recirculating heat

[rocketbob]

One thing I never liked about my RV was that the dual muff setup I have was good to only about 20 deg. F OAT.

To help with heat I've sealed up the cockpit on my Rocket very well to prevent air intrusions.

One thing I would like to do is make the intake air to the one heat muff I have take in cabin air instead of from the back of the baffle. To do this, I will have to have some kind of blower of adequate capacity.

Has anyone done this who might be able to point me to a lightweight and effective 12V blower?

[Mike S]

My Porsche 914 has a blower that is pretty close to what you are asking about. It uses two outlets that are very close to the size of the SCAT tubing we use in the aircraft.

No, you cant have mine.

Probably find them cheap at a wrecking yard.

Older VW aircooled bus should have a similar unit. Probably cost less with a VW label, than a Porsche label.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...ZxM_Px6wwvuLXQ

[Toobuilder]

Have you considered/tried electric clothing? Works well and only requires a power outlet.

[TX7A]

puts out such a good blast of air, that I have considered using it as a boost fan for fresh air through the NACA vent.
See post #15 in this thread. http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...t=53269&page=2

(edit: well, now it occurs to me that this wouldn't be a good selection since you're dealing with heated air.)

[rocketbob]

Originally Posted by Toobuilder

Have you considered/tried electric clothing? Works well and only requires a power outlet.

I have...that would work ok on local flights in the winter months but the problem is when I'm somewhere warm, fly five hours back home again into the cold, its just something else that I would have to carry with me half way across the country.

Originally Posted by TX7A

puts out such a good blast of air, that I have considered using it as a boost fan for fresh air through the NACA vent.
See post #15 in this thread. http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...t=53269&page=2

(edit: well, now it occurs to me that this wouldn't be a good selection since you're dealing with heated air.)

I am intentending to connect the fan to the inlet side of the muff so the fan itself won't get hot. The end plates of my heat muff are welded onto the exhaust pipe, so the system should seal well since it will be pressurized.

[N8RV]

Great idea, Bob. Why didn't I think of that? Duh.

Like you said, below about 20-25* OAT it's like sitting in a refrigerator. After awhile, I get chilled to the bone, regardless of layering. It would be much cheaper to find a 12v fan, run the intake SCAT tubing to the muff and just recirculate the air than to add another muff in series. There's enough ambient leakage in my plane that fogging won't likely be a problem. Make sure you post what you find and how it works.

Dang ... why didn't I think of that?

[n504tw]

JC Whitney Aircraft Supply carries these for just under 2 airplane dollars ($185). Look for "ACC CLIMATE CONTROL 12 VOLT HEATER BLOWER KIT VW".

[fehdxl]

Originally Posted by n504tw

JC Whitney Aircraft Supply carries these for just under 2 airplane dollars ($185). Look for "ACC CLIMATE CONTROL 12 VOLT HEATER BLOWER KIT VW".

for the lazy...

http://www-b.jcwhitney.com/12-volt-h...wx?filterid=j1

-Jim

[jdeas]

Considering the hostile environment how about a Bilge blower. These things can move a lot of air and are made for a hot engine compartment.
Most of them are squirrel cages made for scat tubes in the boat hull

[Kahuna]

Pooooner,
You can also pull pre-warmed air off the plate under cyl 3&4 to supply your muff insteade of off the rear baffle. I picked up another 30 degrees of allowable temperature from doing this. Im good to -10F before I need more clothing.
More pics here.