On board glow plug switch?

[Fishmasterdan]

First of all I want to say I am experimenting with Gasser Motors. Right now I prefer not to run any ignition. I am using a glow plug and methanol/oil?

I can get the motor to run at idle if the glow plug is hot all the time, and at higher rpms I dont need the plug on.

I was hoping there was something available or simple to build where I could switch the plug on and off with my landing gear switch?
Do you think it will work?

Here is a picture of how I have the glow plug attached.

http://greatthingswa.com/images/45cc.jpg

[Rodney]

On a typical methanal fueled engine with glow plug, once started, you do not need the plug connected even at idle. If you feel you must, it is easy to mount a cam on a servo and have the cam turn a pushbutton switch on or off.

[vintage1]

Ther are methods that pass a small current through the plug, and try and control the voltage - it the plug gets cooler, the voltage falls and current is applied to heat it up again.

However its better to pulse it and measure the voltage on a lower current, and use the implied resistance to control a higher current pulse.

Ther are circuots about to do this, and a seasrch in this forum may reveal one.

[Fishmasterdan]

It dies at idle when I remove the glow power.

I will do some more searching.

[lazy-b]

Yes, saw an article in RCM magazine, its Automatic Glow Plug Switch, automatically turn on the glow plug when it detect a cold glow plug.....no need to make a separate channel to turn ON/OFF the glow plug switch.

[Acetronics]

HI, Ellion

Have a link ???

Two novelties here : the "Gas-Brain" ... The Brain for Gas Engines !!! and "the Magic Box" or how to parallell two servos ( rotation, neutral and 1/2 throws adjustable for the second servo ) ... a differential version is on the bench !!! may be exponential travel further.

Alain

Hi, Fishmasterdan

"The Brain" an electronic Glow Heather, plus fail safe, plus glitch filtering ...

http://aeronews.free.fr/anciensnum/19-electropratique.zip

... The most achieved glow device to the day ...

[Acetronics]

Ther are methods that pass a small current through the plug, and try and control the voltage - it the plug gets cooler, the voltage falls and current is applied to heat it up again.

However its better to pulse it and measure the voltage on a lower current, and use the implied resistance to control a higher current pulse.

Ther are circuots about to do this, and a seasrch in this forum may reveal one.

Hi, Vintage

Have one really working well ???

I'd like to see it ... all those I saw to this day are marvellous self oscillating devices ... glow blinkers, if you've better.

Alain

[FenceMagnet]

"Yes, saw an article in RCM magazine, its Automatic Glow Plug Switch, automatically turn on the glow plug when it detect a cold glow plug.....no need to make a separate channel to turn ON/OFF the glow plug switch."

was this a tech/build article or product review?

:cool:

[Fishmasterdan]

I have been searching but have not found one for sale.
Thanks for the info so far.
Dan

[Acetronics]

Hey, Fishmaster ...

Just have a look to Graupner/JR ...

They sell ( awful word ...) such a device ,based upon the stick position ...

Alain

[WJ Birmingham]

Maybe this is a stupid idea, but I'll post it anyhow.

Why not just take a brushed ESC and servo reverse it from the throttle servo?

As throttle goes up, the plug power goes down, and as throttle goes down, voltage to the plug goes up.

[Fishmasterdan]

hmm that sounds like it might work.
I think to disable the power that is feed to the reciever (from the esc) I will simply cut the black and red. But how to set up 2 throttles? I have an eclipse 7 I wonder if I can mix the gear channel to the throttle channel. Interesting.

[lazy-b]

Alain, I will the check the RCM issue.....will post it here.

FenceMagnet, its an DIY project with the schematic and PCB Artwork, it. uses a common ICs that can found on most electronics store.

Guys, I also interested in this GLOW PLUG igniter....but my interest is using the RECEIVER BATTERY pack to power the GLOW PLUG, I already have the circuits from MAXIMS, its a DC to DC switching ICS, that can convert a 3.6 Volts to 6 Volts to 1.5 Volts at 3 AMPS.......I already ask the sample, 6 months ago, but never got any yet.

FUTABA has this units already call GH-1, infact I already using one in my Scale Helicopter. I install a micro-Switch near the starting insert, upon inserting the starting shaft, this will active the GLOW Igniter.

[wildnloose]

I'm new to gas engines too, just starting to experiment...

If you are into building your own ckt, the optiglo II may fit the bill, check it out at www.cliftech.com.

If you want to purchase, www.ch-ignitions.com makes a jump start system that may work.

[lazy-b]

Yes, OptiGlow is also a simple circuit to contruct but this need extra channel to manually turn-on the glow igniter.

Guys, here is the Glow Driver Circuit from RCM magazine January 2002 issue.....its automatic, no need for extra channel, the circuit just use the receiver battery to power the circuits.

here is also my FUTABA GH-1 glow igniter, its get the power from the Receiver battery pack, its so efficient, I guess its 99% efficient....been thinking of making the same circuits for all my scale helicopter.

Its really difficult to plug and unplug a GLOW IGNITER on scale helicopter.

[fhhuber506771]

I've done an on-board glow using a C cell NiCd, a couple of mini phono (2 conductor, not the 3 conductor stereo ones) a microswitch and a resistor.

the microswitch is mounted to the servo with the servo using an output wheel cut into a cam. (microswitches SNAP and don't create prolonged arcing which creates RF interference)

The first phono plug is for charging the C cell and is not able to be isolated from the battery. The resistor goes in the + lead between the phono plugs. THe microswitch is also between the plugs. The second plug is so you can apply a booster battery for starting (you can also use a switch which bypasses the resistor and microswitch.... allowing starting at any throttle setting if you want.)

Normal operation.. you get a fixed reduced power or no power to the glow plug. When you plug n the booster... it essentially tries to charge the on board through the resistor (if the cam has the microswitch on..) which will be a negligible load.. and lights the glow plug at full power.

I don't remember the resistor value I used... it was the closest I could get to what I measured across a new glow plug.

Worked fine for stabilizing the idle of an inverted mounted engine. (and thats all I wanted)

Note... I hate operating aux systems off my primary flight control battery. I've been known to put a second 4.8 volt battery in to power the retract servo. (If the retracts bind some servos will pull 1.5 amps or more... which drains the RX pack fast.) I'd rather be called paranoid about this than lose a plane from a dead RX battery pack.