I purchased a Gretz pitot for use on my RV-9A when the company was owned by Warren Gretz. During my build process the company transitioned to an Australian based company owned by Andrew Leopold. During Pitot installation I had a few questions about the units technical design. Questions like why doesn?t the pitot have a drain line like other Pitots. What happens to the water or the melted ice. Does it proceed up the pitot tube until the water finds a low point and then freezes? Should I add a drain in the line. Once I installed and turned the unit on the green LED indicated ?on?, but how do I verify the pitot is operational prior to flight? Repeated Emails like these were never answered.
During my phase one testing, I took the my plane to have it IFR qualified. Since I could not prove to the technician the pitot was operational he recommended I come back later when I can. Then the green LED quit working, I sent repeated emails asking for advice on tracing out the problem. I finally received a response from Mr Leopold. He was willing to examine the operation of the board as well as pitot, ?Just? send it to him in Austrialia. Minimum time for this examination 10 days to Austrialia one day to examine, 10 days back. I have an electrical engineering degree and wanted to save both of us almost a month to find out if my wiring, the board, or the pitot thermister or,,, what ever was bad. Sent more Emails to request answers to technical questions. Questions like what resistance values should I receive on the thermister at 32 Degrees etc. No response. Looked on the internet they recommended to actuate the heater, I place a bag of ice on the pitot. Sent an EMAIL to Mr Leopold and he responded to do so and that I would hear a relay actuate.
Placed a bag of ice on the pitot the relay actuated the pitot began getting hot then proceeded to melt! I immediately sent an email to Mr Leopold who requested I send him the pitot and the board and he would examine the unit. I sent it out the next day. Ten days later, I received confirmation from USPS the package arrived, sent him an EMAIL to confirm its arrival. No response. 5 days later, sent another EMAIL. Only after two more days, after he had the unit for 7 days did Mr Leopold state that he could not find anything wrong with the unit. Since the pitot was melted, he recommended I purchase a new Pitot, on line, and, at what address do I want the damaged, but operable unit returned. Since the problem is not solved, to purchase another unit that may melt again is stupid. At best, I would have a heated pitot, I feel is not reliable.
Now Mr Leopold does not respond to my request of returning my melted pitot. My impression is, if you purchase a Gretz heated pitot you have no way of knowing it is going to operate when required. Tech support is non existent. Any examination/repairs are going to cost you excessive down time.?
During my phase one testing, I took the my plane to have it IFR qualified. Since I could not prove to the technician the pitot was operational he recommended I come back later when I can. Then the green LED quit working, I sent repeated emails asking for advice on tracing out the problem. I finally received a response from Mr Leopold. He was willing to examine the operation of the board as well as pitot, ?Just? send it to him in Austrialia. Minimum time for this examination 10 days to Austrialia one day to examine, 10 days back. I have an electrical engineering degree and wanted to save both of us almost a month to find out if my wiring, the board, or the pitot thermister or,,, what ever was bad. Sent more Emails to request answers to technical questions. Questions like what resistance values should I receive on the thermister at 32 Degrees etc. No response. Looked on the internet they recommended to actuate the heater, I place a bag of ice on the pitot. Sent an EMAIL to Mr Leopold and he responded to do so and that I would hear a relay actuate.
Placed a bag of ice on the pitot the relay actuated the pitot began getting hot then proceeded to melt! I immediately sent an email to Mr Leopold who requested I send him the pitot and the board and he would examine the unit. I sent it out the next day. Ten days later, I received confirmation from USPS the package arrived, sent him an EMAIL to confirm its arrival. No response. 5 days later, sent another EMAIL. Only after two more days, after he had the unit for 7 days did Mr Leopold state that he could not find anything wrong with the unit. Since the pitot was melted, he recommended I purchase a new Pitot, on line, and, at what address do I want the damaged, but operable unit returned. Since the problem is not solved, to purchase another unit that may melt again is stupid. At best, I would have a heated pitot, I feel is not reliable.
Now Mr Leopold does not respond to my request of returning my melted pitot. My impression is, if you purchase a Gretz heated pitot you have no way of knowing it is going to operate when required. Tech support is non existent. Any examination/repairs are going to cost you excessive down time.?