Upgraded landing lights for CubCrafters Carbon Cub FX-3

[Neal]

Does anyone know what landing lights are installed in our wing leading edges for Carbon Cub FX-3 in the past year? I see CubCrafters is now offering a landing light upgrade option for better lights. I'm all for the BEST lighting I can put on my plane. I have not accessed or check which light is installed in my plane but will soon.

I am so impressed with the taxi light I recently installed that I'm thinking of putting two of these (landing light version) on my plane to replace the factory installed lights.

Whelen Parmetheus™ G3 PAR 36 Landing & Taxi Light FAA-PMA | Aircraft Spruce ®

Whelen Parmetheus™ G3 PAR 36 Landing & Taxi Light FAA-PMA The Parmetheus G3 is the latest addition to the Parmetheus product family. Keeping the tradition of industry leading performance and value, the new G3 Series is 2.5 ti

www.aircraftspruce.com

 

[Kyflyer]

Does anyone know what landing lights are installed in our wing leading edges for Carbon Cub FX-3 in the past year? I see CubCrafters is now offering a landing light upgrade option for better lights. I'm all for the BEST lighting I can put on my plane. I have not accessed or check which light is installed in my plane but will soon.

I am so impressed with the taxi light I recently installed that I'm thinking of putting two of these (landing light version) on my plane to replace the factory installed lights.

Whelen Parmetheus™ G3 PAR 36 Landing & Taxi Light FAA-PMA | Aircraft Spruce ®

Whelen Parmetheus™ G3 PAR 36 Landing & Taxi Light FAA-PMA The Parmetheus G3 is the latest addition to the Parmetheus product family. Keeping the tradition of industry leading performance and value, the new G3 Series is 2.5 ti

www.aircraftspruce.com

I have a note referring to Aveo LED lights and assume that is the standard CC light. I upgraded to WAT Orion as it was only a $750 upgrade.

 

[Neal]

I have a note referring to Aveo LED lights and assume that is the standard CC light. I upgraded to WAT Orion as it was only a $750 upgrade.

That may be the position lights. When you go out to final build visit see if you can find out what the "standard" landing light is vs. the upgraded light. Get specific models if you can, I'm curious which one they are offering for the upgrade.

 

[Neal]

So there is a small problem. The G3's are 3.8A each which combined exceeds the 5A circuit breaker CubCrafters installed. The installed lights from CubCrafters are WAT Parmetheus PLUS "P36P1L" which are 1.36A per lamp.

Parmetheus PLUS PAR-36 LED Landing / Taxi Light | Whelen Aerospace Technologies

The Parmetheus Plus is an LED landing and taxi light 40% brighter than the Parmetheus. The Parmetheus Plus is lightweight, low current, and moisture resistant.

flywat.com

Right up until my breaker popped I can say these G3's are amazing. I can look at the prior lights without squinting, not the case for the new lights. Original lights reinstalled.

Now I have to see if I can simply swap the 5A breaker for a 10A breaker, if the wiring is sufficient, otherwise these lights will have to be returned.

FYI - this is not just about landing at night. These significantly brighter lights are far better for anti-collision as well. We're all running in wig-wag for example, it's just going to be another level of safety with brighter lights.

 

[Neal]

Hard to really compare on the ole "light on hangar door test" but here is a pic I took. It may never happen if I can't sort out the electrical aspect. Right side is G3, left side is Parmetheus Plus.

 

[Neal]

CubCrafters tells me no go, the wiring to the lights would have to be upsized. For those that opt for the improved lights in new builds will get the associated electrical upsize as well.

Time to return them

 

[Neal]

I'm waiting to hear back from CubCrafters / Avionics. The initial response was a NO, however, when I look at the charts in AC 43.13-1B Chapter 11 which outlines the wire gauge vs. length and amps, etc. it shows the installed 20 AWG wires in the wings should be fine for a light up to 4A. The only place, it appears, that a change is needed is from the panel switch to the breaker and breaker to bus for a 10A breaker and wire (16 or 18 awg should suffice). I'm new to these types of things in aviation and stumbled upon AC 43.13 which is interesting to find the specs for maintenance standards, etc. Good things to learn and be aware of, of course you should use an A&P that is trained on this but it's good to learn before knocking on your A&P / Avionics shop's door for work.

It is hard to find the lumens data for WAT lights, not sure why they don't clearly disclose it. But I found a chart in the marketing data. What is interesting in tracking down the "candela" they call it is how it drops over time. So for those of us that fly with landing lights on the entire flight (wig-wag or on) notice the drop in candela. Interesting!

 

[Neal]

CubCrafters is installing Parmetheus Plus in FX-3's but now offer an upgrade. From what I can find the Plus is a 2014 era light. Wow! Hello 2024!!! How about simply put the best light in now as a standard? That's how you simply do things right. This was pointed out by Bruce Graham and suggested to CubCrafters nearly 4 years ago:

New AeroLED Landing Lights

I recently added a new circuit and wiring to install the AeroLED SunSpot landing lights on my FX-3, and the difference is pretty amazing. Hoping to get a video finished soon with all of the specifics.

forum.cubcrafters.com

 

[Neal]

As I have the awesome G3 taxi light on my cub, it will be a nice addition to the landing lights for night landings. I typically did not use the taxi light during landing but will now.

 

[Neal]

Okay, back to this again. I went to the plane and measure landing light to door and it’s 6.5 ft. That is no issue for 4 amps per the chart. (of course add a few more feet from window to panel position for wire termination)

I then dropped the cap strip outside the left window and inspected the breaker. I then checked the chart to see what gauge wire I would need for 10A. It appears for 5 ft, a conservative number from breaker to panel the existing 20 awg is fine at 10A (actually max will be 7.6A).

It appears all that needs to happen for this project is swapping the 5A breaker for a 10A breaker. Feel free to back up my investigation and analysis for anyone interested.

 

[Neal]

I found the data on the AeroLED used in the CubCrafters forum post back in 2020 I believe it was.

Sunspot 36-4000 (100W) ~ AeroLEDs

Highest performance in the industry – This 100 watt LED landing light boasts an outstanding 200,000+ candela with a 20°x20° bright white beam angle that

aeroleds.com

That light draws 3A more per light, or 6A total continuous. For those that installed those you may want to consider switching to the Parmetheus G3's which are 3.8A per light or a net savings of 6A. While your wiring may be sufficient, the draw on the small alternator is the other part of the equation. I personally want to minimize this load on the alternator which is already probably pushing it with IFR panel installs and all of the associated avionics.

 

[Neal]

FYI - this project is a NO GO due to the wig wag controller that is a custom build by CubCrafters seems to have a 2 amp limitation per light from what I can find. I'm waiting to hear back from CubCrafters to see if they have a higher capacity controller that they may be using for their lighting upgrade option.

 

[Neal]

Impressed with FLYWAT.COM customer service. I emailed them yesterday of my dilemma and they replied today (Sunday) with an answer. As it seems CubCrafters is also using the G3 lights (not sure which aircraft) that they did design a new flasher, apparently WAT sources it. They asked me to reach out to CubCrafters to source the newer version that accommodates up to 5A.

Part #: 01-0771700-01

71700 Series Eco Flasher Box | Whelen Aerospace Technologies

The Model 71700 is a state-of-the-art electronic light flasher designed specifically for compatibility with WAT LED Exterior lighting products. This versatile flasher offers two distinct operating modes: steady-on output or alternating flashing outputs.

flywat.com

 

[Neal]

I see that this part is a generic WHELEN automotive headlight flasher so I found it online and ordered one for $72.

Whelen Headlight Flasher - Solid State

100% Solid-State, Headlight/Grille Light Flasher, 2 Outlet, 160 Watts Per Outlet, 7 Flash Patterns, For Positive Switching Headlights

ultimatelightingsolutions.net

 

[Neal]

Status update:

This has not been as simple as I had hoped. Figuring out the wiring between the old wig-wag (real term is "flasher") and the new one has been a challenge. I'm super appreciative the time Pete at CubCrafters and avionics have spent with me as we figure this out together as this flasher is also new to them and we have some wiring hurdles still to be figured out. They are using this, or going to use it, in aircraft going forward, or aircraft with the newer lights and there are some things that need revision yet it seems. I'm going to test the latest plan discussed with Pete last night when I return to the plane this afternoon.

I certainly want the better lights but I sure opened a can of worms and really wish I would have left the darned thing as is. But I'm going to get through this and in the future CubCrafters is planning to offer a retrofit kit for others that want to (or need to) upgrade lights when you can no longer source the old lights if needed. It is going to be a level 7 effort to do regardless, not super hard, but you better be comfortable with what will be required to do.