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Subject: Cooling Mods on Rotax 582 Pulsar [TD]

Author:
Bob P

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Date Posted: Wed, Oct 03 2012, 0:42:03 GMT
In reply to: Captain Pulsar 's message, "CMD" on Mon, Oct 01 2012, 21:02:21 GMT

Hi Rob,
I appreciate your comments. When I submitted the mod to LAA (with 2 other mods) they sat on their hands for 12 weeks and then just forwarded my application to SkyDrive for comment. Skydrive’s only comment was to “use an airfield with a long runway” for testing the mods.

Because of the gear reduction the radiator flaps take around 20 seconds to go from fully closed to fully open and the motor typical run current is (from memory) around 20mA on operate and 200mA if the motor is stalled (ie bags of spare torque available if friction increases). The switch is good for 50,000 operations at 3amps.
I always fully exercise the radiator flaps during pre-flight tests and take off with them fully open. A couple of LEDs show flap status (fully open, fully closed, opening, closing). I close/partly close the flaps as soon as I get into cruise, and a few more tweaks may be needed in flight- perhaps 20 tweaks in total per average flight.
You’re right the switch could fail – or even more likely one of the connectors (3 connectors two wires in each) could go open circuit in flight. But I know the flaps are open at takeoff and once airborne the engine can be kept cool enough even with fully closed flaps by only climbing gently. With the exception of full power low airspeed climbs and closed throttle fast descents, the engine does seem to (to a first approximation) self regulate its temperature - higher throttle settings more airspeed and cooling air, low throttle settings less airspeed and less cooling air. I think positive pressure at the engine bay air outlet when at high angles of attack (low airspeed) also help.
The possibility of the motor/switch/connectors failing is to some extent offset by eliminating reliability issues with the thermostat.

I had planned a circular route around London to come down to the (cancelled due to bad weather) Deanland fly in. You (and all Pulsar owners) are welcome to call into Stoke Golding anytime (just contact me first for PPR info) and I’ll plan another visit to come down to Deanland sometime next spring/summer when the days are longer. Or perhaps we could meet up before then at some mid point ? (Popham or wherever).

Cheers

Bob

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