Robert,
The fuel vent heaters and the lift detector (stall warning switch) have
temperature control on them so that they will not feel hot to the touch.
The fuel vent heaters (at least on my bird) do not feel hot on a cold
day, however they are warmer than the surrounding under wing skin. If
you get a definitive answer about testing please share. Quite some time
ago I made a similar post and did not get a complete reply from anyone.
Moe
N680RR
Proud Holder of The Golden Pedal Award
From: Robert S. Randazzo
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 2:20 AM
To: commander-list@matronics.com
Subject: Fuel Vent heat Test?
Commanders-
Does anyone have a fool-proof method for testing the fuel vent heaters?
On a whim I decided to test them by turning on the battery, connecting
the buses and activating the L/R Pitot and Fuel Vent heaters.
Pitots heated up enough that you could fry an egg- but the fuel probes
did not warm even slightly.
This made me wonder if the fuel vent heaters are load-shed without a
generator on-line? (Yes yes- sometimes I have trouble keeping the big
airplane stuff and the Commander stuff segregated in my brain..you
should have seen me flaring at an eyeball height of 70'.. HAHAHAH.. Oh
boy..fortunately it turned out okay for everyone except my ego.)
We're getting into the ugly part of the icing season out here- and I'm
going to be making a bunch of trips over the mountains during the
winter- so I want to make sure my ice survival equipment is in top
working condition.
Robert S. Randazzo
N414C
