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galinhdz(at)gmail.com
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 Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 6:07 pm Post subject: Engine Compartment Heater |
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All;
With cold weather here in Houston I wanted a reliable engine compartment heater that didn't cost a lot of $$$$$. Since I couldn't find one like that, I came up with this idea.
I had a $19.95 small ceramic space heater from the Tractor Supply Store. I bought an 8ft semi-rigid aluminum dryer venting duct ($12.00) and an aluminum angled flashing ($7.00) from the Home Depot. I then cut and shaped the flashing so it covered the output of the space heater and riveted the venting duct to it. I also made a small bracket to hold the flashing/duct combination to the space heater. I then painted it red (it does get warm) and tried it out.
[img]cid:ii_12dfdb8eb79471f6[/img]
Space heater:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/comfort-zone-multi-purpose-ceramic-heater-2170801
[img]cid:ii_12dfdb95b8e02693[/img]
Aluminum flashing & dryer vent/duct riveted together
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100034844/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100129673/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
[img]cid:ii_12dfdb9daefcb53c[/img]
Bracket holding it together.
Since the dryer vent is semi rigid, you can squeeze it to fit unto just about whatever size hole you have available at the bottom of your cowl near the exhaust.
[img]cid:ii_12dfdba1886f1d9f[/img]
The space heater has an adjustable thermostat and a safety switch that shuts the heater off in case it falls over. This set-up keeps the engine compartment warm, not hot, when the temperature drops. I found I had to put a piece of vinyl window gasket ( http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100189806/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 ) to prevent most of the heat from escaping out the bottom. If you put a "thermo cube" ( http://www.sportys.com/PilotShop/product/9636 ) in the engine compartment and plug this contraption into it, it will keep the compartment above 35 degrees F all the time no matter what the hangar temperature is.
Basically this contraption "pressurizes" the engine compartment with warm air from the bottom. I keep the cowl plugs a little loose so they bleed some of the heat. This provides an escape route for moisture that can accumulate, keeping the engine compartment dry. Last week the temperature dropped to 18 degrees F inside the hangar but when I checked the engine compartment it was significantly warmer. The best part was that the engine oil was fluid and had not stated to thicken at all.
Galin
N819PR
SN4052
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mantafs(at)earthlink.net
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| Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:10 pm Post subject: Engine Compartment Heater |
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A few years ago when I was in NH I did the same think with a very similar heater from Walmart. I used a more flexable type of dryer duct. Mine also did not look nearly as nice as yours! But it did work well. I would also use the heater to preheat the cockpit.
Mark
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galinhdz(at)gmail.com
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| Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:32 pm Post subject: Engine Compartment Heater |
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Oh yes, it preheats the cocpit quite nicely.  )
On Sun, Feb 6, 2011 at 9:09 PM, Mark Kettering <mantafs(at)earthlink.net (mantafs(at)earthlink.net)> wrote:
[quote]--> KIS-List message posted by: Mark Kettering <mantafs(at)earthlink.net (mantafs(at)earthlink.net)>
A few years ago when I was in NH I did the same think with a very similar heater from Walmart. I used a more flexable type of dryer duct. Mine also did not look nearly as nice as yours! But it did work well. I would also use the heater to preheat the cockpit.
Mark
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