Pitot Heat testing

[RNB]

Change forums if needed mods

I payed closer attention to my pitot heat today (RV10) and after testing noted the tube did not get hot after several minutes. I looked closer at the panel and noted three lights near the switch, forget what they were, but something like "OK", "On" and "heating", only the green on one was lit. I assumed this meant I was okay to fly.

How do I fully test this system to confirm it works? Temps approached the 80s today.
Thanks

 

[Auburntsts]

Sounds like the old Gretz heated pitot tube. I tested mine by putting some ice in a small ziplock bag and draping it over the pitot until it turned on. That said the Gretz gave me nothing but trouble so I switched it out for a Garmin GAP 26 heated pitot and never looked back.

 

[Walt]

Full test: turn on heat, if it's too hot to keep your hand on it after 2 minutes it it's working

 

[Auburntsts]

Full test: turn on heat, if it's too hot to keep your hand on it after 2 minutes it it's working

If it’s a Gretz and it’s warm outside it won’t heat as it’s always on and has a controller that manages whether it heats or not. So you have to trick it. My controller never worked properly which is why I got rid of the entire system other than the mount.

 

[lr172]

If it’s a Gretz and it’s warm outside it won’t heat as it’s always on and has a controller that manages whether it heats or not. So you have to trick it. My controller never worked properly which is why I got rid of the entire system other than the mount.

Correct, there is a thermistor in the Pitot and the controller only turns on heat below something like 40*. If it is cold enough aloft, you can turn it on and observe amp increases to confirm operation.

EDIT: Per Walts post, wanted to be clear that my guidance was based on the assumption the pitot being discussed here was a gretz unit. I was not suggesting all pitots work this way.

 

[BobTurner]

Correct, there is a thermistor in the Pitot and the controller only turns on heat below something like 40*. If it is cold enough aloft, you can turn it on and observe amp increases to confirm operation.

Dynon and Garmin thermostatically controlled pitot heaters work the same way. Test with bag of ice as above.

 

[Walt]

Dynon and Garmin thermostatically controlled pitot heaters work the same way. Test with bag of ice as above.

Don't think that is the case with Garmin:
(I've tested both reg and unreg units on the ground and they both heat without ice)

5.1.2 Ice Protection
The heated version of the GAP 26 (010-01074-10) has dual internal electro-thermal heating elements to provide ice protection to the areas of the probe where surface impingement of icing elements is expected to occur. In addition to the same level of ice protection (as the -10 probe), the heated/regulated version of the GAP 26 (010-01074-20) limits the maximum tip temperature to make the probe safer if powered on the ground and to provide a discrete output that indicates when the heater is powered and providing sufficient
heat