My TKS Panel Doesn't Fill Out

[M016576]

21 hours ago, PaulM said:

For the FIKI long bodies: (M+R+TN) Official install diagrams are somewhere on Mooneyspace in one of the threads..  "TKS Drawings.pdf"

There is a schematic on mooney.com in the POH supplement:

http://www.mooney.com/en/pdf/SUPP0017F.pdf

The High pressure switch is in the body after the main pumps and before the filter, so a clogged filter triggers the high pressure warning. 

The low pressure sensors are on the  tail flow divider on the way to the two horizontal stabilizer's.  They are wired in series so if either is low the warning should trigger.. 

That’s most likely the high pressure switch that I’m discussig, in the aft panel near the filter, then.

I have the schematic for the mid-body installation somewhere, but I don’t remember the low pressure switches being in the tail.  I’ll have to take another look.

[alextstone]

On 1/4/2018 at 10:59 PM, peevee said:

It's basically a pressure pot and a filter and some lines. I haven't seen it here but on other forums.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045LQSG0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030ZD7MU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004O3OP2S/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0092KWBY2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (you might need 3/16")

 

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding-cart-61316.html

 

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-1-2-half-gallon-pressure-paint-tank-66839.html

 

To hookup to your panel you will need to get a couple of TKS olives (aluminum) and nuts from your SC.

The braided stainless steel tube and the misc brass hardware coming out the other end of the filter are from a local hardware.   I just took it in and bought what was neccessary to do the final connections.  I will have to grab some photos of the brass tee on the other side.

Of course you will need an air compressor to supply the pressure can.

 

@peevee, or anyone else with experience using something like this, I have a few questions:

 

1.  What psi did you raise your purge rig to? 

2.  Did you push TKS fluid through the system or Isopropyl Alcohol? 

3.  What is the advantage of using this rig over just running the on board pumps?

Thanks in advance,

 

Alex

 

[Cruiser]

i read that the foam dries out and sticks to the back of the strip. The holes are not plugged, the fluid just can't get to them

[philiplane]

Due to the low viscosity of the TKS fluid, which is designed to work in below freeing temperatures, it will not wet out panels completely above 50 degrees. If it does, you have an above average system.

You can put a jug in the freezer overnight, and dump it into the wing first thing in the morning for purging. That is as close as you can get to the design atmospheric conditions, without a seriously air conditioned hangar.

And the system needs to be run at least once a month for 15 minutes, in order to keep the panels wet. I have a purge cart to service TKS systems , and it takes 5-8 minutes to get full flow. The cart puts out more than the onboard pump on the high setting does, so 15 minutes is what you should run the system for in flight, on the low setting. High setting should only take 3-5 minutes if the air is cold and the system hasn't been neglected.

 

https://www.cav-systems.com/support/faq/

How often do I need to run the TKS system?

We recommend that the TKS Ice Protection System be exercised monthly, year-round. Running the system every 30 days keeps the moving parts lubricated, the lines and panels relatively charged, and would give advanced warning of any failure

.One of the TKS panels does not get wet with fluid and the holes do not look clogged. What is the problem?

Dry spots on panel)s is a common occurrence when the system is run at warm temperatures. The self-contained reservoirs may have air in them. At warm temperatures (i.e., low viscosity, thin fluid) the fluid may start to flow before expelling all the air in the panel. As the panel and fluid reach cooler temperatures, the air is expelled and the panel functions normally.

Edited October 11, 2019 by philiplane

[carusoam]

Interesting insight on flow dynamics of TKS fluid, Phillip!

Temperature dependent viscosity will have the more watery fluid escaping out the first holes they can find all summer long... and really refuse to go very far up hill to get to the next holes...

How thick does the TKS fluid get when it is freezing cold? Does it turn into molasses? (Thick and gooey, semi-resistant to flow)

PP interest only, I don’t have a TKS system... yet...

Best regards,

-a-

[aviatoreb]

I have noticed that about viscosity....I find it useless to try and routinely run the system to wet the panels on the ground.  Best way is to do it during a flight at a high enough altitude with chilly temps - I can always get high enough in the summer.

One thing I do - I am not sure if it helps but it seems to - I wet the front of the panels by hand with tks - using tks on a clean rag is a nice way to clean the bugs off the panels and I feel as if a little bit ends up getting into the pores from the front side if I am then planning on doing this as part of a flight to run/purge the system seems like it can't hurt.

[Yooper Rocketman]

Believing the same as Phillip, that the once a month usage was to wet the panels, I found out otherwise during Air Adventure 2019.  I was asked to display on their booth with my Lancair and heard Jeff Holden (the US factory salesman) explain to many customers (I was there all 7 days) the purpose of the wetting out once a month was not for the panels, but to lubricate the pumps and accessories with o-rings and seals.  There was no mention of a specific time limit required to run them either.

Tom