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  #1  
Old 11-01-2018, 09:57 AM
airguy's Avatar
airguy airguy is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Garden City, Tx
Posts: 5,145
Default Good remote controlled engine preheat?

With winter here I'm looking for a remote-controlled switch to turn on/off engine preheaters, ideally for 2 airplanes so two separately controllable outputs. I have good ATTWS service at the hangar which is GSM network, and also Verizon which I believe is CDMA.

What are you cold-weather folks using that actually works decent?
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Greg Niehues - SEL, IFR, Repairman Cert.
Garden City, TX VAF 2020 dues paid
N16GN flying 700 hrs and counting; IO360, SDS, WWRV200, Dynon HDX, 430W
Built an off-plan RV9A with too much fuel and too much HP. Should drop dead any minute now.
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  #2  
Old 11-01-2018, 10:36 AM
Larry DeCamp's Avatar
Larry DeCamp Larry DeCamp is online now
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Clinton, Indiana
Posts: 996
Default U-phone it

Works great. Great service. Two controllable outputs.
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RV-3B flying w/7:1 0320 / carb / Pmags / Catto 3b / digital steam
RV-4 fastback w/ Superior roller 360/AFP/G3X/CPI/Catto3b
Clinton, IN
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  #3  
Old 11-01-2018, 10:41 AM
F1R F1R is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ____
Posts: 829
Default In Texas use the sun

Hot air solar flat panels are easy as it gets to fabricate. In Texas it should work better than most states. Black painted eavestrough down spout square or rectangle under a glass or lexan sheet will make enough hot air to warm your Lycoming or entire hangar in short order any time the sun is shining.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a62mZMIMpc0

Last edited by F1R : 11-01-2018 at 02:52 PM.
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  #4  
Old 11-01-2018, 11:05 AM
Canadian_JOY Canadian_JOY is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
Default

Greg - while it's not likely what you're wanting, I likewise was looking for a purely-cellular solution and ended up with something else. I purchased a cellular/wifi hotspot modem. This device provides a connection to the cellular data network for its built-in WIFI hotspot.

With a device like this you can control any number of different WIFI-enabled devices. 115V power switches, lighting controllers, video cameras etc. In short, this solution provides a lot more flexibility than a dedicated cellular power switch. For me this equated to much better "bang for the buck". I love being able to turn on the aircraft pre-heater via my smart phone.

Good luck in finding a solution that fits your needs.
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  #5  
Old 11-01-2018, 11:49 AM
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Piper J3 Piper J3 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Hinckley, Ohio
Posts: 2,065
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I bought a 4G cell phone switch on eBay for $149. Vendor is Relay-Supply in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Delivery is three days. Unit has two independent output relays so it can control two airplanes if needed. My regular cell phone service is ATT but for this application I have a $3/month T-Mobile SIM card that allows 30 text messages/month. The switch has ability to monitor quality of connection to the cell tower. At the hanger, with external antenna, the cell connection is 24/30. Cell phone switch rejects all robo-calls and only responds to my cell phone with my code.

I use an extension cord with LED lights built into the plug-ends so I can see at a glance if power is on. I also run an old analog electric alarm clock in parallel with the engine heater. I set the alarm clock for noon and when I arrive at the hanger I can “see” how long the heater has been on. Good visual confirmation that everything is hunky-dory.

I sit in my living room, send text message to turn on the engine pre-heater, and the cell phone switch reports back that the relay is on for 150 minutes. When I get to the hanger I flip on the EMS and usually read 80F oil temp when OAT is below freezing. Analog alarm clock verifies engine heater has been on for 2-1/2 hours. Text message can be copy/paste on the cell phone so you don't have to type each time. Easy-peasy like my triplet granddaughters say...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4G-GSM-High....c100903.m5276

Cell phone switch mounted on column inside hanger


Remote antenna mounted outside metal hanger building


Cell phone text message to turn on engine pre-heater
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Jim Stricker
EAA #499867
PPL/ASEL 1970 - Sport Pilot since 2007
80 hrs Flying Aeronca Chief 11AC N86203
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Bought Flying RV-12 #120058 Oct 2015 with 48TT - Hobbs now 622

LSRM-A Certificate 2016 for RV-12 N633CM
Special Thanks... EJ Trucks - USN Crew Chief A-4 Skyhawk
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Last edited by Piper J3 : 11-01-2018 at 11:55 AM.
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  #6  
Old 11-01-2018, 04:24 PM
MED MED is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Aiken, SC
Posts: 620
Default

Thanks for this. I just ordered one to use on my RV-14A, which should be going to the airport soon . . .
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  #7  
Old 11-01-2018, 06:51 PM
Northernliving Northernliving is offline
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 452
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Quote:
Originally Posted by airguy View Post
With winter here I'm looking for a remote-controlled switch to turn on/off engine preheaters, ideally for 2 airplanes so two separately controllable outputs. I have good ATTWS service at the hangar which is GSM network, and also Verizon which I believe is CDMA.

What are you cold-weather folks using that actually works decent?
Tanis preheat and a wifi switch. Cheap, simple, and works like a champ. One switch for preheat and one for a charger.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y2XD9XH...541119815&sr=1
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Boston, MA
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  #8  
Old 11-01-2018, 07:15 PM
airguy's Avatar
airguy airguy is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Garden City, Tx
Posts: 5,145
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Northernliving View Post
Tanis preheat and a wifi switch. Cheap, simple, and works like a champ. One switch for preheat and one for a charger.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y2XD9XH...541119815&sr=1
No wifi at the hangar - I'm looking for cell-based solution. I like Piper J3's solution, ordered one of those today. It apparently works with either T-Mobile or ATTWS, I've got service from both of them here.
__________________
Greg Niehues - SEL, IFR, Repairman Cert.
Garden City, TX VAF 2020 dues paid
N16GN flying 700 hrs and counting; IO360, SDS, WWRV200, Dynon HDX, 430W
Built an off-plan RV9A with too much fuel and too much HP. Should drop dead any minute now.
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  #9  
Old 11-01-2018, 09:16 PM
BillL BillL is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
Posts: 5,516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry DeCamp View Post
Works great. Great service. Two controllable outputs.
+1, Bob from Wisconsin. Great support and price on a years phone service. Several products with different features.
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RV-7
Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
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  #10  
Old 11-05-2018, 08:25 PM
RV-4 RV-4 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: St-Jerome,Quebec,Canada
Posts: 1,125
Thumbs up ENGINE PREHEAT

I have a SwitchBox with a T-Mobil service and it is working great even here in Canada with the aircraft parked on a farm strip away from everything...

Nice to have the engine already warm by the time I get to the hangar..

Bought it here on VAF..

Bruno
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