Landing Lights at NAPA

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"

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"

Did you notice that the NAPA bulb didn't have the tit on the back that
the aviation bulb of the same number had? The tit fits into a notch
in the sheet metal that the bulb goes into and aligns the filament in
a certain orientation.

When I put a NAPA bulb into our 235, our mechanic worried aloud that
if we had a crash and the crash investigators found the titless bulb,
there'd be trouble. (And of course, the landing-light assembly would
inevitably survive the crash,thanks to Murphy.)

Comments invited.

Don

Anybody old enough to fly a plane already knows tits are expensive.

"Don Tuite" wrote in message
...
Did you notice that the NAPA bulb didn't have the tit on the back that
the aviation bulb of the same number had? The tit fits into a notch
in the sheet metal that the bulb goes into and aligns the filament in
a certain orientation.

When I put a NAPA bulb into our 235, our mechanic worried aloud that
if we had a crash and the crash investigators found the titless bulb,
there'd be trouble. (And of course, the landing-light assembly would
inevitably survive the crash,thanks to Murphy.)

Comments invited.

Don

"DT" == Don Tuite writes:

DT When I put a NAPA bulb into our 235, our mechanic worried
DT aloud that if we had a crash and the crash investigators found
DT the titless bulb, there'd be trouble.

Damn...only geeks could worry about a titless *bulb*.

"Don Tuite" wrote in message
...
Did you notice that the NAPA bulb didn't have the tit on the back that
the aviation bulb of the same number had? The tit fits into a notch
in the sheet metal that the bulb goes into and aligns the filament in
a certain orientation.

When I put a NAPA bulb into our 235, our mechanic worried aloud that
if we had a crash and the crash investigators found the titless bulb,
there'd be trouble. (And of course, the landing-light assembly would
inevitably survive the crash,thanks to Murphy.)

Comments invited.

Don

The Wagner 4509 aircraft lamps from Farm and Fleet are anatomically correct
and the last time I bought some they were well under $10.00 each. .

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.


I'd buy a dozen, jack up the price, sell them to your FBO, and tell them
they are getting a hell of a deal! It would serve them right.
Jim

"Don Tuite" wrote in message
...
Did you notice that the NAPA bulb didn't have the tit on the back that
the aviation bulb of the same number had? The tit fits into a notch
in the sheet metal that the bulb goes into and aligns the filament in
a certain orientation.

When I put a NAPA bulb into our 235, our mechanic worried aloud that
if we had a crash and the crash investigators found the titless bulb,
there'd be trouble. (And of course, the landing-light assembly would
inevitably survive the crash,thanks to Murphy.)

Just make sure that if you crash that you destroy the titless bulbs. ;-)

-Greg B.

"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"

Yah, I like everything I own to have tits.