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12-06-2017, 07:05 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snopercod
I don't see how that could possibly hurt anything. That's what I would do.
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Yep, I had one of those Amazon special stick on pads and it was great. I'd plug it in the night before with a blanket over the cowl and by morning the engine was warm all the way to the head fins. Obviously, 300 watts can't overwhelm the cooling capacity of the engine, so leaving it on indefinately is not going to increase temps beyond about 80 degrees.
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WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.
Michael Robinson
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Harmon Rocket II -SDS EFI
RV-8 - SDS CPI
1940 Taylorcraft BL-65
1984 L39C
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12-06-2017, 07:22 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Gardnerville Nv.
Posts: 2,828
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Plummit
It's not a theory, it's a fact.
-Marc
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Well.......if....the lower explosive limit LEL of 1.2 and the upper explosive limit UEL of 7.1 of gasoline ever present themselves with the other two elements to support BOOM! stuff we have a problem. Fuel tank vent....air containing oxygen......and a heat source...... 
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7A Slider, EFII Angle 360, CS, SJ.
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01-07-2018, 08:43 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Posts: 17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Canadian_JOY
There are lots of options available. While the ember bed idea sounds crazy, it's not really all that crazy - I've used it lots of times on cars and tractors - just put the embers in a steel shovel and slide the shovel under the oil pan.
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Done the same thing for trucks and equipment. Normally used a small bag of charcoal. Lite the bag on fire and as soon as the paper burns off, slide the charcoal under the engine. That or the old pull the air filter out and use a weed burner to blow hot air directly into the air intake trick. I?ve started diesels like that in conditions that were not fit for a polar bear.
But I don?t think I would try either on my plane. Normally just a 100? cord and a call to the fbo to ask if there is a place I can plug my plane in. When it?s really cold, I also don?t mind paying $30-40 to park my plane in a heated hanger overnight.
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RV-10 N203DT empennage in process, fuselage on order.
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01-07-2018, 10:13 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: albuquerque, nm
Posts: 1,167
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Lots of interesting ideas here. I've over constrained myself somewhat in that I'm unwilling to have my wife and two toddlers mill around for a few hours while I wait at the airport for many of these methods to work. I don't think I'll be starting a fire on the ramp of most of the places I visit either. I now know that KTEX (Telluride) has free outlets on the ramp. KAPA is still an issue. The country's busiest GA airport doesn't really know what to do with piston singles in this case. I didn't press too hard, there's a good chance a more knowledgeable person on the phone would have given a different answer.
Given time to wait, I like the camp stove and duct idea in post #14. I even have that exact stove.
It turns out that Vic mentioned an elegant and less expensive method to what I was thinking of when I mentioned a Goal Zero battery pack in a post here: http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...76&postcount=3
Basically, carry a spare battery and inverter to power my Reiff sump heater. I can even carry my cell phone activated switch if necessary.
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01-07-2018, 10:50 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,646
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I can raise temps about 10-15F in less than 30 minutes with a hair dryer, extension cord, and cowl blanket (old thin sleeping bag that doubles as survival gear). Just need to be able to find an outlet. That seems to be faster than a stick on pad/band system, it heats the whole engine, and is thus my current strategy while away.
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Steve M.
Ellensburg WA
RV-9 Flying, 0-320, Catto
Donation reminder: Jan. 2021
Last edited by alpinelakespilot2000 : 01-07-2018 at 10:53 AM.
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01-07-2018, 11:39 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,412
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I'm all about the lightest possible aircraft, so permanent pre-heaters are out for me.
If operating at a Civilized Airport, I would use a 'Heat Gun' (looks like an industrial hair drier) and an extension cord. Direct it up into the bottom, set it on a stool...anything that comes to hand. It's the lightest thing, you could carry it in your flight bag.
In my hangar, I use a 120 volt plug in heater and flex aluminum clothes drier hose to bring the heat up to the exhaust outlet under the cowl. I cover the cowl with an old sleeping bag / blanket / tarp.
It fits *All* aircraft.
I have a Coleman stove, and plan to try Mike Baur's (post #15) camp stove and drier hose system. This is a mini system of every WWII combatant's winter pre-heater. This I would watch while using, but the supplied heat is plenty and the pre-heat time would be fairly short.
I know some think it's unsafe, put bear in mind that this is the same area that your exhaust pipes expel raw flame when flying. The camp stove flame is much farther away and lower. Position it a bit to the side and keep an eye on it, you'll be fine. (standard disclaimers of responsibility liability etc) Just be careful.
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Scott Emery
http://gallery.eaa326.org/v/members/semery/
EAA 668340, chapter 326 & IAC chapter 67
RV-8 N89SE first flight 12/26/2013
Yak55M, and the wife has an RV-4
There is nothing-absolute nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing around with Aeroplanes
(with apologies to Ratty)
2019
Last edited by SHIPCHIEF : 01-08-2018 at 12:09 AM.
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01-08-2018, 07:45 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
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If one does a comparison of weights I believe you'll find the stick-on pads to weigh considerably less than a hair dryer or heat gun.
The real difference is the speed of heating.
Watts in are what count for speed. A 1500W heat gun is going to be much faster than 300-600W of stick-on heating pad.
Yesterday I was in a bit of a hurry so used a 1000W heater in addition to the 650 total installed watts of the Reiff Turbo XP system. Then again, the ambient temperature was -22c in the hangar when I started... :-)
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02-05-2018, 03:57 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Richmond VA, USA
Posts: 456
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Preheating with battery and inverter
Guy - what kind of battery life/heating capability are you getting? I've got a spare Odyssey PC925 and an inverter that I can devote to powering my Reiff (sump and piston rings). But I'm wondering if this system has enough oomph to get the job done. I hooked it up the other day and the inverter started beeping about a weak battery after only 10 minutes or so.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guy Prevost
Lots of interesting ideas here. I've over constrained myself somewhat in that I'm unwilling to have my wife and two toddlers mill around for a few hours while I wait at the airport for many of these methods to work. I don't think I'll be starting a fire on the ramp of most of the places I visit either. I now know that KTEX (Telluride) has free outlets on the ramp. KAPA is still an issue. The country's busiest GA airport doesn't really know what to do with piston singles in this case. I didn't press too hard, there's a good chance a more knowledgeable person on the phone would have given a different answer.
Given time to wait, I like the camp stove and duct idea in post #14. I even have that exact stove.
It turns out that Vic mentioned an elegant and less expensive method to what I was thinking of when I mentioned a Goal Zero battery pack in a post here: http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...76&postcount=3
Basically, carry a spare battery and inverter to power my Reiff sump heater. I can even carry my cell phone activated switch if necessary.
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__________________
N929JA, 2007 RV-9A
Based W96: New Kent International Aerodrome
(near Richmond, VA USA)
2020 Dues Paid
Last edited by Dugaru : 02-05-2018 at 03:58 PM.
Reason: typos
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02-06-2018, 03:14 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: n. wi
Posts: 778
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i would be hesitant to use a ''heat gun''. they get literally red hot.
a hair dryer has safer temps. also hair dryers can be had up to 1850 watts. that's a lot for an elec. heat source.
had my experience with a heat gun. trying to preheat a skidsteer. gun never left my hand and before it was over i melted a fuel line anyway.
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Bob Noffs
n. wi.
dakota hawk/jab 3300 built and flying. sold 6/18.getting serious about the 12. in the hangar now as of 10/15/19
RV-12 kit as of 9/13
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02-06-2018, 11:43 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 5,298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dugaru
Guy - what kind of battery life/heating capability are you getting? I've got a spare Odyssey PC925 and an inverter that I can devote to powering my Reiff (sump and piston rings). But I'm wondering if this system has enough oomph to get the job done. I hooked it up the other day and the inverter started beeping about a weak battery after only 10 minutes or so.
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a 150 watt heating element will draw approximately 12 amps at 12.5 volts. The inverter will likely have a 70% efficiency rating, ultimately requiring around 17 amps at 12.5 volts. Compare this to the AH rating on your battery. Be advised that AH ratings are typically given for low current levels (a 20 hour rating). You want the 1 hour AH rating for this application. These are quite a bit lower than the 20 hour rating, which is why they aren't adevertised.
Larry
__________________
N64LR - RV-6A / IO-320, Flying as of 8/2015
N11LR - RV-10, Flying as of 12/2019
Last edited by lr172 : 02-06-2018 at 11:46 AM.
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