Engine Heaters

[warren.huisman]

T-mobile prepaid data card for $10/mo in a cell router.  I can access a remote switch to turn on /off the Tanis oil sump and cylinder heaters.  Since I have a router in the hangar, I also put a remote temp probe in the inlet of the engine cowling I can "watch" the engine warming up.

[Fly Boomer]

10 hours ago, warren.huisman said:

T-mobile prepaid data card for $10/mo in a cell router.

There are a million cell routers available these days.  I'm curious which one you are using, and how well it works in your hangar.

[Ragsf15e]

1 hour ago, Fly Boomer said:

There are a million cell routers available these days.  I'm curious which one you are using, and how well it works in your hangar.

https://www.amazon.com/Verizon-Wireless-Unlocked-Advanced-Included/dp/B09FXP1G86/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Z758UekhlfbXYCxVrOcaWdT2NNMRzvOKhNIpWl7ehgLgnNJEpoUfCaEvqKSRbQlHlN-zn5O8EsvLZB_NgotC-ALhr5gkQLCEpBviQzCjT1NcsQ5_crXw3krHOTPGwXb1TPdaj9jlKj60mBC3mmvvg28heweOq9Ao-SnIUdPiEcp4WGeQdIPTihhCRbFZVrePWcDBmo8ZvoRnpH5e68DQPA.HHzWK922l6YGYaiy6gU68Bck0oVA0EHQQViPURNcxfI&dib_tag=se&keywords=Verizon+Hotspot+WiFi+Device&qid=1765634451&sr=8-1
 

i use an older version of this one.  

[warren.huisman]

There are a million cell routers available these days.  I'm curious which one you are using, and how well it works in your hangar.

https://a.co/d/i7Wtmz1

This is the one I use. I started with a hotspot device front-mobile but it went offline all the time so I switched to this one.

As a bonus, you can easily install a cheap WiFi security camera in your hangar using the data from the hotspot.

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[Max Clark]

I'm missing something. It seems like people are using mobile hotspots to avoid the switcheon cost... but the switcheon is $50/year and mobile hotspot is $10/month+.

[Ragsf15e]

5 minutes ago, Max Clark said:

I'm missing something. It seems like people are using mobile hotspots to avoid the switcheon cost... but the switcheon is $50/year and mobile hotspot is $10/month+.

I don’t like subscriptions and paying all year for the data I don’t need, so I’m using an iot sim card in my Verizon hotspot.  It’s a one time fee of like $15 for 500mb data which is plenty if you just want a wifi switch.  I unplugged it in the summer.  I got it from 1nce.  Seemed sketch but it’s been good for a year so far.

[Jackk]

If you have googlefi you get 2 free data sims with your cell phone line, they use your cell phone data but for most stuff like this that data use is nothing 

 

https://fi.google.com/about/plans

[Jsno]

I like the twin hornet because it keeps the upper end warm weliminating condensation on the camshaft.

[OSUAV8TER]

I carry SwitcheOn and the first year of service is included with the purchase price, then $50 a year after that. It has a lifetime warranty and it can handle up to 15 amps. For preheaters we are a dealer for EZ Heat and Hornet. The Twin Hornet is an incredibly easy way to start preheating your engine. I recommend putting a good blanket over the cowling because a lot of heat gets lost through the metal if not insulated.

https://www.gallagheraviationllc.com/Switcheon-Remote-Power-Control-Devices_c_50.html <-- Link to SwitcheOn products

https://www.gallagheraviationllc.com/E-Z-Heat-Preheating-Solutions_c_244.html <-- Link to EZ Heat oil pan heaters

https://www.gallagheraviationllc.com/Hornet-Cabin-and-Engine-Preheating-Solutions_c_255.html <-- Link to Hornet engine and cabin heaters.

[802flyer]

Another vote for the Reiff/Switcheon/blanket combo. Even with single-digit temps in the hangar, this would have oil and CHTs in the 70s or higher after being turned on the night before flying.

The switcheon device also measures a temp and shows it in the app, so you can see real time hangar temps.

I use the second channel of the switcheon to control a Hornet 45 cabin heater to warm up the seats and avionics. The heater goes on the floor in from of the pilots seat and I sneak the cable out through the baggage door.


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[Marc_B]

Always have been curious if there is an inexpensive way to add cylinder bands to an existing oil sump heater outside of a complete kit purchase?

[Andy95W]

Reiff used to have an “upgrade” version that was only the cylinder bands to add to a preexisting oil sump installation.  Might be worth a call to Reiff.

[Marc_B]

14 hours ago, Andy95W said:

Reiff used to have an “upgrade” version that was only the cylinder bands to add to a preexisting oil sump installation.  Might be worth a call to Reiff.

From Reiff/Hartzell (for Continental TSIO-360): The following parts are what we would recommend for that: 

Cabletie:           12          $14.40

CH38-16L:       3             $375.00

CH38-16R:      3             $375.00

CH6:                    1             $34.00

HSH:                    1             $10.00

CH6 is the wire harness, HSH is the hotstrip harness, the prices above are for the total number of the item needed.  
 

So $808 to upgrade. New system is $1005.

[SKI]

18 hours ago, 802flyer said:

Another vote for the Reiff/Switcheon/blanket combo. Even with single-digit temps in the hangar, this would have oil and CHTs in the 70s or higher after being turned on the night before flying.

The switcheon device also measures a temp and shows it in the app, so you can see real time hangar temps.

I use the second channel of the switcheon to control a Hornet 45 cabin heater to warm up the seats and avionics. The heater goes on the floor in from of the pilots seat and I sneak the cable out through the baggage door.


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This is exactly what I do as well. Yeah it's $50 for probably only 10-12 uses a year but I also use my switcheon as an extension cord in my hangar. I have cord reels hanging from the ceiling over the front of the plane tied into the switcheon. If I need an extension cord for running a small load like a light or a kerosene heater I just pull out one of the cord reels switch on that channel on my app and that's that. No messing with extension cords. Makes me feel better about the $50

[802flyer]

This is exactly what I do as well. Yeah it's $50 for probably only 10-12 uses a year but I also use my switcheon as an extension cord in my hangar. I have cord reels hanging from the ceiling over the front of the plane tied into the switcheon. If I need an extension cord for running a small load like a light or a kerosene heater I just pull out one of the cord reels switch on that channel on my app and that's that. No messing with extension cords. Makes me feel better about the $50

Yeah, and it’s easy enough to keep the plane plugged in through the spring and fall. So even if I don’t need to preheat at 45F, I still do because it’s just clicking a button on the app.

This will often have temps around 90F if done overnight, which means I’m at run-up temp by the time I’m ready to taxi.

During the summer I’ll put the battery minder on one channel, so I just have to disconnect the plane side. Could plug some extra lights into it your door opens in the middle but your light switch is on the wall of the hangar. Plenty of excuses to use it all year.

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