My 180 didn't have the standard "red eyeball" overhead panel lights when I bought it. It did have some grimes type lights mounted on the door posts, but they were inop so I removed them. Even though I don't fly at night, I did want to have panel lights, "just in case". I saw this "Pilot Light Pro" gizmo in another 180 and it looked like it did a good job, so I bought one and installed it yesterday. Works great! It costs $125 which seems high for a two-AA powered plastic gizmo, should be more like 29.99. I thought about post lights, nulites & similar, eyebrow lighting, or finding a stock Cessna overhead panel light assembly, but I finally decided that this gizmo would be the cheapest easiest & cleanest way to have panel lights.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/el/ ... ghtpro.php

Also, consider something like this. Very handy in all types of situations (day/night).

(Example only)

I thought about a headband light, or ball-cap light, but the trouble with those is that the light is aimed where your eyes are aimed. Which is forward, reflecting off the windshield most of the time. You could aim the light down, at least on my headband light, but then when I look down to see the panel the light is shining on my knees. Or just turn it on when you look at the panel, that has drawbacks too-- if you can't be hands-free, you might as well use one of those itty-bitty squeeze-it red lights (which I carry n the airplane).

I had this exact same conversation with a buddy of mine who is a USMC hornet pilot down in Miramar. Although they rely heavily on NVGs for night flight ops, he uses a $10 finger light that he bought on Amazon to supplement. He said that he uses it mainly to copy clearances, targeting information, and 9-lines for close air support attacks. It is not overly bright, but allows you to put a little bit of light on what you need without blinding you or washing out NVGs.

JB

ElectricSnail gave me s Petzl headlamp years ago that had a flip down red filter. Nice for night flying, and the Petzls, like many headlamps are aimable to keep them off the windshield.

I was in the same position where I did not want to do a lot of wiring for something that I would only need occasionally, but I wanted it available if needed, and also to satisfy lighting requirements. My aircraft is a Zenith 750, experimental, so I have more leeway during my build, but I mounted and wired a 12v receptacle on the glare shield, and RAM Mount has a goose neck lamp with a red lens cover for $6.69 that works great. I keep it in my chart box in my panel until needed.

The receptacle also does double duty for keeping my Sat phone and other items charged that fit in my GPS & WX hockey puck tray that I built on the glare shield to keep everything from sliding all over, etc.

Zenithguy wrote:


I was in the same position where I did not want to do a lot of wiring for something that I would only need occasionally, but I wanted it available if needed, and also to satisfy lighting requirements. My aircraft is a Zenith 750, experimental, so I have more leeway during my build, but I mounted and wired a 12v receptacle on the glare shield, and RAM Mount has a goose neck lamp with a red lens cover for $6.69 that works great. I keep it in my chart box in my panel until needed.

The receptacle also does double duty for keeping my Sat phone and other items charged that fit in my GPS & WX hockey puck tray that I built on the glare shield to keep everything from sliding all over, etc.

I have one of those! Great little light, fits standard 12v cigarette lighter receptacles! Glad to see others using them.

Zzz wrote:ElectricSnail gave me s Petzl headlamp years ago that had a flip down red filter. Nice for night flying, and the Petzls, like many headlamps are aimable to keep them off the windshield.

I was interested to learn more of this flip down red filter for Petzl Headlamps, but I found they don't currently make headlamps with a plastic filter to change the color ..... I was probably interupting it incorrectly; however, I found they do offer several headlamps with red LED's built in. Several lamps in their Tikka series have a red light including the Tikka +, XP, R+, and RXP. The biggest difference between all of these will be the lumen output of the white light, which also correlates with price. Hope this information is helpful to someone looking for additional ideas for panel lighting.

hotrod180 wrote:I thought about a headband light, or ball-cap light, but the trouble with those is that the light is aimed where your eyes are aimed. Which is forward, reflecting off the windshield most of the time. You could aim the light down, at least on my headband light, but then when I look down to see the panel the light is shining on my knees. Or just turn it on when you look at the panel, that has drawbacks too-- if you can't be hands-free, you might as well use one of those itty-bitty squeeze-it red lights (which I carry n the airplane).

I've got a couple of these headlamps. Take the strap off and use Velcro, double sided tape or screws to mount anywhere. Batteries last a longtime.

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/12488145121218991716?q=energizer+headlamp&biw=1518&bih=691&bav=on.2,or.&tch=1&ech=1&psi=xZj4VbunKcyWygS5jKzYDg.1442355448140.3&prds=paur:ClkAsKraXxAhllwzh3OEUhAQC4cLgYt3j9TcOnHPybCsQGwbPGjvCqaKJ3KmQevXC-11X7TklXZYfhTAK6s8FFiN1ZJu5j3GqgNUUHO-VAA0Q2caz0S7bGcLcBIZAFPVH70ViQ3G-fiWTHqlDNchz417tVHnUg&ved=0CBUQpitqFQoTCLDEs92I-scCFYUQkgodjXsOjQ&ei=8Jj4VbCMI4WhyASN97noCA



Got them in my haul truck for night shifts. Sure makes it easy on the eyes. And kinda cool looking. LOL