After reading about this project on The Thrifty Pilot website (see https://www.thethriftypilot.com/copy-of-free-flight-tracking), I decided to start looking up parts. I replaced my panel lights with LED lights over a year ago but it can still be challenging to find switches and stuff at night. While researching, I found this item on Ebay, which incorporated a controller into the LED strip and had a remote control https://www.ebay.com/itm/172959365791 . This seemed to be an easier way to control the lights and it was a little less expensive and smaller then adding the dimmer. I received it today and it seems to works well. Initially, I had it plugged into the wrong end and it would blink every couple of seconds but if you plug it into the controller side, it works fine. The remote lets you change tint, color, and brightness of the LEDs (green, red, or blue should work in a plane). I had some concerns whether the adhesive would hold them on but it is marked 3M which should hold well if I use some alcohol on the plastic before I put them on. There were no instructions with it but it was simple to figure out except where you cut it with the scissors and which end you plug the USB into. I got the 5v version but you can get it 12v, too (28v?). Substitute a USB battery as suggested by The Thrifty Pilot if you do not want to use ships power. The cord is about the right length to go to my power outlet but I plan to just leave the USB cable in my flight bag and connect it when I want to use it. It is hard to beat for $3. I will test and make sure that it does not interfere with any of the radios. These lights are not PMA approved so use at your own risk.
