Cabin heat intake on Sam James Cowl

[jneves]

Edit a 3rd search with the right terms got my answer.

First mod on the new to me RV-6A is going to be cabin heat, he muff, cabin box/diverter, etc.. is all straight forward. My issue is where to draw intake air from. I currently have zero issues with temps and didnt want to go through trial and error if someone has already done this and knew the answer.

Where, in the plenum should I/are you, pulling fresh air from? Called SJ, but the new owners have not ran across this yet so they are not sure how to address it.

Again I can go through trial and error, but wanted to check to see what other's have done.

[danny]

Hi, I have a James cowl and plenum. I get air from the rear baffle behind #3 cylinder. Easy to plumb down to the heat muff mounted on the right side exhaust. I haven't given it a hard test yet since it's been pretty nice weather up here in the NW but that seems to be changing fast.
Hope this at least gives you an option.
danny

[D Weisgerber]

I took air from behind the #3 cylinder also with no problems. I ran it that way for about 20 years in all kinds of weather. I am in Michigan but it does get hot and humid here. I just finished my RV8 with a James cowl and plenum, I am using air from behind the #3 cylinder for that too, no problems so far, Its been about 2 months and 60 hours.

[jneves]

Thank you both very much. Seems to be the consensus across the board. Appreciate the confirmation. Now off to prep for the cooler weather.

[dpansier]

I source the cabin heater air in front of #1 with a 1.5” dia tube.
Two muffs in series, flown down to 0 F OAT with adequate cabin temps.

[jneves]

This last response lead me to another question, how many muffs does one need. I’m in California and don’t expect to be flying much below 40*F. And even then don’t fly much at those temps.

[pa38112]

New Jersey: Pick up behind #3 and two muffs in series with stainless steel wool stuffed in them. It's OK, but my wife would like more hot air.

[jneves]

Thank you all very much, going to start with one muff and intake behind the #3 like others. Also will use the restricted intake size to lower flow but increase heat transfer. Lots of great ideas from you all.