I was thinking about how to get lights on a grass strip that we have that has no electricity. I had a crazy idea of using 12v led lights(led for less draw, much brighter) set up and wired like a trailer, so I could park my pickup and plug in the lights to the trailer harness, and when I came back at dusk or dark, turn on the lights with the autostart on the pickup.

Is this is stupid idea, or is it possible??

Thanks for any replies, good or bad--Lance

There is a wonderful reflector system which can see and return only your landing lights to you in the cockpit. They are about 5 sq ft I think with a flat tank in the base to hold water. I saw them at Osh, S & F or AOPA convention and trade show. I'll look for them in Palm Springs in Nov.
Jeremy

We have Pilot Controlled Lighting at beautiful downtown Spanish Springs Regional Airport. No electricity at the field so it's 12v. Solar panel keeps the battery charged. The radio is listening and whenever the squelch is broken it turns on 2 car headlights which shine down the runway and there are reflectors on both sides of the runway. We tried it with the headlights pointed the other way and it doesn't work. Also there is a wind sock light, but you can't see the sock untill you're almost past it.
Dave

I'd consider using a solar panel. I've seen solar powered runway lights for sale somewhere. With LED's they'd work fine, I'd think.

MTV

Where do you find the switching box for turning the lights on that can be operated with 12 volts? I guess I don't really know what turns the lights on when I key them up. What exactly is the device called? Thanks for the replies.

Solar would be the best, I just wasn't sure how to activate the lights, thats where the autostart thought came from.

Thanks for the replies, Lance

Lance-
Ours is home made. About 5 bucks worth of Radio Shack parts plus a receiver tuned to the right frequency, battery and solar panel.
Dave

I would think that any halfway decent radio guy could put this together for you, if you aren't comfortable with such tasks yourself.

MTV

I have a friend that could put it together, do you just set it on a frequency that isn't used often?

Thanks for the replies--Lance

Yes-N86 multicom is 122.9 lights are 123.95 so the lights turn on only when the squelch is broken on 23.95.
Dave

Hello Forum,
I have installed a 12 volt (indirectly) solar powered pilot controlled lighting system at our residential private strip. Actually running 12 volts to every light is practically impossible. Too much voltage drop with those lengths of wires. You will need to step up the voltage. A cheap inverter is all you need. That's only about a 30 dollar item though. We have employed regular 110/120 volt 10 watt bulbs which are plenty bright enough. The whole system only needs around 200 watts. Of course LED would be better than the incandesent we are using but the prices at the time were not reasonable. The LED bulbs required are available to screw into the existing socket or our light assemblies but very expensive. At the time of lighting install I didn't know much about LED's so I wasn't able to do my own adaptation but I have learned a bit about them and would now make my own simple light assemblies rather than use those light assemblies available from Wag Aero we used at the time. Anyone wanting information about our installation can contact me. I will try to be of help if I can. I would attach some pics but haven't figured out how yet. [/url]

lancef53 wrote:Where do you find the switching box for turning the lights on that can be operated with 12 volts? I guess I don't really know what turns the lights on when I key them up. What exactly is the device called? Thanks for the replies.

Solar would be the best, I just wasn't sure how to activate the lights, thats where the autostart thought came from.

Thanks for the replies, Lance

The device that is used to turn on the lights is commonly called a "radio thing". The technical term is "gizmo".
I'll be glad to answer any other technical questions for you.

ROTFLMAO--zero.one, That is a good one.

I new I liked this site for some reason, I think it is the normal people that are on here--we realize that you can enjoy flying without $50,000 worth of avionics hanging from the panel. You just need a radio thing here, a gizmo there, and your set to go!!!!

ROTFLMAO your own self, Lance-- whazzat mean? I don't know whethr I should thank you or punch ya in the nose!

ROTFLMAO- means its a heck of a lot funnier than LOL
"rolls on the floor laughing my ass off"

Sorry about that, it means what Dean said.