Air vents higher on the panel?
 

Hi guys,

When I use the ventilation system in my car, I tend to direct the cooling air toward my upper body and face. It seems that most put their RV cooling vents down low, beneath those deck pieces that attach to the longerons. My panel will have plenty of space to mount them higher, which seems to make sense for my airflow needs, and my panel design will easily accommodate this positioning.

Have others put them up high, and does the S-bend of the tubing impact airflow significantly? I sparked up for the SteinAir vents, BTW....couldn't bear the thought of staring at those homely looking stockers supplied with the kit.

Not to worry, they will blast you from wherever they are located. Besides, the NACA vents are below the longeron and putting them up higher means you have to route the vent tubes up to them.

I have an Affordable Panels panel with their sub-panel for switches which lowers the vents (My headset jacks are directly above the vents and below the longerons.) and the location works great.

I have vents higher up in my panel (6A) - they work well.

Picture of the panel while in re-build.

Thanks, guys. I've got pretty long legs, so I want to avoid any switch subpanels or housings that extend down beneath the main panel. Granted, the vents are way off to the side when mounted low.

Currently working on IP support structure, and upholstery ships in a week or so, so with everything in place I can get a real feel for what the final seating position and clearances will be.

Higher ok
 

I have mine in the same location as Penguin's. More because that is how they were plumbed when I bought the plane flying and didn't want to re-route when I re-did the panel.

Higher works fine. One thing to think of is that the velocity can be considerable (good, when it's hot out), but this can also activate the VOX on your intercom/audio panel if you have it aimed at your face (mike). For this reason, I tend to aim it at my chest. The lower location would probably work just as well for this, and probably where I'd put them if building from scratch.

YMMV.

Vent location
 

Mine are in the stock position with Stein's large size vent- I'm in Louisiana- they work better than any plane I've ever been in. You can direct anywhere you want- towards the chest area works for me.

My vents are down at the lower corners of the panel and can still be directed up enough to blow into my face. My only gripe is that I wish I could get enough airflow to more quickly clear the cabin of smoke when I run my smoke system, but that's an entirely different problem :D

Fresh air while on the ground
 

I have been wondering about this too and I bought the small Aveo units with a plan to place them above the longerons line. Building the panel is the next major phase of my project but has not yet started.

I am not concerned about velocity or volume while flying but, as mine is a tipper, I am concerned about fresh air on the ground. I seem to need air across my face more than most folks and start to feel claustrophobia if I don't get enough of it. Sure I can crack open the canopy to get some air on my face but I think it would be better at taxi speeds and below to have those vents higher up.

I have also been thinking of putting one or even two 2" PC cooling fans in line with each vent tube so that I can flick them on during approach and only take my hands away from the panel to open the canopy when the aircraft has been looked after. Has anybody tried that before and if so, is it worth it?

Any place on the main panel is good. Mine are located below the panel in the farthermost corners next to the fuselage. Plenty of air but my knee is right under the vent panel. I had to cushion the edge in order not to feel metal against my leg at times. The mention of air hitting your mike is very valid. No matter where you mount the vents you will get plenty of rushing air as you cruise at over 175 mph. In the winter, you won't want that air hitting your body at all.

Same arrangement and result for me. Even on the ground in a tipper they provide a substantial amount of air. Once off the ground, the air quantity is about enough to blow your hat off. :)