Cockpit Ventilation

[MistyBlue]

I'm starting to look at getting some air flowing through my sim.  Now that I have plexi windows it's getting a bit stale in the cockpit.  I found some Gasper vents off a Falcon 10 on eBay that seem to closely match the 737 eyeballs on either side of the lower MIP.  Figure I hook them up to a blower vent with a Y-adapter and connect the blower to a relay to operate with the overhead switches.

What have you all done for your cockpit ventilation?

[navymustang]

I did almost exactly as you mentioned. Ran vent conduit to each of the eyeballs in the cockpit, attached to a squirrel cage-style large volume blower (with filter) then relay operated it with the pack units on the 737 overhead.

[MistyBlue]

Nice.  Can you share the blower you used? How is the airflow and noise?

I'm thinking of doing something like the attached from Revotech with a filter over the end. 

[navymustang]

I sold my 737 last year so I don't have access anymore. I bought the blower from Grainger. Noise level was just perfect.

[bernard S]

my suggestion tie into.house ac if not please insulate what ever you use:-)

[MistyBlue]

Thanks Bernard.  Tying into house AC not an option.  The garage the sim sits in is conditioned with a mini-split, so I'm just going to keep it simple and pull in cooler ambient air from outside the sim using the fan/plenum above and hopefully that will work well enough.

[jackpilot]

Mike , do you have the blower part# at Grainger ?

[sagrada737]

Hello Jack,

I don't know if you were asking me to check out fans from Grainger...   I did take a look at what Grainger has in the way of in-line fans, and most of it is overkill in terms of CFM.

Here is what I have done for my 737 Sim for EyeBall ventilation...  I installed two 12 vdc scroll-type blowers, one on each side of the cockpit for left and right eyeball vents.  Photo below...

I control these by using one of the switches on the Overhead Panel.  This type of fan produces around 18 CFM, which I find plenty for the eyeball vent.  When ON, these fans produce a slight noise, which kind of adds to the Sim immersion, giving a sense that the Instrumentation is powered up, which is common to most aircraft.

As shown in the photo, I am using an 1.5" diameter flexible SCAT hose that routes up to the eyeball vent from each blower.

The effect while sitting in the cockpit is quite good, providing fresh air for the CA and FO, with enough force to provide a "cooling effect".   This is especially good when taking someone for a flight, as the fresh air helps to keep them from experiencing Sim sickness.

Mike

[jackpilot]

Actually I was asking "Navymustang"
Agreed, Grainger overkill overpriced
I use little 12V turbines also . Fine with me.

[MistyBlue]

Thanks for the info Mike.  That's very helpful and a much cheaper solution than what I was looking at.  Plus, the one I was looking at was something like 170 CFM.  Sounds like that might be enough to blow your wig off, haha.  Way overkill.

[Joe Lavery]

If you have a 3D printer and an old PC fan, this is a cheap way to add some ventilation. It's surprising how much air these PC fans can shift.

Just a thought!

[MistyBlue]

If you have a 3D printer and an old PC fan, this is a cheap way to add some ventilation. It's surprising how much air these PC fans can shift.

Just a thought!

Thanks Joe.  I do have a 3D printer and plenty of PC fans lying around.  Something to think about, although the small squirrel fans seem to be quite reasonable it may be less hassle to just buy a couple.

Got the gasper vents in from the Falcon 10 yesterday.  Almost a perfect match to the 73's I think. Looking forward to getting these babies in.

[Joe Lavery]

If you have a 3D printer and an old PC fan, this is a cheap way to add some ventilation. It's surprising how much air these PC fans can shift.

Just a thought!

Thanks Joe.  I do have a 3D printer and plenty of PC fans lying around.  Something to think about, although the small squirrel fans seem to be quite reasonable it may be less hassle to just buy a couple.

Ah! but then you'd have to spend REAL money. You know that's against our charter... 

[MistyBlue]

Ah! but then you'd have to spend REAL money. You know that's against our charter... 

True that.  The more I look at options, the more I think I'll take the 3D printed fan challenge on