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Re: cabin heat again
JR,
Be aware that you will probably need the radiator "T" fittings also if your plane does not currently have a heater. I believe everything, including the "T"s came with my heater kit.
I am very much in favor of having a two separate switchs for the two fan system - on our S7, I installed a single switch which often means: run it and cook or turn it off and freeze.
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Re: cabin heat again
UPI sells "Y" fittings, similar to "T" fittings but with a slant for $16.95 each. I have the nice aviation quality hose clamps already so I won't need to order those. They also sell a shut off valve for $15.00. I think I'll give them a call. It looks like the best deal overall I've been able to find if you consider BTU, overall size and price.
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Re: cabin heat again
Dave, You could easily convert your single switch to a single 3-way switch using the same hole in the panel. My 3-way works great: center-off; down-one fan; up-two fans. Just a little rewiring.
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Re: cabin heat again
I have no clue yet (Turtle Build you know) as to whether it is the best way to go, but I made an airflow diverter to separate the flow of each fan to their respective footwells. I plan to put the fans on separate switches to allow pilot or passenger to turn on according to their needs. I also have a control valve to modulate water flow(with its knob just under the panel to the right of the throttle and choke). It is set forward to avoid interference with the right stick.
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Re: cabin heat again
Hi Gary
Very cool looking installation. Not sure if you will benefit from the diverter or not. I also have a control valve but usually run it wide open and just flip the power switch on or off as necessary. Nice touch on yours though. Great looking work.
Cheers
Do
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Re: cabin heat again
I have the Kitfox heater and have the copilot side blowing down and the pilot side blowing up for defrost. I flew with a friend in his KF IV on ski's a few winter's ago here in the Pacific NW and we never turned the heat on. My way, the wife can't complain and the windshield can be deiced if need be. Each side is on a separate switch.
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Re: cabin heat again
I ordered this one after lots of looking. http://www.universalpartsinc.com/sho...750255&c=10550 At 16,000 BTU's I should be able to roast a turkey. It should be an easy install with its compact size. There's no reason these things should be so expensive, just a heater core with a fan behind it. I wish cooling was so simple. With all the Lexan over head, full acrylic doors and turtledeck, it's like a greenhouse inside if the sun's shining. Winters tend to be fairly mild in NC but when you need heat, you need it bad. I should be able to fly without a jacket this winter. I'm looking forward to trying it out.
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Re: cabin heat again
Ha roast a turkey I like that, hopefully not suck all the heat right out of your engine,
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Re: cabin heat again
I am working on a cabin heater for my model 4, and filosophizing a little about efficiency.
My thought is that water always follows the way of least resistance which, mainly because of the thinner hoses to the heater core and the restriction of the ball valve, would be mainly via the belly radiator. Therefore reducing the efficency of the heater core.
Would it be worth to install a three way ball valve in the coolant lines? This would give the possibily to divert coolant from the belly radiator to the heater core, maximizing capacity.
Downside would be that such a ball valve is quite hefty, I have one laying around and it weighs about 3 pounds.
Of course you would need to watch out for engine overheating with the belly radiator completely blocked, my theory is that during very cold weather a big enough heater core ( I am planning on using one originally used on one of those Thielert aircraft diese engines) this won't be too big of a problem.
Also, these three way valves theoretically have infinite intermediate positions. Allowing coolant to flow both to the radiator and the heater core.
So the big question is, would this extra weight and complexity be worth is? Or is my rambling mind seeing problems that really don't exist?
I am curious to your thoughts
Jan
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Re: cabin heat again
I think you are overkilling a problem that doesn't exist. Don't know the low ambient temps you fly in, but a heater core of the size you are considering with a big heavy 3-way valve and large hoses sounds like extreme overkill. The standard heater core that Kitfox sells has been adequate for most of us including those that fly in northern Minnesota and Canada (maybe those guys will chime in if I am wrong). And this is without any 3-way valve to force more flow thru the heater core-enough naturally flows thru to do the job.
My system has no valve, not even a 2-way shut-off in the heater line. In the hot summer coolant still flows thru, but with the fans turned off I don't feel any noticeable heat. A very effective, simple and lightweight system. I know there are quite a few guys who installed a heater shut-off valve, but maybe they fly in Arizona where even a tad of extra cabin heat is a problem.