BC12 Cabin heat mod.

[dwhicks]

Hello all,

1941 BC12 with 85hp Continental, no electrical. Would love to modify it for cabin heat! Baby it’s cold outside.

Thanks in advance, Doug

[perryv1]

Re: BC12 Cabin heat mod.

I have a Ryan Exhaust System on my plane and with that the carb heat comes off one side (right cyls.)and the cabin heat comes off the other. It still isnt super heat but it is better than the original design.
I think getting the heat from going under the seat helps as much as anything.

[Pearson]

Re: BC12 Cabin heat mod.

Doug,

I was told by someone on this forum that the Hanlon Wilson exhaust provided the best cabin heat. I have been looking for one for my airplane, but they are apparantly hard to come by. The aviation supply houses have them, but at a very high price. I will try to attach a picture.

[Len Petterson]

Re: BC12 Cabin heat mod.

The exhaust on Kzu is the one with 2 heat muffs Carbheat and Cabinheat.
And I have a 015" aluminiun cover under the seat.
Now all I need as tight doors and I snug like bug in the rug.
(luke)Warm down to -5 C this winter but I do not fly without longjohns?
Last year this came from the Alaska tribe: Dualheat so long as you ran without carbheat. the Carbheat side was also piped in to the cabin with a selctor between carb and cabin and hot and cold to the carb, would work but STC?
Len
Long live the Taylorcraft!(;f hot or cold!

[VictorBravo]

Re: BC12 Cabin heat mod.

The outdoor sporting goods stores sell a product which is a little packet you put in your shoes or gloves to create several hours of heat. It' some kind of chemical reaction involving iron oxide, like a compost. You could easily find a way to put some of these things inside pants legs, boots, gloves, jackets, etc.

Anything you do with the airplane exhaust system, PLEASE do the inspection that is also an AD. It is a huge pain in the butt but it can prevent a fatality.

If you pipe the carb heat into the cabin heat, how will you deal with carb ice on a cold day? That sounds like a BAD idea to me!

This sounds like a clothing issue more than an airplane modification issue, but to be honest I am in Los Angeles where it does not get really cold ever.

Bill

[N96337]

Re: BC12 Cabin heat mod.

This sounds like a clothing issue more than an airplane modification issue,
Bill

Bill hit it right on the head.... you need to be dressed according to the weather outside.... short sleeved shirts and jeans don't cut it if that thing gets stuck in the snow or worse yet something happens. 90% of the time, if there's a problem you get out with what you're wearing... ask the survivors.. sure, more heat's great... and the 150 exhaust (Hanlon/Wilson) is great for that, but don't forget to dress for what's outside!!! (I bet the Alaskans, and Northern US and Canadians will agree!!)
We fly all year here, and it's not such a big deal to fly in insulated coveralls, and warm boots, if you get used to it...
JH

[crispy critter]

Re: BC12 Cabin heat mod.

HEATER!!!!!! WHAT HEATER???? YOU MEAN THESE DAMN THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A HEATER????? LOL. Now I know where that extra hose goes to from the heat muff.

[M Jones]

Re: BC12 Cabin heat mod.

YOU MEAN THESE DAMN THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A HEATER????? LOL.

If it wasn't for the heater, I wouldn't still have the three toes left on my right foot!

[Dusty]

Re: BC12 Cabin heat mod.

I'm only aware of one modification that really makes cabin heat: install a Lycoming.....

I'm running a C-90 with Hanlon/Wilson exhaust in the T-cart, and it doesn't make much heat. Same exhaust on an O-235 in the Champ will damn near run you out down to -20 or so, and managed to keep the glass mostly clear for a fun-filled day of -42 earlier this week, even with around 30 landings and shutdowns.

I think getting the heat from going under the seat helps as much as anything.

As does a curtain behind the seats in front of the baggage. Velcro is your friend. But, the tighter you seal her up the more trouble you'll have with making ice on the inside. I pop a door open on short final and don't close it until I'm airborne again to keep condensation down as much as possible when the engine isn't making much heat (windows get duct-taped shut around September). Knocking the snow off your boots makes a huge difference as well.

Dualheat so long as you ran without carbheat. the Carbheat side was also piped in to the cabin with a selctor between carb and cabin and hot and cold to the carb, would work but STC?

It's a minor mod. If your mechanic thinks hanging a hose off the bottom of the airbox requires an STC, I suggest you go mechanic shopping. You don't get heat when carb heat is on, and carb heat is not affected - the heat is all "downstream" from things that could make you fall out of the sky.

how will you deal with carb ice on a cold day

You don't get carb ice on a really cold day - there's not enough moisture in the air. Jus sayin' - I'm NOT advocating disabling carb heat!

sounds like a clothing issue more than an airplane modification issue

You can't wear enough clothing to melt the ice off the inside of the windscreen. My "rear" heat goes into 6' of scat hose. It mostly lives pointed at the little hole I like to look through in the windshield. When, for whatever reason, I'm NOT making ice on the inside, I stuff the hose in my parka, up a pant leg, whatever needs the heat at the time.

Whatever you do, you won't get a lot of heat out of a little Continental. Seems to me that you should get just about the same heat as a Lycoming with the same exhaust and burning about the same amount of fuel, but that isn't the case at all. Anybody know why??