Flap indicator light replacement
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- krellis
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Re: Flap indicator light replacement
I know this is an old thread and this is a slightly different issue. Our flaps up indication does not work. I've replaced the bulb with a new one and then a known good bulb - still no up indication. The flaps operate normally to T/O and LDG and to UP.
I suspect the flaps up microswitch (S1) is bad or out of adjustment. Any other thoughts or suggestions? Diamond tech support is minimally staffed for the holidays, so I don't expect to hear back from them until after the New Year.
Krea Ellis
DA40XLS N616ML
I suspect the flaps up microswitch (S1) is bad or out of adjustment. Any other thoughts or suggestions? Diamond tech support is minimally staffed for the holidays, so I don't expect to hear back from them until after the New Year.
Krea Ellis
DA40XLS N616ML
- carym
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Re: Flap indicator light replacement
I went thru several replacement bulbs (for one of my main landing gear gear-down lights) until I learned that the bulbs are directional and have to be put in so the contacts on the bulb meet the contacts in the socket. I found this out when I removed a good bulb and put it back in and it didn't work. I then called my mechanic who told me about the directional issue, so I carefully removed a third working bulb to see what direction it should be inserted. This solved the problem when I replaced the other bulbs in the correct position. Give this a try before worrying about a more complicated possibility.
Cary
DA42.AC036 (returned)
S35 (1964 V-tail Bonanza)
Alaska adventure: http://mariashflying.tumblr.com
DA42.AC036 (returned)
S35 (1964 V-tail Bonanza)
Alaska adventure: http://mariashflying.tumblr.com
- krellis
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Re: Flap indicator light replacement
Thanks for the suggestion. Interesting that an incandescent bulb would be directional, but the AMM does talk about LED indicator bulbs for the flap positions. LED's would be directional, but I'm surprised that they would burn out so quickly.carym wrote:I went thru several replacement bulbs (for one of my main landing gear gear-down lights) until I learned that the bulbs are directional and have to be put in so the contacts on the bulb meet the contacts in the socket. I found this out when I removed a good bulb and put it back in and it didn't work. I then called my mechanic who told me about the directional issue, so I carefully removed a third working bulb to see what direction it should be inserted. This solved the problem when I replaced the other bulbs in the correct position. Give this a try before worrying about a more complicated possibility.
I will let you know what happens.
Krea Ellis
- krellis
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Re: Flap indicator light replacement
Cary,
You were spot on. While the bulbs are not polarity sensitive (like an LED), they can be installed such that they do not make contact with the pins in the base of the socket. So, it appears there are two proper ways to install them and many more incorrect ways.
Also, the DA-40 AMM refers in several spots to the LED bulbs in the flap position indicator. I did hear from Diamond Tech Support and there are no LED's in the indicator. They stated they will look at the AMM and correct it when they return from winter holiday.
Happy New Year to all.
Krea Ellis
You were spot on. While the bulbs are not polarity sensitive (like an LED), they can be installed such that they do not make contact with the pins in the base of the socket. So, it appears there are two proper ways to install them and many more incorrect ways.
Also, the DA-40 AMM refers in several spots to the LED bulbs in the flap position indicator. I did hear from Diamond Tech Support and there are no LED's in the indicator. They stated they will look at the AMM and correct it when they return from winter holiday.
Happy New Year to all.
Krea Ellis
- Urquhart
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Re: Flap indicator light replacement
Make sure the dimmer switches are all the way off (the two rotational knobs at the top left on the panel), if not clicked all the way off the flap light will not be illuminated
- krellis
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Re: Flap indicator light replacement
Thanks. The flaps up indicator bulb was indeed burned out. The T/O and LDG indications operated normally, the flaps operated normally - all pointing to a burned out bulb and not a microswitch or wiring issue. The UP indication is constantly illuminated, so it is likely that this bulb burns out more often.Urquhart wrote:Make sure the dimmer switches are all the way off (the two rotational knobs at the top left on the panel), if not clicked all the way off the flap light will not be illuminated
LED replacements would be welcome in this application, but I suspect they would have problems with dimming given the circuitry used in the 40.
Krea Ellis
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Re: Flap indicator light replacement
A few months ago when I had to replace a burned out flap position indicator bulb in our DA42, I noticed a change to Diamond's parts list that specifies LED lights can now be used as substitutes for the old incandescent bulbs. I looked up the LED part number and it's a standard automotive LED bulb available from multiple Internet sources. No change to the aircraft circuitry is required.krellis wrote:LED replacements would be welcome in this application, but I suspect they would have problems with dimming given the circuitry used in the 40.
I was thinking of pro-actively replacing the identical bulbs in our DA42 gear position indicators, to minimize the chance of not seeing "three green" when I put the gear down (and to keep me from soiling my pants if a bulb burned out. :-D ). I've not replaced the incandescent bulbs with LEDs --- yet.
Epic Aircraft E1000 GX
Former DA40XLS, DA42-VI, and DA62 owner
ATP, CFI, CFI-I, MEI
Former DA40XLS, DA42-VI, and DA62 owner
ATP, CFI, CFI-I, MEI
- rwtucker
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Re: Flap indicator light replacement
Embarrassing moment in my early time with the DA40. Forgot to shut the dimmer off after a night flight. Then forgot to retract the flaps for awhile the next day with a cockpit full of chatty people. No light to remind me!
- carym
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Re: Flap indicator light replacement
Do it. Don't be like me an have that soiling pants episode I had in Alaska when I didn't get 3 green and had to do a fly by. Ground people said it looked OK, but I was still worried that one of the gear was not "locked".CFIDave wrote: I was thinking of pro-actively replacing the identical bulbs in our DA42 gear position indicators, to minimize the chance of not seeing "three green" when I put the gear down (and to keep me from soiling my pants if a bulb burned out. :-D ).
Where did you find that parts list? I don't see the change in the AMM.CFIDave wrote: A few months ago when I had to replace a burned out flap position indicator bulb in our DA42, I noticed a change to Diamond's parts list that specifies LED lights can now be used as substitutes for the old incandescent bulbs. I looked up the LED part number and it's a standard automotive LED bulb available from multiple Internet sources. No change to the aircraft circuitry is required.
Cary
DA42.AC036 (returned)
S35 (1964 V-tail Bonanza)
Alaska adventure: http://mariashflying.tumblr.com
DA42.AC036 (returned)
S35 (1964 V-tail Bonanza)
Alaska adventure: http://mariashflying.tumblr.com
- carym
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Re: Flap indicator light replacement
Dave,
I found the information on LED substitutions. And, as I would have guessed by the well knon customer support, it is NOT allowed in the DA42, only in the DA42-NG or the DA42-VI. Another example of how Diamond is fully supportive of those of us who took a chance with them and purchased a DA42
I found the information on LED substitutions. And, as I would have guessed by the well knon customer support, it is NOT allowed in the DA42, only in the DA42-NG or the DA42-VI. Another example of how Diamond is fully supportive of those of us who took a chance with them and purchased a DA42
Cary
DA42.AC036 (returned)
S35 (1964 V-tail Bonanza)
Alaska adventure: http://mariashflying.tumblr.com
DA42.AC036 (returned)
S35 (1964 V-tail Bonanza)
Alaska adventure: http://mariashflying.tumblr.com