Aircraft Engine Preheating Remotely With iSocket

iSocket Smart Plug SMS Manager Android
Posted , by Denis Sokol (Last update )

NOTE! This is old article

You can get all of these features on the new Plug-and-Go iSocket with even better controls!

Since 2021 we offer new Plug-and-Go hassle-free iSocket with integrated connectivity - it works out of the box and can solve all the problems that we have been helping clients solve for the last 10+ years: remote power outage alarm monitoring, vaccine storages temperatures monitoring, remote reboot for equipment, break-in, flood, fire, gas leak and other notifications, and more. Just one new amazing iSocket! With new energy metering capabilities. You can order it from www.isocket.us/order/.

Why preheat?

According to AeroTherm, who design and manufacturing efficient aircraft engine preheaters, “proper pre-heating reduces wear and tear and substantially extends the life of an engine”. You can read more about why idling is not a good way to preheat the engine on their blog [link removed, old article, link doesn't work].

Aircraft owners all over the world have used our smart plugs to start aircraft preheaters remotely for many years, but up until now, nobody has shared their story with us. I asked one of our customers from Germany to send pictures and tell us more about how he uses iSocket to work with a preheater. Thank you, Thomas, we really love your story! Let’s take a look.                             

Do you want to share your story? Please, contact me personally.

“I am using iSocket to control a pre-heater for an aircraft engine. I love the possibility to connect a temperature sensor to send an alarm SMS. Additionally, I would like to use the thermostat function to limit the engine temperature to a certain value.” – Thomas started his story.

An industrial air heater is used to heat the engine with reverse airflow (as opposed to cooling during flight).

Preheater is used to heat the engine with reverse airflow

“I have mounted the temperature sensor to a solid copper block, which has a magnet (removed from an old HDD) glued to its back.” – says Thomas.

Just look at this! Isn’t it smart? When I first saw this I thought it was wood and was very surprised “why?”

iSocket Temperature Sensor Long is mounted on the copper block

iSocket Temperature Sensor Long is mounted on the copper block with magnet from HDD

 “Thus I am able to attach the temperature sensor temporarily to the engine.”

iSocket temperature sensor mounted to aircraft engine

“ As I found the temperature plug a bit too loose for this type of environment, I fixed the plug with an additional hook and loop strips.”

iSocket plug with an additional loop strips

iSocket - preheater connected

“Additionally, I wanted to combine a timer with the thermostat function enabling a thermostat mode for a predefined period of time. This would  be useful to switch off the heater in case of any contingencies that prevented me from sending the “THERMOSTATOFF” and “OFF” commands.” – says Thomas.

Thank you Thomas for the feature request. Unfortunately, in our previous products this was not supported, but our new iSocket 3G has a scheduler that will support activation and deactivation of the thermostat in a predefined time – see more in this post.

Do you want to share your story or do you have a feature request? Please, contact me personally.

Posted (Last update )

iSocket

5.0 (based on 14 reviews)

iSocket for power outages monitoring in the United States and Canada

 Received my iSocket today. Its brilliant !!!!! Thank you very much for a great product. Thank you very much for great service. Thank you very much for fast delivery. Works perfectly with sms and my phone. Exactly what I needed.

 Received my iSocket today. Its brilliant !!!!! Thank you very much for a great product. Thank you very much for great service. Thank you very much for fast delivery. Works perfectly with sms and my phone. [...]

5.0 By from Australia

A small cost for the peace of mind and comfort that iSocket gives you.

Remember, the cost of the damage from a power outage can be considerably more than the cost of a solution that will send you power outage notifications. And remember, power failure alerting is not the only feature iSocket offers you.
$199