REFLECTOR: Cabin Heat

Sun Jan 15 18:02:14 CST 2012

The problem with engine oil heating is plumbing oil lines and basically the
install. I like the ideal of a few small 12V ceramic heaters: windscreen
and possibly two under the back seat(s). Of course the alternator output
does becomes the issue as you mention Dave. I'm considering a second
alternator on the vacuum pump pad as redundancy, yet I still hang on to a
couple of vacuum gauges to backup any future full glass panel. Old habits
die hard... Here are a few websites I found selling what I think would be
some great solutions of various types for a cold cabin: all of which could
be taken apart and rebuilt to specs:

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/12voltheaters.html

As well one in our fraternity has got this project going:

http://x-jets.com/a_heater.html

In the end, I like the idea of an extra alternator and a number of 12V
ceramic heaters. They're small, lightweight and relatively effective as
they will be recirculated. As well I like the idea of the sound of anything
redundant, when summer flying the extra alternator would be good, in winter
flying; GREAT?
I'll have to attempt to find the local Steam Gauges Anonymous chapter to
give up this old habit and chuck my vacuum system... :(

Mark Magee
N34XL XLFG 300 HP 80HRS
Brady TX

On Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 3:45 PM, David Scharfenberg <dave at winco.net> wrote:

> The only time I ever need defrost is a night departure when it's cold out.
>  The problem is that I don't have any source of heat then (avionics or
> oil).  The windshield tint compounds the problem.  Twice I've been
> completely blind at Midway.  Really not safe!
>
> The problem with an electric heater is that with a 60 amp alternator I
> don't have much spare power available. I wish someone made a SMALL self
> contained fuel heater.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> On Jan 15, 2012, at 3:11 PM, Jim Agnew wrote:
>
> You can always try a small 12V fan 3" mounted under the glare shield that
> will blow the warm air from the electronics  on the windshield. Mine is
> center mounted out about 2" from the windshield.
>
> James F. Agnew
> Jim_Agnew_2 at Yahoo.Com
> Tampa, FL
> Velocity 173 Elite Aircraft Completed & Flying
>
>   *From:* Alex Balic <velocity_pilot at verizon.net>
> *To:* 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list' <reflector at tvbf.org>
> *Sent:* Sunday, January 15, 2012 12:24 PM
> *Subject:* Re: REFLECTOR: Cabin Heat
>
>   Hi Dave,
> I have heard that those small heaters work well for defrosters too, , but
> you need to watch how close it is to the plexi- one of the other guys
> (Jean?)uses one regularly, but it crazed the plexi at the bottom where it
> sits because he had it too close… I was going to try just running s small
> bilge blower with some hose that would pick up right near the heat vent on
> the floor and blow up on the windshield- I didn’t what to have to put a
> damper door in there if I could avoid it.
>
> Alex
>
>  *From:* reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] *On
> Behalf Of *David Scharfenberg
> *Sent:* Saturday, January 14, 2012 10:57 PM
> *To:* Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
> *Subject:* Re: REFLECTOR: Cabin Heat
>
> Alex,
>
>  You have a better fan than I tried.  I may work on the heat issue again
> sometime, but sealing off the leaks (especially around the RG nose gear)
> made a huge difference.  I also have a small electric heater that I can
> plug in and use on cold days.  I haven't tried it yet though.
>
>  Dave
>
>
>  On Jan 14, 2012, at 10:24 PM, Alex Balic wrote:
>
>
>  Hey Dave, I have a Toyota corolla fan recirc. only system on mine- it
> even has the resisters built in, so I worried it to a 3 pos switch so I
> have 2 speeds- pulls from the top of the canard through a block off
> bulkhead, blows it back down at the feet- have not been flying yet, but I
> have ground run quite a bit, and  it definitely gives me auto type heat
> temps and amounts too, which is good, because I live in Texas and  I
> absolutely hate being cold…..I do have the luxury of having hot coolant
> running through it though, but should not make a huge difference except
> maybe with the transfer efficiency of the glycol vs. oil.  I also have a
> small heater core with slab mounted fans that I will add for the rear pass
> if it comes to that….
>
>   *From:* reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] *On
> Behalf Of *David Scharfenberg
> *Sent:* Saturday, January 14, 2012 5:16 PM
> *To:* Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
> *Subject:* Re: REFLECTOR: Cabin Heat
>
>  I've fought the cabin heat issue for years and sealing all of the cold
> air leaks up front seems to be the first and most important step.  After
> that, blocking off about half of the front oil cooler with duct tape helped.
>
>  I tried to block all of the outside air to the front cooler and
> recirculate cabin air through it with bilge fan.  That just resulted in too
> high oil temp and virtually no cabin heat.  I think the static pressure was
> too much for the fan I used.  A centrifugal fan may have worked, but I just
> had no place to put one.
>
>  Dave Scharfenberg
>  Std/RG
>
>
>   On Jan 13, 2012, at 6:24 PM, Don Johnston wrote:
>
> Ruben,
>
> Here's my theory: The temperature of the air is only going to increase so
> much by passing through the oil cooler.  On a cold day in the north with
> the OAT at -10F, I'm guessing an increase of 50F from passing through the
> oil cooler. This means 40 degree air blowing in.
>
> So I installed a damper between the front/side NACA and the oil cooler.
> Moving the damper to block the outside air uncovers a duct from the cabin
> which is fed by a blower. This way I am recirculating cabin air through the
> oil cooler at a lower speed.
>
> In a couple years when I'm flying I'll let you know if it works. :-)
>
> -Don
>
> From: ruben at vainneg.com
> To: reflector at tvbf.org
> Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:35:34 -0500
> Subject: REFLECTOR: Cabin Heat
>
> Hi all,
>
> When I am flying below 0 Celsius outside temperature, the oil cooler seems
> to not heat enough the air coming into the cabin. The other day at -12C
> outside it was very chill in the cabin. I heard some of you partially cover
> the cooler, but not sure if the can be risky if covered too much. Has any
> one had any experience trying to get more cabin heat?
>
> Ruben
>
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