AeroLEDs is introducing what company officials call a first of its kind: The new SunSpot Equinox, a true dual-function LED landing and taxi light.
Scheduled to make its debut at the 2021 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo, the Equinox is designed for single light applications or for the pilot who can’t decide whether to install a landing or a taxi light, according to company officials.
In landing mode, the Equinox will output a 20°X20° bright white beam for high-speed takeoffs and landings. “This will greatly improve visibility both on the ground and in the air from up to 30 miles away,” officials said.
While in taxi mode, the light produces a wider 20°X50° beam spread that outputs a solid and evenly distributed light pattern for illumination of the runway/taxiway without impairing the vision of other pilots, officials explain.
The first release in the series will fit PAR 36 configurations and will be a 28-volt, 100 watt dual-function LED. It will output 11,000 lumens and 150,000 candela and come standard with integrated pulse (Wig-Wag), “providing optimum visibility during extreme operating conditions and negating the need and extra weight of external pulse light boxes,” company officials said.
Officials add that the light can be left on in all phases of flight as it draws 40% less power, significantly reducing the electrical load on the airplane’s battery and alternator system. It also maintains its full light output even at low engine RPM, which is critical for landing configuration, officials note.
SunSpot Equinox will be a drop-in replacement for both Par36 and Par46 applications and will be available for both 12v and 24v systems.
11,000 lumens a huge amount of light power.!
I use 2, 2,100 lumen LED lights in my Cessna, and, using both on landing, they light up the entire approach end.
They also only use 3.2 amps total, vs the 9.5 amps for one of the old GE Q4509 lights.
The Aeroled lamp uses 6.8 amps , so it’s barely a 30% reduction in amps vs the Q4509.
[ but I’m sure that it is MEGA bright !!]
Note that the current regulator circuit will fail long before the leds do, so cooling may be needed to keep the electronics below their max temp rating, which depends on the class of the components used; commercial, industrial or military/automotive.