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Kudos

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kearney

Joined: 20 Sep 2008
Posts: 563

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:19 am Post subject: Kudos

Hi



I have been silent (because of travel and building) of late but do want to

acknowledge Andrew Leopold (Angus Aviation Pty Ltd) who markets the Gretz

heated pitot and the good folks at Aircraft Spruce.



A month or so ago, I installed my wings and completed the wiring for the

heated pitot. In the heated hanger everything worked as advertised. When I

energized the pitot outside in about -12c it immediately failed. Although

the root cause is not apparent, the it looks like the heating element on the

head had a short. The challenge for me was this was bought several years ago

(from ACS) when I purchased my QB wings. Given that it was in a box since

the initial install of the mounting bracket,  Andrew immediately offered to

replace it through ACS.



I think it is great that we, as builders, have access to suppliers like

Andrew, who will stand by their product (even when made by the original

owner of Gretz Aero). Equally helpful was ACS who was also prepared to stand

behind the product and shipped the replacement to me so I could avoid

waiting for a replacement from Oz. 



This is what customer service is about.



Cheers



Les

C-GCWZ  "Officially" finished and awaiting CofA

rv10flyer(at)live.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:13 am Post subject: Kudos

I have had the same experience with Dynon, Vertical Power and Aircraft 

Spruce.

Aircraft Spruce really does care about customer service. Last month Mr Irwin 

himself sent me an e-mail thanking me for helping out with an issue on a 

local RV list. As the owner and president of a large company, that speaks 

volumes that Spruce cares enough that they monitor lists and take care of 

issues like yours Les, in my case, by the President of the company himself. 

I just ordered a few random items, new ear seals and replacement parts, that 

exceeded $100, forgot to mention I had a promo code from AOPA when ordering 

and called back asking for AOPA deal ($10 card)Once they got the code 

straightened out I was assured I would get the card sent out. It's all about 

customer service and these small things lead me to buy big things from 

Spruce.

Thank you for the feedback!

Pascal



--

Bob Turner

Joined: 03 Jan 2009
Posts: 885
Location: Castro Valley, CA

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:23 am Post subject: Re: Kudos

I agree. Not too long ago the ACS president personally emailed me to correct a small complaint

He is trying hard to give good service, and I shop there because of that, even if I do have to pay the CA sales tax!

_________________
Bob Turner
RV-10 QB

robin(at)PaintTheWeb.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 1:01 pm Post subject: Kudos

Yes Bob we do have to pay CA sales tax but if you refer to the recent thread "How cold is too cold" it may be worth it. Currently suffering at 61 F. 



Robin

Do Not Archive



--

Strasnuts

Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 502
Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 2:57 pm Post subject: Kudos

I had the same problem with my Gretz pitot.  I ordered mine from Stein and 

it sat on the shelf for awhile before I installed it.  The first time I 

powered it up it melted.  I called Stein and he immediately replaced it.  I 

guess there was a bad batch of them.  Stein has always been great to deal 

with.  I now have 300 hours on my Gretz and it still works even though there 

is two cracks running from the point back about one inch.  I'll use it until 

it fails again but I'm a little worried if I am in cold IMC when if/when it 

goes bad.

---

_________________
40936
RV-10 SB N801VR Flying
780 Hours
SuperSTOL 60 hours

rwendell(at)hydro-splash.
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 4:59 pm Post subject: Kudos

I had the same situation as Sean, but a different outcome.  I purchased my Gretz pitot from ACS.  It sat on the shelf a while like Sean's.   It melted the first time I turned it on.  I called ACS, they told me I had to call Gretz.



Gretz told me after two emails to them and a week gone by, that I had to ship it to Australia for testing,  that did not fit with my time line.



After explaining my situation to Stein, he gave me a price break on a new pitot.  You will not find a better company to deal with than Stein.



Lessoned learned: Don't buy until you are ready to install. 

Sent from my iPad



On Dec 27, 2012, at 4:56 PM, "Seano" <sean(at)braunandco.com> wrote:



[quote] 

 

 I had the same problem with my Gretz pitot.  I ordered mine from Stein and it sat on the shelf for awhile before I installed it.  The first time I powered it up it melted.  I called Stein and he immediately replaced it.  I guess there was a bad batch of them.  Stein has always been great to deal with.  I now have 300 hours on my Gretz and it still works even though there is two cracks running from the point back about one inch.  I'll use it until it fails again but I'm a little worried if I am in cold IMC when if/when it goes bad.

 

 

 ---

larkrv10(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:37 pm Post subject: Kudos

Hmmm, I've had my Gretz Pitot for about 1 1/2 years, maybe I'll hook it up to a battery to see what will happen before I install it.  Anyone see any reason not to try this? 

Oh and by the way,  my sales tax is 13%, and it's -5 Celsius outside, so as Robin says the CA tax and temps in California aren't so bad.  I've got Les beat on the tax, but not on the temp  

Do not archive

Rick 

#40956

On Thu, Dec 27, 2012 at 7:58 PM, Ross Wendell <rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com (rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com)> wrote:

 [quote]--> RV10-List message posted by: Ross Wendell <rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com (rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com)>

 I had the same situation as Sean, but a different outcome.  I purchased my Gretz pitot from ACS.  It sat on the shelf a while like Sean's.   It melted the first time I turned it on.  I called ACS, they told me I had to call Gretz.

 Gretz told me after two emails to them and a week gone by, that I had to ship it to Australia for testing,  that did not fit with my time line.

 After explaining my situation to Stein, he gave me a price break on a new pitot.  You will not find a better company to deal with than Stein.

 Lessoned learned: Don't buy until you are ready to install.

 Sent from my iPad

 On Dec 27, 2012, at 4:56 PM, "Seano" <sean(at)braunandco.com (sean(at)braunandco.com)> wrote:

 > --> RV10-List message posted by: "Seano" <sean(at)braunandco.com (sean(at)braunandco.com)>

 >

 > I had the same problem with my Gretz pitot.  I ordered mine from Stein and it sat on the shelf for awhile before I installed it.  The first time I powered it up it melted.  I called Stein and he immediately replaced it.  I guess there was a bad batch of them.  Stein has always been great to deal with.  I now have 300 hours on my Gretz and it still works even though there is two cracks running from the point back about one inch.  I'll use it until it fails again but I'm a little worried if I am in cold IMC when if/when it goes bad.

  >

 >

 > ---

Kellym

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1705
Location: Sun Lakes AZ

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:59 pm Post subject: Kudos

Most heated pitots should not be turned on for more than a few seconds 

without substantial airflow to keep them from overheating.

I don't know if the Gretz is more or less at risk than others.



On 12/27/2012 7:36 PM, Rick Lark wrote:

[quote] Hmmm, I've had my Gretz Pitot for about 1 1/2 years, maybe I'll hook 

 it up to a battery to see what will happen before I install it.  

 Anyone see any reason not to try this?

 Oh and by the way,  my sales tax is 13%, and it's -5 Celsius outside, 

 so as Robin says the CA tax and temps in California aren't so bad.  

 I've got Les beat on the tax, but not on the temp  

 Do not archive

 Rick

 #40956

 On Thu, Dec 27, 2012 at 7:58 PM, Ross Wendell 

 <rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com <mailto:rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com>> wrote:



     

     <rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com <mailto:rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com>>



     I had the same situation as Sean, but a different outcome.  I

     purchased my Gretz pitot from ACS.  It sat on the shelf a while

     like Sean's.   It melted the first time I turned it on.  I called

     ACS, they told me I had to call Gretz.



     Gretz told me after two emails to them and a week gone by, that I

     had to ship it to Australia for testing,  that did not fit with my

     time line.



     After explaining my situation to Stein, he gave me a price break

     on a new pitot.  You will not find a better company to deal with

     than Stein.



     Lessoned learned: Don't buy until you are ready to install.

     Sent from my iPad



     On Dec 27, 2012, at 4:56 PM, "Seano" <sean(at)braunandco.com

     <mailto:sean(at)braunandco.com>> wrote:



     > 

     <mailto:sean(at)braunandco.com>>

     >

     > I had the same problem with my Gretz pitot.  I ordered mine from

     Stein and it sat on the shelf for awhile before I installed it.

      The first time I powered it up it melted.  I called Stein and he

     immediately replaced it.  I guess there was a bad batch of them.

      Stein has always been great to deal with.  I now have 300 hours

     on my Gretz and it still works even though there is two cracks

     running from the point back about one inch.  I'll use it until it

     fails again but I'm a little worried if I am in cold IMC when

     if/when it goes bad.

     >

     >

     > ---

_________________
Kelly McMullen
A&P/IA, EAA Tech Counselor # 5286
KCHD

john.maccallum(at)bigpond
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:51 pm Post subject: Kudos

Don’t hook it up unless you hook up the controller along with the Thermistor wire or you will cook the element. It’s around + 26 C here right now J

 

Cheers

 

John MacCallum

VH-DUU

RV 10 # 41016

 

 

 

 

From: owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Rick Lark

Sent: Friday, 28 December 2012 1:37 PM

To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: Re: Kudos



 

Hmmm, I've had my Gretz Pitot for about 1 1/2 years, maybe I'll hook it up to a battery to see what will happen before I install it.  Anyone see any reason not to try this? 



 



Oh and by the way,  my sales tax is 13%, and it's -5 Celsius outside, so as Robin says the CA tax and temps in California aren't so bad.  I've got Les beat on the tax, but not on the temp  



 



Do not archive



 



Rick 



#40956



 



On Thu, Dec 27, 2012 at 7:58 PM, Ross Wendell <rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com (rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com)> wrote:

--> RV10-List message posted by: Ross Wendell <rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com (rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com)>



I had the same situation as Sean, but a different outcome.  I purchased my Gretz pitot from ACS.  It sat on the shelf a while like Sean's.   It melted the first time I turned it on.  I called ACS, they told me I had to call Gretz.



Gretz told me after two emails to them and a week gone by, that I had to ship it to Australia for testing,  that did not fit with my time line.



After explaining my situation to Stein, he gave me a price break on a new pitot.  You will not find a better company to deal with than Stein.



Lessoned learned: Don't buy until you are ready to install.

Sent from my iPad



On Dec 27, 2012, at 4:56 PM, "Seano" <sean(at)braunandco.com (sean(at)braunandco.com)> wrote:



[quote] --> RV10-List message posted by: "Seano" <sean(at)braunandco.com (sean(at)braunandco.com)>



 I had the same problem with my Gretz pitot.  I ordered mine from Stein and it sat on the shelf for awhile before I installed it.  The first time I powered it up it melted.  I called Stein and he immediately replaced it.  I guess there was a bad batch of them.  Stein has always been great to deal with.  I now have 300 hours on my Gretz and it still works even though there is two cracks running from the point back about one inch.  I'll use it until it fails again but I'm a little worried if I am in cold IMC when if/when it goes bad.

 ---

Strasnuts

Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 502
Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 8:36 pm Post subject: Kudos

On my Gretz the board was not touched except for  the two wires from the pitot.  When I received the new pitot I rechecked my  wiring and hooked the two wires from the pitot back to the board.  There  was definitely a batch of bad pitots.  Also, the Gretz pitot cycles on and  off when a temperature is reached so I would think it is okay to test.   

 A lot of pitot static systems on larger  aircraft have a time limit.  On most Citations the limit is actually a  polyurathane ring in the heated AOA that deforms over two minutes and the pitot  itself has no limit.  Since they are both on the same circuit there is a  limitation.  I would like to know the CB size of the Dynon and the others  that RV guys are using. I may switch mine out.  One problem now  is the three holes and labeling on my panel for the Gretz status lights.  I  don't know what the composite is on the Gretz pitot, it seems to have a fine  line from overheating to actual normal heat.

 [quote]   ---

_________________
40936
RV-10 SB N801VR Flying
780 Hours
SuperSTOL 60 hours

rwwende

Joined: 12 Mar 2010
Posts: 23

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:47 am Post subject: Re: Kudos

Since I did not want to wait three weeks for shipping to and from the land down under, I isolated my problem to being a bad thermistor on the old pitot.  The control board worked fine.  



After receiving a new one from Stein and bench testing it first, I installed it in the airplane along with an opti-isolator my MIT Engineering neighbor built for me,  which eliminates the led lights and displays the status on the EFIS.  Love it.

Strasnuts

Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 502
Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 12:44 pm Post subject: Kudos

That's cool!



Sent from my iPhone



On Dec 28, 2012, at 12:47, "rwwende" <n7006w(at)gmail.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Since I did not want to wait three weeks for shipping to and from the land down under, I isolated my problem to being a bad thermistor on the old pitot.  The control board worked fine.  

 

 After receiving a new one from Stein and bench testing it first, I installed it in the airplane along with an opti-isolator my MIT Engineering neighbor built for me,  which eliminates the led lights and displays the status on the EFIS.  Love it.

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=391087#391087

_________________
40936
RV-10 SB N801VR Flying
780 Hours
SuperSTOL 60 hours

Mauledriver(at)nc.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:47 am Post subject: Kudos

I had a similar experience.  Having acquired it directly from Gretz, I 

had to work with Andrew directly.  I resisted sending the unit to Oz but 

found that it was not expensive, surprisingly quick, and I got total 

satisfaction from Andrew.



Since removing the pitot  takes the plane off line, I found that I was 

able to fashion a Vans Version 1.0 pitot to replace the Gretz in about 

an hour.



None too soon with icing season approaching.  I took on my first RV10 

ice flying into Sandy's giant low.  It happened so slowly and 

unexpectedly that it caught me my surprise as I slowly lost airspeed in 

autopilot cruise.  I could never quite see the ice from the cockpit but 

getting into warmer clear air resulted in a few bangs as it came off the 

prop.



I like the "always on" concept and the reduced need to burn my fingers 

checking operation on the ground.



Bill "happy customer of Angus Aviation" Watson

On 12/27/2012 12:18 PM, Les Kearney wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Hi



 I have been silent (because of travel and building) of late but do want to

 acknowledge Andrew Leopold (Angus Aviation Pty Ltd) who markets the Gretz

 heated pitot and the good folks at Aircraft Spruce.



 A month or so ago, I installed my wings and completed the wiring for the

 heated pitot. In the heated hanger everything worked as advertised. When I

 energized the pitot outside in about -12c it immediately failed. Although

 the root cause is not apparent, the it looks like the heating element on the

 head had a short. The challenge for me was this was bought several years ago

 (from ACS) when I purchased my QB wings. Given that it was in a box since

 the initial install of the mounting bracket,  Andrew immediately offered to

 replace it through ACS.



 I think it is great that we, as builders, have access to suppliers like

 Andrew, who will stand by their product (even when made by the original

 owner of Gretz Aero). Equally helpful was ACS who was also prepared to stand

 behind the product and shipped the replacement to me so I could avoid

 waiting for a replacement from Oz.



 This is what customer service is about.



 Cheers



 Les

 C-GCWZ  "Officially" finished and awaiting CofA



   



 -----

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