So maybe in the year 2525 if Im still alive, I might finally get a hanger. Since we moved to NC the plane now sits outside. I would like to provide some preheat before firing up a cold soaked engine. Has anyone come up with a portable self contained preheater for use on the tarmac.
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Portable preheater
- Thread starter togaflyer
- Start date
That’s going to be hard to do effectively to warm up your oil. The best you’ll be able to do is warm up the cylinders. My tannis is most effect when run for 4 hours. The oil gets up to about 60F when it is 20F outside and the cylinders get to just about 100F. If I turn it on any less time those temps come down.
My neighbor runs his shop with a bunch of small solar panels. No idea how much power. They are about 2'x4'.
The other end of the problem is the heater. All you need is some data to determine how much power is needed. An inverter would work too. Problem is where to put the panels, batteries, etc.
My sump heater takes about an hour to heat oil to 60. 300 watts @ 110V. It's connected to a Switcheon. I have a milkhouse that blows into the inlets. Also on the Switcheon.
Just an idea.
The other end of the problem is the heater. All you need is some data to determine how much power is needed. An inverter would work too. Problem is where to put the panels, batteries, etc.
My sump heater takes about an hour to heat oil to 60. 300 watts @ 110V. It's connected to a Switcheon. I have a milkhouse that blows into the inlets. Also on the Switcheon.
Just an idea.
My plane occasionally has to sit outside in the cold for lengthy periods at my frequent destination (KXLL in Allentown). The plane has a plug-in sump pad and cylinder ring heating elements, but there is no convenient outlet to plug it into. So I got a portable generator (knock-off of the Honda) and a short extension cord. I keep it in my airport car. When needed, I haul it out, crank it up, and plug in the plane. Works surprisingly well - it doesn't take that long to get the oil temp up to a point where starting is easy.
Great suggestions on this Facebook post. https://www.facebook.com/groups/EXPERIMENTALAIRCRAFT/posts/1393538844582846/
I especially like this one https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-O...ir-Propane-Heater-Tool-Only-PCL801B/320570732
I especially like this one https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-O...ir-Propane-Heater-Tool-Only-PCL801B/320570732
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This is the way I would go. Benefit is if you fly somewhere with a plug you can plug it in and walk away.
I have a Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 portable battery that I plan to test this winter to power my Reiff sump pad heaters. Use case is away from home on the ramp in winter. An initial test indicates I should get 4 hours of heating. The battery weighs 23 lbs and performed well for the week at OSH in HBC.
I haven’t come up with a way to remotely activate the setup so any ideas would be helpful.
My Honda 1000 works well to run the pad heaters but the FBOs in Colorado and New Mexico wouldn’t let it run unattended. Plus I didn’t like carrying it in the plane.
I haven’t come up with a way to remotely activate the setup so any ideas would be helpful.
My Honda 1000 works well to run the pad heaters but the FBOs in Colorado and New Mexico wouldn’t let it run unattended. Plus I didn’t like carrying it in the plane.
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I have the Reiff pads. Actually didn’t think about a generator. Maybe a 1000 watt generator to plug in the heat pads and run a small blower heater…
It occurs to me that I never asked permission.
I’d agree that carrying the generator in the plane would be more trouble than it’s worth.
And I hadn’t thought about adding a blower heater! Could come in handy to get rid of ice on the wings and tail (although I’d want to keep it away from the canopy…). I wonder if my generator has enough ooomph to run both.
I assume you don’t want to go the way we did when I was a teen flying a J-3 (that sat outside) on skis at our local FBO… drained the oil at the end of the day unto a bucket, then warmed it up on the stove in the morning to pour back in before flying!
We sometimes fly out to a friend’s ranch in eastern Nevada, and there is no way to preheat there - we just try not to launch first thing in the morning so that the sun can warm things up (a little) before we have to start up.
We sometimes fly out to a friend’s ranch in eastern Nevada, and there is no way to preheat there - we just try not to launch first thing in the morning so that the sun can warm things up (a little) before we have to start up.
Ironically, I was just looking at those a couple of days ago! less than $100. The can run with a 12V battery. Easily add some dryer vent tube. They have remote cabaility, but very limited distance, ie bluetooth.
VEVOR Diesel Air Heater, 12V 5KW Diesel Heater with Remote Control and LCD, 10L Fuel Tank Diesel Parking Heater, Rapid Heating and Low Noise for RV Trailer Camper Van Boat | VEVOR US
Stay warm with the VEVOR Diesel Air Heater, offering rapid heating, low noise, and intelligent control for RVs, trailers, boats, and indoor use.
This is my solution. I had the same issue, though I have finally made it into a hangar. I wanted something small (so I could carry in my car or the plane), totally self contained (no external utilities of any kind required), and could put out enough heat to be a reasonable solution. I was working through designs and here is what I came up with. Weights about 25lbs fully loaded. Works great! Puts out hot air, but not too hot so less risk of hot spots. Before I could finish design and setup import, life got in the way (had a baby), and now the uncertainty in the market has me gun shy about trying to get it up and going again. Maybe if there's enough interest, I'll start looking at getting this off the ground as a product.
Jjackh10
Well Known Member
I bought 2 of the 8kw versions with 120v adapters so I could work in my un-sealed un-insulated hanger. I'm very impressed with them. It will be summer again before I'm flying, but next winter I plan to use them both blowing into the cowl. I'm betting that if I leave the cabin heat on it will warm there too.Ironically, I was just looking at those a couple of days ago! less than $100. The can run with a 12V battery. Easily add some dryer vent tube. They have remote cabaility, but very limited distance, ie bluetooth.
VEVOR Diesel Air Heater, 12V 5KW Diesel Heater with Remote Control and LCD, 10L Fuel Tank Diesel Parking Heater, Rapid Heating and Low Noise for RV Trailer Camper Van Boat | VEVOR US
Stay warm with the VEVOR Diesel Air Heater, offering rapid heating, low noise, and intelligent control for RVs, trailers, boats, and indoor use.www.vevor.com
In the post I referenced he runs his on a cordless tool battery. That would make a great setup for backcountry flying. Heat the tent overnight then heat the plane in the morning.
Jjackh10
Well Known Member
Yes, diesel burners will burn almost anything including Avgas and Jet fuel. My diesel truck also works on Jet A hahaha.
I used to burn jet A in my kerosene torpedo heater - when I was working and got it for free.
Interesting. I wonder if it will burn in a wick style heater like the DynaGlo.
If you click on the link, it shows a small fuel tank. Research I read suggested it lasts up to 19 hours. 10L/2.6 gallon tank.
Jjackh10
Well Known Member
Mine are a larger version with built in tanks a bit over a gallon. On low settings they will run over night. On high I'm guessing 6 hrs or so. The guy using his for pre-heating has a small version. He just siphon's a bit of avgas from his plane into a small plastic cup. And powers it with a Milwaukee drill battery.
He posted a lot of details and testing. It's on the POA forum.
Yes it does. I have two wick style heaters too. My FBO won’t sell me Jet A that they pump into a gas can. The only way I can get it is from the guys at my former Corporate Flight department. They sump the tanks on both jets almost daily and put the sumped fuel in a 50 gallon drum. I siphon it into my gas can from there.
