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701 Avionics Cooling

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txpilot

Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Posts: 87
Location: Houston, TX

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject: 701 Avionics Cooling

701 builders:



What plans (if any) does everyone have for avionics cooling?  I'm trying to toss a couple ideas around.  I'm wondering if installing a NACA scoop on the side skin with ducting would be a good idea.  Another thought is to install a microfan from Radio Shack on the top skin to draw air from behind the instrument panel up to the windshield.



Also, I'm wondering how effective the snap vents in the side windows will be for 'people cooling'.  If they're not that good in the Texas heat, maybe the NACA scoop for both avionics cooling and eyeball vents would work.  What's everyone else doing?



Thanks for the input.



Dan Ginty



N787DG

dougsnash(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject: 701 Avionics Cooling

Hi Dan, personally, I'm not too worried about the

avionics cooling on my plane.  That's because I

haven't gotten too carried away with extras.  Also

I've purchased a pair of the RV-10 back seat vents

that I am going to install in the sides just below the

panel.



This should provide plenty of cooling for pilots and

the avionics.



Doug MacDonald

NW Ontario, Canada



Do Not Archive



--- txpilot <djg7(at)comcast.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <djg7(at)comcast.net>

 

 701 builders:

 

 What plans (if any) does everyone have for avionics

 cooling?  I'm trying to toss a couple ideas around. 

 I'm wondering if installing a NACA scoop on the side

 skin with ducting would be a good idea.  Another

 thought is to install a microfan from Radio Shack on

 the top skin to draw air from behind the instrument

 panel up to the windshield.

 

 Also, I'm wondering how effective the snap vents in

 the side windows will be for 'people cooling'.  If

 they're not that good in the Texas heat, maybe the

 NACA scoop for both avionics cooling and eyeball

 vents would work.  What's everyone else doing?

 

 Thanks for the input.

 

 Dan Ginty

 

 N787DG


	


Looking for last minute shopping deals?

NYTerminat(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:55 pm Post subject: 701 Avionics Cooling

Dan,

 No avionics cooling and the snap vents work fine.

 Bob Spudis

 N701ZX/912S/140hrs

  

  

 In a message dated 2/4/2008 10:03:35 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  dougsnash(at)yahoo.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  -->    Zenith-List message posted by: MacDonald Doug    <dougsnash(at)yahoo.com>



Hi Dan, personally, I'm not too worried    about the

avionics cooling on my plane.  That's because I

haven't    gotten too carried away with extras.  Also

I've purchased a pair of    the RV-10 back seat vents

that I am going to install in the sides just    below the

panel.



This should provide plenty of cooling for pilots    and

the avionics.



Doug MacDonald

NW Ontario, Canada



Do Not    Archive



--- txpilot <djg7(at)comcast.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   -->    Zenith-List message posted by: "txpilot"

    <djg7(at)comcast.net>

 

 701 builders:

 

 What    plans (if any) does everyone have for avionics

 cooling?  I'm    trying to toss a couple ideas around. 

 I'm wondering if installing a    NACA scoop on the side

 skin with ducting would be a good idea.     Another

 thought is to install a microfan from Radio Shack on

    the top skin to draw air from behind the instrument

 panel up to the    windshield.

 

 Also, I'm wondering how effective the snap vents    in

 the side windows will be for 'people cooling'.  If

    they're not that good in the Texas heat, maybe the

 NACA scoop for both    avionics cooling and eyeball

 vents would work.  What's everyone    else doing?

 

 Thanks for the input.

 

 Dan    Ginty

 

 N787DG


	


Looking for last minute shopping    deals?   he  es  y       -->                 - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS  nbsp;               - List Contribution Web Site  ;                             =========================



	


 

  



Who's never won?  Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music.

  [quote][b]

jmcburney(at)pobox.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:56 am Post subject: 701 Avionics Cooling

Dan ( and all),



If you use forced-air cooling (NACA vents or other) for avionics, be mindful

of rain entry into the "boxes".  Even if you don't plan to fly in the clag,

sometimes it happens.  Some TC radio stacks use hollow panels that mount

beside the radios and flow cooling air through the panels.  Just some

thoughts.



Jim

CH-801

DeltaHawk diesel

Augusta GA

90% done, 90% left

Tim Juhl

Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 488
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:01 am Post subject: Re: 701 Avionics Cooling

Solid state avionics require little additional cooling.  Tube type radios (yes I've been flying that long) sometimes had cooling issues but with modern avionics it shouldn't be an issue.  As long as the air can circulate freely behind the panel you should be fine.



Tim

_________________
______________
CFII
Champ L16A flying
Zodiac XL - Jabiru 3300A
Almost done! It'll fly in spring!

txpilot

Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Posts: 87
Location: Houston, TX

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: 701 Avionics Cooling

Thanks to all who replied.  Good point regarding the moisture.



I've decided a small computer fan in the top skin would be in order.  Even though it's solid state avionics, the KX155 instruction manuals emphasize some type of cooling system is required.  I figure a $20 fan from Radio Shack could probably save me the cost of radio repairs later.



Thanks again,



Dan Ginty

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: 701 Avionics Cooling

And it will act as defogger.



 	  txpilot wrote: 	
		  Thanks to all who replied.  Good point regarding the moisture.



I've decided a small computer fan in the top skin would be in order.  Even though it's solid state avionics, the KX155 instruction manuals emphasize some type of cooling system is required.  I figure a $20 fan from Radio Shack could probably save me the cost of radio repairs later.



Thanks again,



Dan Ginty

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

tjs22t(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject: 701 Avionics Cooling

 	  Quote: 	
		   I've decided a small computer fan in the top skin would be in order.


	


..and you have no fear that the magnets in the fan will affect the compass?



do not archive

john.marzulli(at)gmail.co
Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject: 701 Avionics Cooling

The system could use a remote mounter compass that is away from interference.



DO NOT ARCHIVE



On Feb 6, 2008 5:11 PM, THOMAS SMALL <tjs22t(at)verizon.net (tjs22t(at)verizon.net)> wrote:

 [quote]--> Zenith-List message posted by: "THOMAS SMALL" <tjs22t(at)verizon.net (tjs22t(at)verizon.net)>

 



 	  Quote: 	
		   I've decided a small computer fan in the top skin would be in order.


	




...and you have no fear that the magnets in the fan will affect the compass?



do not archive

 

-- 

John Marzulli

http://701Builder.blogspot.com/



"Flying a plane is no different than riding a bicycle... it's just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes.

 -Airplane The Movie  [quote][b]

Tim Juhl

Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 488
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: 701 Avionics Cooling

Had a KX155 in my 172 for 20+ years, another in my 182 for the 7 years I owned it... both were part of really full stacks of radios and neither had any kind of cooling.  In the 172 there was a tube type Mark 12 sitting above it.  I never had problems with either installation.



One if the reasons they used to recommend cooling was the fact that radios were mounted one on top of the other so there was a cumulative heat effect.  The 172 had a 4 x 4 inch opening (with a grill) above the stack area that would allow rising heat to escape. You might consider that for your radios if you are concerned.



I'm going to install a couple of muffin fans forward of the instrument panel to blow air on the canopy as a defogger. I supposed they could function to draw heat out from behind the panel but I really don't think that will be much of a problem.

Tim



do not archive

_________________
______________
CFII
Champ L16A flying
Zodiac XL - Jabiru 3300A
Almost done! It'll fly in spring!

NYTerminat(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject: 701 Avionics Cooling

Dan,

 If you are going ahead with a cooling fan, why not buy a real avionics  cooling fan that has the correct size port to fit your avionics? You find them  on E-Bay at reasonable prices/bids.

  

 Bob Spudis

  

  

 In a message dated 2/6/2008 5:19:52 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  djg7(at)comcast.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  -->    Zenith-List message posted by: "txpilot"    <djg7(at)comcast.net>



Thanks to all who replied.  Good point    regarding the moisture.



I've decided a small computer fan in the top    skin would be in order.  Even though it's solid state avionics, the KX155    instruction manuals emphasize some type of cooling system is required.  I    figure a $20 fan from Radio Shack could probably save me the cost of radio    repairs later.



Thanks again,



Dan  Ginty

	


 

  



Who's never won?  Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music.

  [quote][b]

txpilot

Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Posts: 87
Location: Houston, TX

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject: Re: 701 Avionics Cooling

 	  Quote: 	
		  Dan, 

If you are going ahead with a cooling fan, why not buy a real avionics cooling fan that has the correct size port to fit your avionics? You find them on E-Bay at reasonable prices/bids. 

	




I just checked E-bay and the cheapest new is $199.  Used fans with questionable reliability are $35 to $65.  A new fan from Radio Shack would be $17.99.  'Nuf said.



Dan

Matt Ronics

Joined: 30 Apr 2007
Posts: 22

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:55 pm Post subject: Re: 701 Avionics Cooling

While I also question the need, an alternative fan that would move a fair amount of air would be a marine bilge blower fan, had from West Marine for about $30.

nyterminat(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:53 am Post subject: 701 Avionics Cooling

Dan,

   I bought a new 3 port cooling fan in box with hose and connections of E-Bay for $67.00. The deals are out there if you look. I plan on using this for my GlaStar. 

 Bob

 

   	  Quote: 	
		   	  Quote: 	
		  --> Zenith-List message posted by: "txpilot" <djg7(at)comcast.net (djg7(at)comcast.net)>

 	  Quote: 	
		   Dan, 

 If you are going ahead with a cooling fan, why not buy a real avionics cooling 

fan that has the correct size port to fit your avionics? You find them on E-Bay 
	


at reasonable prices/bids. 

 	  Quote: 	
		   


	




I just checked E-bay and the cheapest new is $199.  Used fans with questionable 

reliability are $35 to $65.  A new fan from Radio Shack would be $17.99.  'Nuf 

said.



Dan



	
	


 

 

 --

n85ae

Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 403

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: 701 Avionics Cooling

By a 2-3 port fan. They aren't that expensive and they keep the air moving.

Remember just because somebody else didn't melt a radio yet, doesn't

mean it won't happen to you. The cost to have my KX-155 fixed when it

broke was enough to pay for a fan several times over ...



Regards,

Jeff

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