Portable power for engine pre-heat

[jasong]

Hi all,

I am thinking about having an engine pre-heater installed for the upcoming north east winter months.  The problem is that there are no sources of power anywhere near my tie down.

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas about portable power solutions.  Are there any portable batteries that might do the trick?  I've thought about a little mini generator, but I don't know if the FBO would be too hot on having a running generator unattended on their field, they might see it as a liability.

Any thoughts or advice on the subject welcome.

Thanks!

Jason

[RJBrown]

My plane has the plugin preheat also. I just chain a generator to the shelter and come back in the morning. No one has ever complained.

 

[jasong]

Quote: RJBrown

My plane has the plugin preheat also. I just chain a generator to the shelter and come back in the morning. No one has ever complained.

 

[Jeff_S]

I had posted a similar question on the Piper board and as I sorta' knew already, there are only two real options: generator, or power inverter that you plug into your car.  The latter would require staying there with the car running so it's not a very efficient use of time/energy. But I hadn't found any generators that were within a reasonable price given how often I would expect to use it.

But someon on the POS mentioned Wal-Mart as a source for cheap generators and in fact,it seems to be true. I haven't fully investigated yet, but I saw one on the web for $150 that would fill the bill. Something to consider.

[N601RX]

Honda has some very quite units. 

[Carl S]

I am lucky enough to have power in my hangar. However, if I were going to use a generator I would consider modifying the exhaust so as to mount a heat exchanger and then blow some of the warm air into the cowling in addition to plugging in the electric engine heater.

Since engines waste in the neighborhood of 50% of the fuel's energy in heat, it would seem to stand to reason that recapturing some of the waste heat for this pupose would both speed up the warming process and make it more efficient to boot.

[DaV8or]

Quote: N223MM

I am lucky enough to have power in my hangar. However, if I were going to use a generator I would consider modifying the exhaust so as to mount a heat exchanger and then blow some of the warm air into the cowling in addition to plugging in the electric engine heater.

Since engines waste in the neighborhood of 50% of the fuel's energy in heat, it would seem to stand to reason that recapturing some of the waste heat for this pupose would both speed up the warming process and make it more efficient to boot.

[Carl S]

I am thinking that the exhaust soot and moisture probably are not great things to be pumping into the engine compartment.  Add to that the possibility of CO migrating into the cabin and I think I'd stick with an heat exchanger. YMMV.

[carusoam]

I have the reif....

But I am considering the Red Dragon for those days away from electricicty...

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/reddragpreheater.php

12V with disposable tank option.   Can be powered by car battery or portable inflator/jumpstart battery. 

No, I don't think I would use the ship's battery for this, save the power for the starter.....

I'll reconsider the generator route though....

-a-

[RJBrown]

I don't have a hangar but keep it under a shelter. Kind of like a T hanger without walls. The generator is a 3500 watt one from Pep Boys. Less than $300 and runs all night.

When I had the Rocket it did not have the plug in preheater. I got a 100,000 btu propane construction heater from Home Depot for under $100. I used 6 ' of scat tubing and some heater vent tubing to get the air to the cowl flaps. Powered the 120 volt heater from the car battery with a small inverter. Beat the heck out of what they want for an "aviation" specific unit. I swear anything for airplanes gets overpriced.

[flyboy0681]

Pre-heat hmm?

 

Don't think we use that down here

 

[DaV8or]

Quote: flyboy0681

Pre-heat hmm?

 

Don't think we use that down here