WTB: Preheater

willier

willier

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Apr 15, 2008
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willier
Lookingfor a Red Dragon type preheater...Just thought I'd ask to see if anything is around...
 
You can build your own for a fraction of the cost of the red dragon. Purchase a 75000 BTU shop heater, flew pipe reducer and some flexible heater duct. Total less than $200.00
 
If you can plug it in the night before or leave it plugged in 24/7 this works great. Put the nozzle where the exhaust comes out. About $40.



RV Heater.JPG
 
Dean said:
You can build your own for a fraction of the cost of the red dragon. Purchase a 75000 BTU shop heater, flew pipe reducer and some flexible heater duct. Total less than $200.00
Click to expand...


The issue is 120 volts..Don't have access at the tiedown..:frown2:
 
willier said:
The issue is 120 volts..Don't have access at the tiedown..:frown2:
Click to expand...

So, buy an inverter for your car/truck. A good one will have plenty of capacity to run the fan on a "salamander" style heater (or "torpedo" heater...depending on where you're from) and the fan is the only thing that requires electric.

I pre-heat using a 35,000 btu propane salamander blowing into a ductwork setup very similar to what Geico shows in his photo. It will raise all CHT temps 50dF and the oil temp 20dF above ambient in 30 minutes. A 20dF rise in the oil temp is typically plenty for Missouri. But if it's colder, I simply pre-heat longer. I can count on a 10dF rise for each 15 minutes of pre-heat.

Note: It's my thinking that when using a salamander, you need to leave a small gap between it and the ductwork. Salamanders aren't designed to handle external static pressure and the gap will keep the ductwork from inducing a static pressure load on the unit and overheating it. I may be too conservative with this approach but it's what I do.

EDIT:

By the way WELCOME!
 
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willier said:
Lookingfor a Red Dragon type preheater...Just thought I'd ask to see if anything is around...
Click to expand...

Have you looked at the Red Dragon's competition? I have the Red Dragon and I like it but when I saw this one in a more compact design I wondered if it wasn't a slightly better package for a forced air propane option...

Also, unlike the Red Dragon (I think) you have the option of ordering either a 12v, or 110v model.

BTW my Red Dragon's not for sale :nono: ;)
 
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