Compact Glowhead Clip

sosam117 wrote:

944_Jim wrote:I do like the concept! But I think the wires are too thin, thus impeding current flow. Consider how thick the original clip wires are, and try to match them.

944_Jim might be right.
With those small gage wires, you are probably getting too much resistance.
Those wire look to be about 22ga.?
Look to use maybe a 18ga wire if possible.

If you have a buddy that flies electric (park flier) ask him for a couple of short wires from his old airborne battery that he no longer needs. The wires from that motor battery pack maybe long enough for you?
The reason I suggesting that is, the wire on those battery packs are multistring copper (lower resistance)
and the outer casing (insulation) is silicon and not vinyl, so it's more flexible and the silicon doesn't get brittle with age and it is not bothered with the different fuels like the vinyl would (especially the glow fuel).
Also, with the opening and closing of the clip, it might be a better idea to use the silicon coated wire ( for flexibility?)

Take it from who flies both electric, glow, diesel, and gas.
I usually change the vinyl wires over to silicon wiring (with multistring copper wires).
Especially on my remote starter wire for my Enya 4-strokes.

The nickel metal hydride cell he is using only generates 1.24volts, which is a little on the low side.
I saw the voltage in his photo. Which 1.24volts is the correct for nickel metal hydride cells.
So, when we use to use nickel metal hydride for our receiver packs, we used "five" cell to get the voltage up, compaired to the "four" when we use Nicads for our receiver packs.
.....
Nicads have a voltage of 1.4 volts per cell.
So, he could use a one cell nicad in his compact glow head clip with a mah of 3300mah or so to light up his glow plugs ( on a few engines.)

Levent Suberk wrote:

The nickel metal hydride cell he is using only generates 1.24volts, which is a little on the low side.
I saw the voltage in his photo. Which 1.24volts is the correct for nickel metal hydride cells.
So, when we use to use nickel metal hydride for our receiver packs, we used "five" cell to get the voltage up, compaired to the "four" when we use Nicads for our receiver packs.
.....
Nicads have a voltage of 1.4 volts per cell.
So, he could use a one cell nicad in his compact glow head clip with a mah of 3300mah or so to light up his glow plugs ( on a few engines.)

But I checked Ni-Mh voltage and it is 1.4 Volt.

sosam117 wrote:

happydad wrote:

sosam117 wrote:

944_Jim wrote:I do like the concept! But I think the wires are too thin, thus impeding current flow. Consider how thick the original clip wires are, and try to match them.

944_Jim might be right.
With those small gage wires, you are probably getting too much resistance.
Those wire look to be about 22ga.?
Look to use maybe a 18ga wire if possible.

If you have a buddy that flies electric (park flier) ask him for a couple of short wires from his old airborne battery that he no longer needs. The wires from that motor battery pack maybe long enough for you?
The reason I suggesting that is, the wire on those battery packs are multistring copper (lower resistance)
and the outer casing (insulation) is silicon and not vinyl, so it's more flexible and the silicon doesn't get brittle with age and it is not bothered with the different fuels like the vinyl would (especially the glow fuel).
Also, with the opening and closing of the clip, it might be a better idea to use the silicon coated wire ( for flexibility?)

Take it from who flies both electric, glow, diesel, and gas.
I usually change the vinyl wires over to silicon wiring (with multistring copper wires).
Especially on my remote starter wire for my Enya 4-strokes.

sosam117:  and remember most people use 2x D cells now and they are rated at about 5,000mAhr to 10,000mAhr depending on brand used. In parallel. I use the old Cox wires x2 or replace them with wire from an AC plug not used any longer. At least quadruple the wire area, 4x, reducing the loss in the wire to almost nothing. The glow head is using Amps to get it hot. So the more the better.

The glow head should be the limiting resistance here, not the connecting wires.

Happydad

Hi Happydad,
You can get by with one cell ("AA" , "C" , or "D") dry cell battery. it just won't last for hours.
The more important thing to remember is the voltage.
The 1.5 volts is the good voltage to have for a good glow on your plug.
3 volts and puff   Your glow plug is fried!

The nickel metal hydride cell he is using only generates 1.24volts, which is a little on the low side.
I saw the voltage in his photo. Which 1.24volts is the correct for nickel metal hydride cells.
So, when we use to use nickel metal hydride for our receiver packs, we used "five" cell to get the voltage up, compaired to the "four" when we use Nicads for our receiver packs.

Now I use a 2 cell lipo pack with a voltage regulator to kick the voltage down to 6 volts for my reciever.

Nicads have a voltage of 1.4 volts per cell.
So, he could use a one cell nicad in his compact glow head clip with a mah of 3300mah or so to light up his glow plugs ( on a few engines.)

smooth_bill wrote:I still prefer my power panel, as there are a very few rare plugs that will blow at 1.5 and higher voltage!

Case in point are Gilbert glow heads. I have Gilbert 11 engines that work well at half the panel current setting of a normal plug, but don't last long at the standard setting I use for modern plugs!

The Gilbert 07 heads I have will not last as long at the same setting used on the Gilbert 11 heads, but the 07 heads also don't last as long bench running. I have a few 07 heads rebuilt by the late Merlin guy (RIP), but won't use them for playing on the engine run bench. As far as I know Dan Sitter has no more.

I now test all new (to me) plugs by turning the power panel all the way down and advancing the knob  slowly, while observing the plug element for a healthy orange glow. You might be surprised at the difference between brands of modern plugs!

Bill

Levent Suberk wrote:You are right about wire gauge. I will change those thin cables with thicker gauge. Thank you at all