VAF Forums

VAF Forums (https://vansairforce.net/community/index.php)
-   RV General Discussion/News (https://vansairforce.net/community/forumdisplay.php?f=2)
-   -   Garmin 430W Overheating - Suggestions (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=100447)

JVolkober 06-04-2013 06:23 PM

Vent and fan size?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by BobTurner (Post 776558)
Since you live in WA I'd suggest you just bite the bullet and put in the vent. (I used computer fans, always on unless the CB is pulled). Sooner or later you are going to want the defroster.

What size is your vent and fan? I am looking at some vent and fan alternatives. Looking are manufactured stuff, I located a 3" x 5 1/2" flush mounted louver or a 3 5/8 rectangular louver to put on top of a round hole for a 2.36 diameter (60 mm) fan. One on the pilot side and one on the passenger side.

John

dahugo 06-08-2013 07:53 AM

I wrestled with ventilation issues during construction. I have my audio panel over a 430w over an ic210. All stacked close. I rejected cooling fan installations and installed a 'T' fitting on the passenger air vent instead. Some of the ram air from outside goes to the vent but the other half constantly blows over the avionics stack. Louisiana summers are freaking brutal but i have never had a 430 shutdown due to heat.

BobTurner 06-08-2013 09:37 AM

I have two computer fans, 3" or 90 mm, I forget which.

Years ago Cessna vented outside air to the avionics in 182s. They stopped doing it after they found rain water was getting in too.

JVolkober 06-28-2013 11:49 AM

Update
 
Well, I installed insulation material on the firewall with no appreciable effect on the heating issue. With the change in the contrast setting, the screen did not fade out. I discussed with Garmin and confirmed that the max contiguous temperature is 55 degrees centigrade and that I should get an on screen warning if the unit gets too hot. So at this point, I will be watching for the warning and screen fade. I plan on obtaining temperature strips to attach to the case to see what the actual temperature is. If it is 55 centigrade degrees or less, I'll leave it be. If not, then venting is in the future.

John

MCA 06-28-2013 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahugo (Post 777703)
I wrestled with ventilation issues during construction. I have my audio panel over a 430w over an ic210. All stacked close. I rejected cooling fan installations and installed a 'T' fitting on the passenger air vent instead. Some of the ram air from outside goes to the vent but the other half constantly blows over the avionics stack. Louisiana summers are freaking brutal but i have never had a 430 shutdown due to heat.

In my -7, that vent fills with some water after a rain. Open the gaspers and I get a little spray. Can't say for sure, but I hope that water doesn't find its way right into your 430w.

MCA 06-28-2013 12:45 PM

John, you said you mounted a "small fan." Is this an overpriced avionics fan or a really small fan? Perhaps the volume of air you're moving through the tube to the cooling port is insufficient.

Also, you might think about where the fan is mounted. Is it pushing hot air (from near the firewall or up higher) to the 430, or cooler air from a lower location?

bkthomps 06-28-2013 03:02 PM

does the NAV work? (VOR/ILS)

Mine was overheating, the navboard was fried....everything but VOR and ILS worked (it would tune/ident one, but would never show on CDI)

larrynew 06-28-2013 04:10 PM

I'll be trying two of these. Mounted close to the center radio stack in the forward outboard corners ahead of the panel and before the center subpanel. It was the most common size at the computer store (80mm) and the most quiet. I also got a grill to cover the exposed blades that exactly match the ones on the cooling fans for the Skyviews. Will double as defrosters.






JVolkober 07-25-2013 10:29 PM

Update to Update - Problem Solved - Insulation Worked
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by JVolkober (Post 783518)
Well, I installed insulation material on the firewall with no appreciable effect on the heating issue. With the change in the contrast setting, the screen did not fade out. I discussed with Garmin and confirmed that the max contiguous temperature is 55 degrees centigrade and that I should get an on screen warning if the unit gets too hot. So at this point, I will be watching for the warning and screen fade. I plan on obtaining temperature strips to attach to the case to see what the actual temperature is. If it is 55 centigrade degrees or less, I'll leave it be. If not, then venting is in the future.

John

For those of you reading this thread, I need to update my findings less you come to the wrong conclusion. When I return to 29JV after this flight I notice that the heater vent pull was out about 3/4", the heater vent was open during the previous flight. Since installing the insulation, and keeping the heater vent closed, I have had several flights taking off in very hot conditions - 98 degrees at Montague after sitting on the ground for an hour and today 98 degrees at Sunriver. There was no, the Garmin unit did not get hot. The panel was at most slightly warm. So, either the heater vent was open on all the previous flights where the Garmin 430 and panel were getting very hot, or the insulation really did cut out the radiant heat projecting from the firewall to the subpanel and panel. In any event, I no longer have a problem with the Garmin overheating. No vents required.

John


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:30 AM.