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OH Vent Controller Report

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bcondrey

Joined: 03 Apr 2006
Posts: 580

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 7:42 am Post subject: OH Vent Controller Report

One of the issues with overhead consoles fed via a pair of NACA vents is that you get a LOT of air at relatively high pressure.  The downside is that the air coming out the individual vents in the console is at high pressure so for a comfortable amount of air you wind up with them almost closed.  I had been considering installing butterfly valves in the feed lines but during a discussion with Geoff Combs (http://www.aerosportproducts.com/) I found out that he already had a solution in mind.  He sent me a prototype of his OH console vent controller and it's GREAT!  It allows you to remotely adjust the air flow into the OH console and the end result is that you have the interior vents at low pressure but providing a high volume of air to the passengers.



Install is simple - it has a couple of 2" segments with butterfly valves in them controlled by a single servo.  Just connect those into your air feed.  There's a very small control module (about 3/4" x 2") with a potentiometer on it the connects to the servo via supplied 3 conductor wire.  It also needs power/ground to the control module.  I installed the control module in my OH console and supplied power from an inline fuse protected wire off the switched side of the battery contactor so wire run was simple and didn't require anything in the panel.  Total install time was a couple hours including removal/reinstall of the baggage bulkhead.



If you've got an OH console you can relate to the high air pressure issue - this is a very elegant solution.



In the spirit of full disclosure: except for having received one of the prototype units for testing I have no financial interest in Geoff's company or the product.



Bob

RV-10 N442PM

tsts4

Joined: 06 Aug 2007
Posts: 167
Location: Tampa, FL

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 7:51 am Post subject: Re: OH Vent Controller Report

Bob (and anyone else flying with an OH console), besides using Geoff's controller, what are the pros or cons with just going with one NACA vent vs two to feed the OH.

_________________
Todd Stovall
aka "Auburntsts" on EAA and VAF
RV-10 N728TT -- Flying

Albert Gardner

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 455
Location: Yuma, AZ

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:53 am Post subject: OH Vent Controller Report

I have 2 NACA feeds to my OH console and it is just fine. This is the HOT

part of the country with mucho days of +100 temps. My summertime flying at

low altitudes has all vents wide open and wishing for more. I even use one

of those tent coolers in the back seat to help out while on the ground.

Albert Gardner

N991RV

Yuma, AZ



--

_________________
RV-9A N872RV
RV-10 N991RV

ricksked(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:53 am Post subject: OH Vent Controller Report

I have two vents, one would be plenty but I'm not sure how good one  

would be during taxi. The airflow on the ground with two is great. In  

the air I need to keep the vent pointed away from my mic due to the  

velocity of the air even turned way down



Rick



On May 8, 2010, at 8:51 AM, "tsts4" <tsts4(at)verizon.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Bob (and anyone else flying with an OH console), besides using  

 Geoff's controller, what are the pros or cons with just going with  

 one NACA vent vs two to feed the OH.



 --------

 Todd Stovall

 728TT (reserved)

 RV-10 Empacone, Wings





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=297111#297111

rleffler

Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Posts: 680

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 9:06 am Post subject: OH Vent Controller Report

Con: One side of the aircraft being a few ounces lighter than the other. :^)



I thought about this for awhile and just put them both in.  I don't think

there is any particular advantage or disadvantage.



--

_________________
Bob Leffler
N410BL - Phase I
http://mykitlog.com/rleffler

speckter(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 11:54 am Post subject: OH Vent Controller Report

You know why they don't send donkeys to college?  No one likes a smart

donkey!!



Sorry Bob, I just couldn't resist.



Gary Specketer



--

bcondrey

Joined: 03 Apr 2006
Posts: 580

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 3:50 pm Post subject: Re: OH Vent Controller Report

In response to the question about whether one NACA vent would be sufficient: I don't think anybody has tested that.  The original (Accuracy Avionics) method had a single 2" vent in the tail fairing - kind of a smaller version of the 727 look.  When a few of us decided that we didn't want that, a NACA vent approach was taken but early adopters didn't know 1) if there would be sufficient flow with a single vent, and 2) whether the left or right side would be better placement.



I was actually going to figure this out by blocking off one and a time and test flying but Geoff's controller negated the need.



Bob

RV-10 N442PM

robin(at)PaintTheWeb.com
Guest

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 4:38 pm Post subject: OH Vent Controller Report

I was one of the semi-early installers / flying -10's with the AA OH

Console. I asked the same question over 2 years ago with no definite

answer. After some consideration I placed both NACA vents in for my

system. Once flying I covered one vent to test and found that much less

air was available for ground ops and slightly less pleasure but still

acceptable amounts were available in flight. Please note in reflecting

back on my test observation I am sure I had both back vents closed so

please take that into consideration when making your decision. I would

place both NACA vents in again if I were in the position to decide. I do

plan on adding the electrically controlled valve during my condition

inspection (once I find out the pricing).



Good luck,

Robin

gengrumpy(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 6:23 pm Post subject: OH Vent Controller Report

I'm one of Tony's first customers.  I did not use NACA vents but made  

a couple of small "dog ears" that I placed under the horizontal tail  

on both sides.



Works pretty good, and in the winter I plug one or both of them up to  

keep air flow to a minimum into the console when OAT is really cold.   

Not sure it would be so easy to plug up a NACA vent that goes straight  

into the flex tubing feeding the console.



It is nice to have the overhead vents so you can turn down the NACA  

side vents as needed.



My 2 cents.



grumpy

N184JM



do not archive



On May 8, 2010, at 6:50 PM, bcondrey wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 >



 In response to the question about whether one NACA vent would be  

 sufficient: I don't think anybody has tested that.  The original  

 (Accuracy Avionics) method had a single 2" vent in the tail fairing  

 - kind of a smaller version of the 727 look.  When a few of us  

 decided that we didn't want that, a NACA vent approach was taken but  

 early adopters didn't know 1) if there would be sufficient flow with  

 a single vent, and 2) whether the left or right side would be better  

 placement.



 I was actually going to figure this out by blocking off one and a  

 time and test flying but Geoff's controller negated the need.



 Bob

 RV-10 N442PM





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=297136#297136

drfred(at)suddenlinkmail.
Guest

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 6:35 pm Post subject: OH Vent Controller Report

I have the Accuracy Avionics overhead and two Naca inlets.   I have a 

CO  monitor  and have noted that occasionally, I will get a warning when 

flying low and with the overhead vents open.   Seems to only happen with 

a crosswind .   I wonder if the corkscrew airflow is putting some of the 

exhaust in the right NACA duct.  Will try and block off each side and 

see if it helps or recurrs. 



I do like the overhead airflow.  It is nice on the hot Texas days. 

Dr Fred

515 FW

tsts4 wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Bob (and anyone else flying with an OH console), besides using Geoff's controller, what are the pros or cons with just going with one NACA vent vs two to feed the OH.



 --------

 Todd Stovall

 728TT (reserved)

 RV-10 Empacone, Wings





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=297111#297111

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