|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

11-01-2018, 09:57 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Garden City, Tx
Posts: 5,145
|
|
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?
__________________
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.
|

11-01-2018, 10:36 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Clinton, Indiana
Posts: 996
|
|
U-phone it
Works great. Great service. Two controllable outputs.
__________________
Larry DeCamp
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
|

11-01-2018, 10:41 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ____
Posts: 829
|
|
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.
|

11-01-2018, 11:05 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
|
|
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.
|

11-01-2018, 11:49 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Hinckley, Ohio
Posts: 2,065
|
|
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

__________________
-
Jim Stricker
EAA #499867
PPL/ASEL 1970 - Sport Pilot since 2007
80 hrs Flying Aeronca Chief 11AC N86203
1130 hrs Flying 46 Piper J-3 Cub N6841H
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
MJ Stricker (Father & CFI) - USAAF 1st Lt. Captain B-17H
Last edited by Piper J3 : 11-01-2018 at 11:55 AM.
|

11-01-2018, 04:24 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Aiken, SC
Posts: 620
|
|
Thanks for this. I just ordered one to use on my RV-14A, which should be going to the airport soon . . . 
__________________
MED
140236
N435MD
Miss March 2020
|

11-01-2018, 06:51 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 452
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by airguy
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
__________________
Brian J.
Boston, MA
RV8 Based at ORH - Purchased
RV8 - The Project #83313 - Under Construction
|

11-01-2018, 07:15 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Garden City, Tx
Posts: 5,145
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Northernliving
|
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.
|

11-01-2018, 09:16 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
Posts: 5,516
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry DeCamp
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.
__________________
Bill
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.”
|

11-05-2018, 08:25 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: St-Jerome,Quebec,Canada
Posts: 1,125
|
|
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
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:55 AM.
|