My 182 only has nav lights on the wing tips.

I’d like to install nav/strobes.

Can’t decide what to get.

AeroLED Pulsar NSP
Whelen Orion 650
Aveo Ultra Galactica

Any first-hand experience with these or other options?

Thanks!


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One option if you don't yet have ADSB out is the Uavionics wingtip ADSB out which includes a strobe. They are going to offer a right hand light and strobe also.

I installed the AeroLed Pulsar NSP's and have been really satisfied with them. I bought them at Reeve's when they were on sale. I believe they still have a few sets at the reduced price.

The Orion 650s are very nice as well. Used a couple sets now.

+1 for AeroLEDs. I'm about to put them on my Pacer as soon as I can figure out new wingtips.

I am putting NSP's on my 182, in fact expect to power them up for the first time this afternoon. If they're as bright as the AeroLED Suntail I wired up a couple weeks ago, it's going to be like staring into the, well, sun.

One thing I've heard from several people is that LED's introduce a lot more noise and interference, especially to sensitive instruments like the Garmin GMU11. I'm trying to combat this by running dedicated grounds for everything instead of using the airframe, and using shielded wire with the braid also terminated at the ground block. AeroLED tells you to use the shield itself for ground, but then it stops becoming a shield so I opted to run an extra conductor within. This also means heavier gauge wire than they prescribe since the total wire loop becomes out and back, instead of just out as you'd do with airframe ground. Just something to consider in your project. My bird goes in for GMU install in a few days, so I will have some results soon on whether these extra measures had any benefit at all.

colopilot wrote:One thing I've heard from several people is that LED's introduce a lot more noise and interference, especially to sensitive instruments like the Garmin GMU11. I'm trying to combat this by running dedicated grounds for everything instead of using the airframe, and using shielded wire with the braid also terminated at the ground block.

I just replaced my incandescent position lights with LEDs and have noticed the extra noise in my radio. I like the new LED brightness so I’m probably going to run shielded wiring to the position lights so I can keep them.

I was told to ground the shield to the airframe at the light, though. And to run the ground itself back to my common ground point.

I’ve got to run wiring anyway, so I might as well run shielded no matter what brand I get.

The Whelen seem to be the most prominent/reliable, but I like the flash pattern of the Aveo Galactica and Pulsars. I heard from one retailer that the Pulsars have or had a problem with moisture.

Decisions, decisions...


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a3holerman wrote:One option if you don't yet have ADSB out is the Uavionics wingtip ADSB out which includes a strobe. They are going to offer a right hand light and strobe also.

I considered that, but it’s time to replace my Jurassic Narco transponder so I’ve got a Garmin GTX 335 on order.


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Zzz wrote:+1 for AeroLEDs. I'm about to put them on my Pacer as soon as I can figure out new wingtips.

Hendricks / Sullivan or Svenns.... we will have to do a spar splice but I probably have enough material around here to make that happen...[emoji2][emoji106]

Also... seems that the uAvionix wing tip ADSB might be making headset noise too... going to be tracking that down on one I recently installed on a 172...

Brian


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I've had great results with the whelen 650s. Very bright and easy to install.

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The epoxy bedding on our Aveo’s installed on a a Beech began to yellow over 24 months, which diminished the brightness. The airplane was hangared. Aveo would not own up to the issue, stating that it must have been overly exposed to sunlight. Yes, about 250 hours worth of sunlight!

Might want to do some research to see if they changed their compound. If not, I’d look elsewhere.

AK737Pilot wrote:My 182 only has nav lights on the wing tips.

I’d like to install nav/strobes.

Can’t decide what to get.

AeroLED Pulsar NSP
Whelen Orion 650
Aveo Ultra Galactica

Any first-hand experience with these or other options?

Thanks!


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I've installed Whelens and AeroLEDs... Many many more AeroLEDs as they are far and beyond the best light out there. For NSPs, I install 20/3 shielded wire. Indeed use the shield for the ground and do NOT ground the unit out at the wingtip. THis gives you 1 Strobe, 1 Nav, 1 sync, and a ground. Zero noise issues.

Bigrenna wrote:I've installed Whelens and AeroLEDs... Many many more AeroLEDs as they are far and beyond the best light out there. For NSPs, I install 20/3 shielded wire. Indeed use the shield for the ground and do NOT ground the unit out at the wingtip. THis gives you 1 Strobe, 1 Nav, 1 sync, and a ground. Zero noise issues.

Do you normally sync them Greg? I've always had an easier time seeing a plane when the strobes flash alternately. Maybe that's just me, but it catches my eye easier.

A1Skinner wrote:Do you normally sync them?

Absolutely. I have been doing NSPs on the wings, a suntail in the back, and a sunbeacon up top (red). They all fire at once. The gen 1 sunbeacon went 180 degrees out, but the new gen 2 fires in sync. Thats the only thing I dont like... but no biggie.

What is the strobe pattern on the NSP? Am I correct in seeing the Whelen Orion as a simple on-off sequence?

It’s interesting that the new Boeings with LED lighting are going to an on-off sequence. Do the LEDs not do as well when “strobed?”


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AK737Pilot wrote:What is the strobe pattern on the NSP? Am I correct in seeing the Whelen Orion as a simple on-off sequence?

It’s interesting that the new Boeings with LED lighting are going to an on-off sequence. Do the LEDs not do as well when “strobed?”


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You are correct that the Orions are a simple on off. Against the blue sky I find them easier to see. The strobes flash so fast that they catch your eye, but it takes a few flashes for my eyes to home in on them. With the longer on time of the LED my eyes can home in on the quicker.

I had a set of Whelen Orion 650's installed non synchronized a month ago on my Maule M-4. Happy with the results and zero noise.

I had Aeroflash strobes installed almost 15 years ago on my P172D. They're the same brand that Cessna installed for many years, and they piggyback onto the back of the standard Cessna navigation lights.

Early on, within just a couple of months, I had one of the flashtubes fail, but Aeroflash replaced it as soon as I contacted them. I've had no other issues since then. They use separate power supplies, so they flash independently, neither together nor opposite one another. I have no way of measuring their brightness, but they're plenty noticeable. They do not rapid burst flash like Whelens.

Biggest benefit: at the time, they were the lowest price strobes on the market. Whether that's still true, I don't know.

Cary

AF does make a double-flash powerpack.