lighting your cockpits

[Radar]

Hi.
I'm wondering how you'all are lighting your cockpits?
Sould I wire my pit like I wire my house? Or use a car battery? Or run it of my output card?

I really don't know where to go from here?

All ideas apreciated.

Mike

[Michael Carter]

It depends upon what you're building Radar.

The 727 had incandescent and fluoerescent tubs under he glareshield. For the most part I've replicated that, except I had to remove the 400 cycle tubes and hardware and replace them with aftermarket fixtures.

The incandescent fixtures where four bulbs per side and four in the center run from 28VDC or 28VAC depending upon the buss used. The fleourescent tubes ran off of 115 VAC.

Newer jets may only use LED's or a mixture of LED/floerescent/incandescent lighting. Mine looks authentic when lit because I used the original type of lighting.

[Radar]

OK thanks. Micheal. I think I will use LED's. Less heat as possible in the cockpit.

Mike

[magicaldr]

If you after a low heat I used cold cathode tubes to light my PC. They are really cheap, 12v, and produced a decent amount of light as well as coming in 4 or 12 inch versions.

I don't use them in my cockpit as GA doesn't have this style of lighting. However they are a possible option for aircraft that do.

One example: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/55351

[blueskydriver]

Hey, thought I chime in here. I have original light fixtures for the interior of the B727/737 cockpit and it actually has a red and white light next to each other. The red would be for night flights and the white for brighter light...

I know your question is about the Glareshield/MIP, but also look at the lights above your head as well. With most simulator cockpits that use projectors, it seems dark even though we're mostly flying daytime flights. So, with just the right amount of interior lighting it l help that.

Finally, about the CCT lights, are you talking about the types that are used in computers to "pimp them out"? If so, that is a real good idea.

J.

[magicaldr]

Finally, about the CCT lights, are you talking about the types that are used in computers to "pimp them out"? If so, that is a real good idea.

J.

Yup those are the ones, cheap and powerful. My friend used them in his car as a far cheaper alternative to the commercial lighting kits in his foot well. They come with 2 lamps on fly leads and a switch. Whole lot just plugs into a molex, so an old power supply and you are away.

Oh and you can get them in red as well as white

(or purple, green, even stripy if you wanted)

[Matt Olieman]

I agree, excellent lighting and inexpensive.

Careful where you place the CCT lights, if you decide to use them. Particularly any wiring that goes to the interfaces. It will interfere with your interface.

Matt O.

[davek]

my cockpit is not based on a real aircraft so i am lucky. I have some LEDs under the glareshield and an overhead light. I used an old car light fitting and drilled 3mm holes in it. Then fitted white and red LEDs and a two position switch so i can have either red light or white.
Using LEDs is good as they dont draw much power so easy to run off any power supply you have at home.
( I bought a heap of 12 v LEDs red and white off ebay so that makes it easier for wiring etc)

[blueskydriver]

Under the real Glareshield and Wings for the 727/737 is bulbs that exactly resemble the type of lights seen on cars and trucks that would be considered marker lights (either red or yellow). The bulb holder size and bulb are an exact match; you just remove the colored plastic lens cover. The bulbs would be 12volt for the car or truck, so if you're using an PSU, take the 12volt and run it to a switch and then the bulbs. You'll find that this a much cheaper way then leds and the correct light color/temperture.

Another light that is under the glare, behind the MCP is a small, slim, florescent light. We're using a 110 volt model that would be considered under cabinet lights that would be used in your household kitchen. These work perfect and if you can find them, get a 12 inch version. The real bulbs in the 727/737 are about 8-10 inches, so the 12 inch will be close enough.

Finally, the thread is about overall cockpit lighting, but since the Glarelights add to that, we figure it should be discussed...

BSD Team

[nax228]

you can find the way i've done it in my build post. See signature