Brantel
Well Known Member
I finally instaled my sump heater that I have had sitting on the shelf for 4 years.
A couple weeks ago I finally installed it and gave the epoxy it came with a week to cure properly before using it. I started out only using it when I was there just to make sure it was not going to burn down my airplane and hangar. It seems to really get hot locally but I guess that is the point.
Anyway fast forward to this past weekend...After I installed and tested my P-Mag, I left the heater on and went back over to the airport and checked on it last night. It has been running for 4 days and all is well.
I did not have a blanket on the cowl but I did plug the front inlets with two T shirts.
OAT = 32°F
Oil Temp = 78°F (sensor only, no turning the prop, no flow, up top in the normal sensor location)
Carb Temp = 88°F
CHT = 69-72°F
EGT = 58-62°F
The built in thermostat on the heater is fixed at 160°F max I think so the carb temp probe which is really close to the heater seems to prove that that is working OK.
Last night I folded an old sleeping bag and placed it on top of the cowl. This should really help.
I know that some have said that these heaters can cause condensation and problems when used long term but I cannot see how when I can get the entire area inside of the cowl up to these temps. Our average cold temps are not that low so we are lucky in that regard. I imagine that somewhere that has much lower average temps might see a problem but I do not think here in East TN it will be a problem. The other thing is that I bet the ones that do have problems are not flown many times per month like my plane is so that could allow condensation to build up in there.
I plan to check it again after a few days of cold snowy weather and see how it is doing with the blanket on there....for now I plan to leave it on 24x7!
The reason I want to leave it on is because it is a 40 minute drive to the airport and I rarely have much notice before I go flying. I don't have money to spend right now on a cellular activated switch so that option is out.
Here is the heater that I installed:
http://www.mcfarlane-aviation.com/Products/?ID=3769206&CategoryID=128
A couple weeks ago I finally installed it and gave the epoxy it came with a week to cure properly before using it. I started out only using it when I was there just to make sure it was not going to burn down my airplane and hangar. It seems to really get hot locally but I guess that is the point.
Anyway fast forward to this past weekend...After I installed and tested my P-Mag, I left the heater on and went back over to the airport and checked on it last night. It has been running for 4 days and all is well.
I did not have a blanket on the cowl but I did plug the front inlets with two T shirts.
OAT = 32°F
Oil Temp = 78°F (sensor only, no turning the prop, no flow, up top in the normal sensor location)
Carb Temp = 88°F
CHT = 69-72°F
EGT = 58-62°F
The built in thermostat on the heater is fixed at 160°F max I think so the carb temp probe which is really close to the heater seems to prove that that is working OK.
Last night I folded an old sleeping bag and placed it on top of the cowl. This should really help.
I know that some have said that these heaters can cause condensation and problems when used long term but I cannot see how when I can get the entire area inside of the cowl up to these temps. Our average cold temps are not that low so we are lucky in that regard. I imagine that somewhere that has much lower average temps might see a problem but I do not think here in East TN it will be a problem. The other thing is that I bet the ones that do have problems are not flown many times per month like my plane is so that could allow condensation to build up in there.
I plan to check it again after a few days of cold snowy weather and see how it is doing with the blanket on there....for now I plan to leave it on 24x7!
The reason I want to leave it on is because it is a 40 minute drive to the airport and I rarely have much notice before I go flying. I don't have money to spend right now on a cellular activated switch so that option is out.
Here is the heater that I installed:
http://www.mcfarlane-aviation.com/Products/?ID=3769206&CategoryID=128
![safe-heet%20on%20Lycoming%20Oil%20Pan%20Retouched-ed%20color.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcfarlane-aviation.com%2FImages%2Fsafe-heet%2520on%2520Lycoming%2520Oil%2520Pan%2520Retouched-ed%2520color.jpg&hash=2d611148166d47759cede66793dd5925)
![24gofwj.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi54.tinypic.com%2F24gofwj.jpg&hash=1cf699dabb6bc3befecd5bf91c8db746)
![2yxixlj.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi52.tinypic.com%2F2yxixlj.jpg&hash=4924bcc3d1e41a5b260a711fbaf72e52)
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