LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

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astaib
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LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

Post by astaib »

Hello!

I have read all the threads about these retrofits that you have successfully done, thank you for all the tips.

I understood that there are 2 differents models:
Whelen:
Whelen.jpg
Pulsar:
Pulsar.png
Unless having these 2 models in front of me I cannot chose, do you have any comparison, did you saw them both?
What is better on each one? Is it only the design that should drive my choice?

From what I read, the Pulsar need a mount that is sold by Pulsar too, but the Whelen can fit directly in the original holes.

I also read that with both models it is important to link the block to the lightening, but a wire can be enough, no need for the original bracket.

Any advises, comment or pros/cons will help me to order.

Thank you very much.

Arnaud.
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pietromarx
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Re: LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

Post by pietromarx »

I put the Pulsars on. Was not a big deal and saved a few pounds from the ballast, etc. They're incredibly bright and don't register on the amp meters, etc. You literally cannot look straight at them on the ground, so be considerate of other pilots at night, etc.

We tried to get the Whelans, but they were strangely hard to order and had no particular advantage.
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astaib
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Re: LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

Post by astaib »

Thank you for the feedback.

So far I have the inverted issue, it’s easier to order the Whelen.
This is why I’m asking myself if I better have to insist or not ...
Arnaud
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TomJ
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Re: LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

Post by TomJ »

Hi Arnaud,

I just installed Whelen OR600s. Details are in viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6426&p=69733#p69733
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Rich
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Re: LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

Post by Rich »

I'll toss in my perception of the result. The OR600 lights I had installed work fine. But the anti-collision light intensity is not as bright as the strobes they replaced.

I can look right at them when they flash and they don't leave that "I'll never see again" impression the strobes did. Another data point: when I taxi along the front of my row of hangars back to my roost in the daytime, the strobe flash was easily visible reflected off the hangar doors. The LED's are not.

Don't get me wrong, they're plenty bright. But just not as intense.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Chris B
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Re: LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

Post by Chris B »

Rich wrote:The OR600 lights I had installed work fine. But the anti-collision light intensity is not as bright as the strobes they replaced.
<snip>
Don't get me wrong, they're plenty bright. But just not as intense.
I have no experience with the Whelen OR600 lights. But the AeroLEDs Pulsar NSP strobe is retina-searing bright (clearly brighter than the conventional strobes they replaced), and the position lights leave a red/green glow on the ramp and any nearby surface.

Both are TSO'd and AFAICT installation is similar, so either should work fine. But it sounds like the AeroLEDs Pulsar NSP is brighter.

Chris
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Re: LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

Post by pietromarx »

I have the AeroLED Pulsar NSP and they're searingly bright. To the point that turning them on at night on the ground is a willful act of unfriendliness to anyone nearby.
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Re: LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

Post by Colin »

I can look right at them when they flash and they don't leave that "I'll never see again" impression the strobes did.
This is a pilot that runs experiments the way I do. (See also: does it *taste* like JetA?)
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Rich
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Re: LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

Post by Rich »

Colin wrote:
I can look right at them when they flash and they don't leave that "I'll never see again" impression the strobes did.
This is a pilot that runs experiments the way I do. (See also: does it *taste* like JetA?)
And a 1-1/2" firecracker going off while you're getting ready to throw it with your fingertips isn't that big a deal :)

But seriously, here is a link to a test result that Whelen publishes about the OR600:

https://www.whelen.com/pb/Aviation/Prod ... on_600.pdf

Note that the Candela measurement is barely above the requirement for a goodly part of the 180 deg arc, though shows up better quartering fore and aft. I haven't had occasion to use these at night so far. Plenty bright in the semi-dark hangar and OK when you look right at them in the sunlight. Just not spectacular. I searched around for some objective tests for the Pulsars but haven't found any.
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Rich
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Re: LED wingtip - Pulsar or Whelen

Post by Rich »

2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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