Preheat

[Bob_Belville]

Issac, I'm jealous. All my workbench surfaces stay so cluttered a project like that has to be done on the old pickup tailgate.

[flyingvee201]

I got this little electric heater off eBay that was modified to be used for preheating aricraft. Its called PLANEHEAT. I tried doing a search for him lately but he's not out there anymore. It works great!  Its a Honeywell ceramic heater with a fan.

I leave it on for a few hours and its 70 degrees. The blanket spreads the heat into the firewall and actually into the cabin area. I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the cabin door and warm air came out.

[isaacpr7]

Issac, I'm jealous. All my workbench surfaces stay so cluttered a project like that has to be done on the old pickup tailgate.

Bob,

 

I used to have that same problem and I could never find my tools when I needed them the most until I discovered the french cleat system. Now I have all my tools laid out throughout the garage walls by category. The best part is that I can shift things around as I see fit. You can find many videos at youtube and everyone has different ideas for hangers. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szad36MmvQQ

[isaacpr7]

Preheat finally installed. I tested this puppy out and it works great. I cannot believe I was able to rig this for under 30 dollars. This heater has two settings: 750W / 1500W.  I set the heat to the 750W option and came back a few hours later. I could not believe how hot it felt in the engine compartment. The best part is that it also heated up the cabin without the need to put a separate duct throught the window like I have seem in other pictures. Thank you guys for all the helpful information on how to rig this preheat system on a budget

 

[DonMuncy]

Isaacpr7

What heater (source) did you use.

[isaacpr7]

Isaacpr7

What heater (source) did you use.

 

It is a Comfort Zone Ceramic Heater from Walmart. I is priced at 18 dollars (at leat here). The duct is a standard aluminum 4" duct (8 dollars) from Home Depot. The plate with 4" hole used to attach the hose to the heater is also found at Home Depot in the same section for about 3 bucks.

[TTaylor]

We have been down in the single digits. I am using a two stage process. Stage one is the Thermo Cube controller with a 100 watt bulb in a trouble light. I turn this on a few days before I plan to fly. I leave the cowl plugs in and put a sleeping bag over the Top. That keeps the engine bay at least 40 degrees. Then prior to preflight I pull the light out and install the ceramic heater tube and I let it run for 45 minutes to an hour at 1500 watts.

I was very happy with the results this week. The core temps are kept up so I feel like the heater is not just heating up the outside.

[isaacpr7]

Mission success!!! I could not crank the aircraft to save my life. After rigging the custom heater and letting it run over night, as soon as hinted turning the key to the start position the aircraft started without hesitation

[isaacpr7]

I was curious as to how hot it was inside my engine cowling so I purchased an infra red thermometer from harbor freight and gave it a shot. It was 52 degrees outside and the temp inside the cowling showed 97 degrees just in the low power setting