I thought
> > I'd ask if anyone had done this.
> >
> > Most of the instruments should come with their own lighting so perhaps
> > this is a moot subject, but it's worth talking about.
> >
> > I made a mental note to explore this subject when flying at night in
> > the C172 trainer. There were several instruments that did not light
> > up well, even though it was a new airplane.
> >
> > I doubt I'll make a habit of flying at night but it is still a good
> > idea to check out the possibilities.
> >
> > Thanks, Corky Scott