OK Guys and Gals. You're in love with your pre-53 Cessna 170 but you hate the lousy cabin heater and don't like the expense and trouble of conversions and gasoline heaters? Here's a solution that is transferable to other vehicles...and may double as good survival gear!
Heated clothing! Plug into your 12-volt cigar lighter. Pretend you're a WW-II bomber-crew with heated flight-suits!
http://cozywinters.com/heated-clothing/
Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher
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GAHorn
- Posts: 21295
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
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3958v
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 12:00 am
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
George looks like a great way to stay warm running the Cat Dozer on a cold day. Been a whole lot colder on that than I ever was in the 170. Bill K
Polished 48 170 Cat 22 JD 620 & Pug
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jrenwick
- Posts: 2045
- Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2004 8:34 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
Wow! The prices! They're really proud of that stuff, aren't they?!!! 
John Renwick
Minneapolis, MN
Former owner, '55 C-170B, N4401B
'42 J-3 Cub, N62088
'50 Swift GC-1B, N2431B, Oshkosh 2009 Outstanding Swift Award, 2016 Best Continuously Maintained Swift
Minneapolis, MN
Former owner, '55 C-170B, N4401B
'42 J-3 Cub, N62088
'50 Swift GC-1B, N2431B, Oshkosh 2009 Outstanding Swift Award, 2016 Best Continuously Maintained Swift
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W.J.Langholz
- Posts: 1068
- Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:56 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
Back in the day when I use to run a dozer I would turn the fan around so it would suck back through the radiator build a shroud on the sides and let that nice warm air come back on me3958v wrote:George looks like a great way to stay warm running the Cat Dozer on a cold day. Been a whole lot colder on that than I ever was in the 170. Bill K
Toby must have run a dozer.....that's where the saying Toby A## Cold came from
W.
May there always be and Angel flying with you.Loyalty above all else except honor.
1942 Stearman 450
1946 Super Champ 7AC
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W.J.Langholz
- Posts: 1068
- Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:56 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
Sure would have like that heated suit last year. That one day it was -16 when I took off, sure glad I had my insulated bibs on . I think that is my limit on how cold a temp I want to fly in.
W.
. I think that is my limit on how cold a temp I want to fly in.W.
May there always be and Angel flying with you.Loyalty above all else except honor.
1942 Stearman 450
1946 Super Champ 7AC
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blueldr
- Posts: 4442
- Joined: Thu May 02, 2002 3:16 am
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
The really neat part about heated clothing when flying up in the cold country , such as Canada and Alaska, is that in the event of any kind of an off airport or emergency landing out in the weeds, they can be plugged into any convient spruce, fir, or birch tree.
BL
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4583C
- Posts: 463
- Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 8:20 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
While the price of heated clothing is a little rich for most of us... if you really want to try it follow this guy's lead. http://www.aumih.info/Tips/heated.html
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GAHorn
- Posts: 21295
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
Or currant-bush.blueldr wrote:The really neat part about heated clothing when flying up in the cold country , such as Canada and Alaska, is that in the event of any kind of an off airport or emergency landing out in the weeds, they can be plugged into any convient spruce, fir, or birch tree.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
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cessna170bdriver
- Posts: 4115
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
If you do decide you want to shell out for the plug-in duds, be sure to add up all the amps and verify that your cig lighter circuit is up to the task.
Miles
Miles
Miles
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
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GAHorn
- Posts: 21295
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
The article is interesting but does not use resistance wire and does not mention heating capacity. I don't believe ordinary copper wire (such as that he used in his project) will have any noticeable heating effect.4583C wrote:While the price of heated clothing is a little rich for most of us... if you really want to try it follow this guy's lead. http://www.aumih.info/Tips/heated.html
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
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hilltop170
- Posts: 3485
- Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
I think Paul and Deborah Wood have some experience with those heated clothes riding motorcycles in Alaska. If a BMW electric system can handle them I know my 170 could.
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
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cessna170bdriver
- Posts: 4115
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
As long as you know how the old AD on the lighter was complied with. This is just from memory, but I think the original design had an 18awg wire going to the lighter, but a 20A fuse.hilltop170 wrote:I think Paul and Deborah Wood have some experience with those heated clothes riding motorcycles in Alaska. If a BMW electric system can handle them I know my 170 could.
One of the methods of compliance other than completely disconecting the lighter was to downsize the fuse to match the wire, about 5A if memory serves. Looking at the specs on the website George referenced, the jacket alone draws almost 8 amps. Add a pair of pants and you're over 10.Miles
Miles
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
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GAHorn
- Posts: 21295
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
Yeah...I think the safest thing to do might be upgrade the supply-side wire to the cigar lighter to 10 gauge and protect it with a 25 Amp C.B. (That would supply ONE complete suit. Adding additional persons w/suits would probably be best handled with additonal cigar lighter installations and an alternator!)
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
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hilltop170
- Posts: 3485
- Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
Yeah, but.............I don't think converting my 170A heater to a C-180 style heater cost THAT MUCH! And it works ALL THE TIME whenever I want it with NO power usage and I can fly in comfortable clothes!
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
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GAHorn
- Posts: 21295
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
Re: Poor cabin heating system? (Hey, Alaskans and Canucks!)
With the flying-partner YOU have..... you fly CLOTHED????hilltop170 wrote:Yeah, but.............I can fly in comfortable clothes!
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
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