The International Cessna 170 Association

I searched on PAR36 and "landing lights" and found all the discussions on LED lights, etc., but didn't find any discussion of higher wattage PAR36 bulbs. I notice that Aircraft Spruce carries a standard (GE4313) and a halogen bulb (GE-Q4631) in PAR36 form factor that are 12V and 250 Watt, as opposed to the standard 12V 100W 4509. Obviously, they would draw more amps and would get hotter that the 100W standard bulb, but I was wondering if anyone had ever installed them, if they are legal to install, if they are safe to install (wire gauge, fuse/CB concerns, heat and landing light window), and if so, do they make any operational difference?

Thanks,
Brent

The ordinary pair of 4509's will pull 17 amps when both on and the circuit is (or should be) sufficient for that. A 250 watt lamp would exceed 20A and you'd have to redesign the circuit to accomodate that... even if you kept one 4509 for taxi... you'd be pulling over 29A.

Brent, Be aware that the 170A and later models of the 170B have their landing lights wired differently. Your 170A has one 14 ga. wire to both the taxi and the landing light. The later models had one 14 ga. going to each bulb. Here I discussed how I thought that one wire to both lights is inadequate according to AC43.13-1B, and that was without considering higher wattage bulbs.

Gents, My ragwing still has the 250 watt motor down light in the left wing. I'll check to see if the bulb is a GE4313 I do have a spare bulb in the hangar and I believe it is the same as the one in the plane. I have learned how to restore operation of the old sticky "motor down landing light". Duane Shockey