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How to Use a 28-Volt Light on a 12 Aircraft

Landing lights on the wings of a light 12 aircraft help to see the runway when landing the plane and when taking off. Normal landing lights offer dimmer illumination. But you can install 28-volt high-intensity discharge lights using handy kits. These 28-volt high-intensity discharge lights are mounted on the top of the wing with a lens reflector mounted on the side for illumination.

Things You'll Need

High-intensity discharge lights templates
Masking tape
Pneumatic body saw
Pneumatic die grinder
Drill
#6 and screws
Screwdriver
Bandsaw

Instructions

- 1
  Lay the templates that came with the 28-volt high-intensity discharge light kit on the wings of the aircraft. If your wings are detached, the installation can be performed more easily. Hold the template for the reflector and mounting holes for the bolts with masking tape.
- 2
  Cut out the holes for the reflector light along the bend of the wing using the pneumatic body saw. Smooth out metal burrs that may have been created during the cut with the pneumatic die grinder. Drill out the holes for the mounting bolts.
- 3
  Trim the main mounting bars and brackets to fit inside the outside bay in the wing of the 12 aircraft. Saw a round hole in the mounting bracket for the HID light.
- 4
  Place the nut plates over the drilled holes on the ribs along the outside of the wing bay. Push in the screw and secure on the nut plates. Slide the mounting bracket into the wing bay where the reflector will be installed.
- 5
  Align the upper lens bracket on the outside of the reflector hole so it matches to the main mounting bracket inside. Take out the main mounting bracket.
- 6
  Drill holes into the skin of the plane's wing. Remove the upper plate and place it inside the bay, lining up the holes. Align the retainer plate on the outside of the wing to the same holes as the upper-lens bracket that is inside the wing bay. Secure the upper-lens bracket and retainer plate with #6 screws that are countersunk in with the screwdriver.
- 7
  Install the bottom lens bracket and the retainer plate the same way as you did with the upper lens bracket and retainer plate. Cover the reflector lens entirely with masking tape. Mark which end is the top and which is the bottom.
- 8
  Slide the reflector plate inside the wing until flush with the opening. Outline the hole opening along the masking tape on the reflector. Take out the reflector. Cut the lens with a bandsaw, leaving at least 1/16 inches extra of the reflector to mount into the wing.
- 9
  Remove the masking tape from the reflector. Place the reflector inside, securing to the upper and lower mounting bracket. Install the electrical ballast and the 28-volt light into the main mounting bracket, screwing down securely.
- 10
  Fit the main mounting bracket inside the bay wing by the reflector. Tighten the screws to secure the main mounting bracket to the wing of the plane.

Aviation