Electric Preheat Inlet Hardware

[jaredyates]

For folks who have onboard electric engine preheaters, what elegant ways have you found to receive the incoming AC power? So far I have tried a flopping around male plug and a hard mounted right angle plug, both accessible from the engine cooling outlet at the bottom of the cowl, and neither have been great. If it is going to be under the cowl, it needs to be able to handle the high cowl temps, and be able to plug in one handed. My next line of thinking is probably to route it back to the cabin.

 

[jherzog]

For folks who have onboard electric engine preheaters, what elegant ways have you found to receive the incoming AC power? So far I have tried a flopping around male plug and a hard mounted right angle plug, both accessible from the engine cooling outlet at the bottom of the cowl, and neither have been great. If it is going to be under the cowl, it needs to be able to handle the high cowl temps, and be able to plug in one handed. My next line of thinking is probably to route it back to the cabin.

I have the male plug of my Reiff preheater cable tied inside the top cowl, near the oil filler / dipstick access door. Probably the most elegant way would be to use a Tanis flush mount connector through the cowl or empennage:

Tanis Flush Mount Plugs | Aircraft Spruce ®

Tanis Flush Mount Plugs Straight blade flush mount plugs.

www.aircraftspruce.com

 

[rocketman1988]

I used a standard IEC bulkhead fitting like this and mounted it in the aft baffle. Easy to reach on my -10 and the cord is completely removed when not being used. I store it in my "Go Bag" so its always with the airplane.

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-buffer-61557.html

 

[MacCool]

Mine is located inside the left cowl intake...the male plug riveted to the lower plate of the plenum.

 

[dmattmul]

I liked mine under the oil door. Worked well on my 14A and 10. Panel mount IEC C13 or C14. Rated for 10 amps.


Before powder coating in the 14.


RV-10 rear baffle wall

​

They have one with a flip door now it seems.

 

[lucas2696]

Accessible via the oil door, also have my battery tender plug in there.

 

[jaredyates]

Thanks everyone, these are some great leads.

 

[wirejock]

Probably not the most elegant. Both the EZ-heat and the battery charger connections are secured by Velcro. Reach in the oil door and pull them loose.

 

[jaredyates]

Thanks everyone for the ideas, I went with a plug from Amazon in the intake baffle.

Amazon.com