Preheaters

[The-sky-captain]

I'll be getting a preheater installed soon and was wanting some pros and cons on the heaters anyone currently has or has had in the past. I've looked at Reiff and Tanis so far. My plane is in an unheated hanger where the winter nights average around 30 degrees.

[Cruiser]

I have had none, Tanis and now Reiff. If you want to use an engine monitor there is a conflict with Tanis elements using the cylinder temp sender holes. You cannot have both installed. Also, if there is an OEM cylinder temp unit, you cannot put a Tanis heater element on that cylinder. The Reiff heat bands do not conflict with any other installation. I have used mine this winter and the Reiff system seems to provide plenty of heat to warm the entire engine compartment. I have no idea how long the bands vs. the elements will last before burning out.

 

p.s. I have three tanis heater elements for sale if someone is interested. $50 ea.

[Greg_D]

Quote: Cruiser

If you want to use an engine monitor there is a conflict with Tanis elements using the cylinder temp sender holes. You cannot have both installed.

[mooniac227]

I installed the Reiff heating bands this last fall.  They work great.  Even heat.  What I like about Reiff is that it is completely independent of the engine and it's systems.  Unplug it an it's just along for the ride and can't conflict or affect anything.

I got the kit that uses the bands plus the oil pan heater.  Took me the better part of a day to install it, but then again I wasn't in a hurry and kept stopping to take business calls and a long lunch.

[The-sky-captain]

Reiff is what I'm going with. The compatability with my engine moniter, ease of installation and the good price is what pulled me in. Thanks for the imput.

[chale09]

Though this isn't an installed preheater, it may be a good portable solution.

http://www.crystal-airways.com/surestart/surefire.asp

 

Cheers

chad

 

[Mooney_Allegro]

I have a Tanis TAS 100 installed and also just had the JPI EDM 800 installed.  They work with each other but you have to get 4 Tanis retrofit probes for the EDM 800.  I guess that's for the CHTs.  I've only had 1 failure in 10 years with the Tanis, and that involved the plug itself. I believe it was caused by too much bending when I connect and disconnect the extension cord to the plug in the engine.  The guys at Tanis are great, good customer support. 

[Brooks]

i do not own a forced hot air preheater like the one mentioned previously but a question posed to thoes that do..

i am having a hard time thinking that is is a good idea to power a unit like theese off of you aircraft starting battery.  first the battery on an aircraft (presumably at a remote airfield without services and or 110v power nearby) which is already cold from the weather(otherwiese why would you be preheating) is at a very serious disadvantage when tryng to get your fan started.  second the battery is not very big, in fact i think that they are just barely enough to do their job, and i know the reasons.. weight, ballence, acid loose in and accident etc which i do not dispute.  third, this situation is the worst opperationaly because you are going to drain down the battery some ammount right before it has to put out the most it ever will under the worst sircunstances a battery can face. 

am i missing some portion of the operation of theese heaters? do you guys carry/procure a seperate battery for this opperation? or is it just the worst way to heat at a remote airfield except for all of the rest which my not be possible at all.  i assume that it takes a while to acctually get the engine up to a resonable temp which i am assuming is 15 to 60 min depending on outside air temp and weather you are employing thermal cowl and prop covers etc.  just my thoughts on this particular type of system and i am only posting this to see what others have experienced and or their procedures to prevent over draining their battery on a cold day. 

[GeorgePerry]

My inexpensive pre-heater.  Total cost $29.50.  Let it run for about 30 minutes and the engine is nice and warm. 

[The-sky-captain]

George- This is the EXACT setup I have been using all winter and it works great. I run the hose up into the cowl flaps and use a blanket and cowl plugs to keep the heat in. I bought a smaller sized heater that I put in the cockpit to warm up the interior and avionics while I do my preflight. I'm in the process of getting the Reiff system but for now this seems to work pretty good.

[GeorgePerry]

I thought about making the fabrication a bit "cleaner" and selling them on ebay .  Seems alot more reasonable than what's available commercially.  OBTW this months AOPA shows an "engine warmer" light bulb that gets hung inside the engine cowl...That would also work well, and be even less expensive.

[The-sky-captain]

Yeah, i just read the article about the light bulb concept today in AOPA. I've seen guys using the light bulb to keep the avionics toasty but never warming the engine. It seems like it woulld take a while to get the entire engine warmed up enough to start in fairly cold temps. BTW I saw a heater pretty much like the one that George and I made that was retailing a little shy of $500 on one of the online aviation sites.

[GeorgePerry]

I think the idea with the light bulb is to turn it on and leave it on...kinda like an easy bake oven.  Just keeps things warm all the time.  I used the same thing when I was building my Cozy IV to keep my epoxy warm during the winter months.

[Flybeech21]

Did you complete your Cozy?  I started building an AeroCanard FG.

[GeorgePerry]

Time restrictions, and the need for immediate transporation nessitated the sale.  It was a sad day for me, when I parted with my cozy IV project.  The buyer really wanted it and paid what I was asking.  He got a good deal.  I had the fuselage completely finished so all the time consuming hard stuff was done.  The rest of the build (wings canard turtleback etc) could be completed with "pre fab" parts from suppliers with out a lot of drama. 

 

[piperpainter]

If only I had power so I could do something simple like the $30.00 heater! Darn tiedowns

[Piloto]

This is what I thought was a portable heater.

José

[LuvFlying]

We use a heater like that with our club planes. They are out on the ramp all year in the Northeast. I run the heater (blower) off my car parked next to the plane. It has a 15' cord. Heating time runs between 15 and 30 mins. Air temp of 35-0 degrees. I don't go out if it's below zero... I don't love flying THAT much ;-)

Quote: Brooks

 

am i missing some portion of the operation of theese heaters? do you guys carry/procure a seperate battery for this opperation?

[The-sky-captain]

BTW... I got the Reiff. Great product.

[LuvFlying]

Did you install it yourself or have an A&P do it?

[The-sky-captain]

Quote: LuvFlying

Did you install it yourself or have an A&P do it?

[piperpainter]

I just made a pre heater today. Its a small camp style propane heater with an 8-6 then a 6-4 adapter & some ducting. I am going to try it out tomorrow. Should work I just have to find a blanket now!  Cost will total about ($80.00)

[Magnum]

I bought a Trotec. 3000 Watts and a high air flow. A tube can be fitted without modification, the one I use fits through the cowl flaps or air intake. It is available with a remote temperature switch. Very rugged construction.

http://www.trotec.de/en/product-catalog/machines/heating/electric-heating-units/tde-series/tde-series-electrical-heating-units.html

 

Edit: Sorry, I just saw it is only available for 220V. Maybe some European Mooniacs are interested...

[piperpainter]

This is my $80.00 pre heater. It isn't the quickest heater but it seems to work after about an hour of sitting. I am debating weather it'd be safe to leave there for several hours outside. maybe with the tube extension!

Components are simple
outdoor coleman heater

8-6 reducer

6-4 reducer

tube  if you so desire!

[Carl S]

Quote: Magnum

I bought a Trotec. 3000 Watts and a high air flow. ...

Edit: Sorry, I just saw it is only available for 220V. Maybe some European Mooniacs are interested...