Replacing whelan strobe

Big Ed

Big Ed

N50247 - '79 Super D
Joined
Jul 20, 2020
Messages
1,938
Location
Tampa, FL
Ran into a small snag on my purchase. Pre-buy said the strobe doesn't work. Power supply needs to be replaced. Part is Whelan A413A HDA-DF-14. Seller was going to buy a used one and install it, but the source fell through. I don't want to delay the sale while we chase the part, so he suggested we knock $300 off the price for the cost of a used one and he will help me install it when I get it.

Found a few HDA-CF-14's on ebay for $375ish. But I'm not sold on the idea of throwing used electronic crap into my plane. Should I consider a new one for $800 from Aircraft Spruce?

How much would an LED conversion run me?
 
Ok, totally new to this stuff. How do I find parts that are STC'd for the Decathlon?

Internet says the HDA-CF-14 is the replacement for the HDA-DF-14 that I have, which is discontinued. Went to Whelan and looked up the STC, and it covers all the Bellanca 7-series aircraft, but not the 8KCAB.
 
I think my led nav/strobes were $800 maybe? Whelen Orion 600 or 650, I can look them up in the AM. is it the power supply they want to change or the bulb assembly?
 
Throw out the power supplies and go with LED. Orion 650. The power supplies just burn out and they are a fortune to replace.
 
Looking at the Whelan LEDs now. 600 has rear POS light, 650 does not. Just checked a photo of soon-to-be-my Super D and it has a white light of the back of the rear rudder, so I could use the 650, correct? Any merit to going with the 600 and removing the rudder light?

Photo Jul 07, 17 22 34 (2).webpPhoto Jul 07, 17 19 29 (3).webp
 
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I would look up the definition of major alteration, and then stick that used power supply in there. Greg is right, LEDs are the way to go, but they will get better and cheaper as time goes on. You need a quick temporary fix.

I use the Comet strobes on the wings, and a μavionics tail light. Happy, right now. I did replace the strobe power supply (well, a girl with very tiny hands and a flexible body replaced it) about 12 years ago.

Ask Greg how long it takes to fix everything "properly."
 
Does the Decathlon have ADS-B? If not, the TailBeacon from Uavionix is a good, reasonably priced solution. The strobes on the 650 are really bright and they mount using the existing wires on the same footprint from the old ones. You won't be able to sequence them together unless you want to run a wire from one wingtip to the other.
 
Bob Turner said:
I would look up the definition of major alteration, and then stick that used power supply in there. Greg is right, LEDs are the way to go, but they will get better and cheaper as time goes on. You need a quick temporary fix.

I use the Comet strobes on the wings, and a μavionics tail light. Happy, right now. I did replace the strobe power supply (well, a girl with very tiny hands and a flexible body replaced it) about 12 years ago.

Ask Greg how long it takes to fix everything "properly."
Click to expand...
Well, let’s just say that if you want to fly this year don’t fix too much.
 
I believe the Whelen power supply has to have all strobes operating. When the tip strobe solution first came out it was crossed off my list quickly for that reason.
I could swap my power supply in five minutes but it keeps on ticking.
I agree, $300 used and done.

On my kitfox I'll use LED tip strobe/position lights to avoid the extra wires and penetrations.
 
I went with the LEDs. Whelan Orion 650's were on sale at Aircraft Spruce for $460 each. I'll have them by Weds and the seller will install next weekend (he is an A&P).

There were no used power supplies for that model on eBay, so no telling how long I would have to wait.
 
You will like them. Very bright. No energy draw. Save some weight on the old power supplies.
 
Done! Wound up getting them installed at MAC Avionics in Lakeland, FL. I needed a new radio, and it make sense to have them do it while the dash and switch panel were open.

See posts elsewhere for pics of radio, USB charger, and electronic AI installed.

IMG_20200916_151635.jpg
IMG_20200916_151630.jpg

And got this monster yanked out. Along with Collins NAV, CDI, Turn Coord, and old intercom, I probably got 12 pounds of junk out of the plane.

IMG_20200914_212708.jpg
 
Good work. Next you’ll want the carbon floors and odyssey battery. Aluminum gear legs also save a bunch of weight.
 
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