Subject: Panel lighting
From: Paul
Date: 9/2/1999, 6:37 PM
To: zz

X-Mozilla-Keys:                                                                                 
Bill Freeman wrote:

Paul,

I tried the plexiglass edge lighting trick when I was doing the
EZ.   I used grain of wheat bulbs which worked fine, but were
a little hot, probably OK.  The trick to good lighting (I can't tell
from the photo if you are already doing this) is the reverse
bevel the edge of the hole.  If you cut about a 45 degree angle
on the plexiglass (lexan) with the big side towards the instrument,
the light leaking is minimized. The bulbs were held into holes in
the plexi with a dab of silicone seal.  Aluminum foil all around
to keep the light bouncing.

I finally settled on flood lighting using  ONE red LED on the right side
(back of the compass mount on EZ rt top fuselage rail) and a
tiny clearance light on the left with most of the lens painted opaque
gray to match the fuselage side.  Works great, and you *really*
have to dim them down once your eye adapt.

I suspect that a set of about 3-4 ordinary LEDs set into the
glareshield and properly shield from the pilots eyes would
cover a panel pretty well for min work max usefulness.

Bill


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