Glow drivers and timing
 

Have a question for you experts out there-
If I understand it correctly, engine will "self-time" themselves with RPM
due to different heats of the glow plug, i.e. high RPM=high heat plug element
lighting off the meth sooner= advanced timimg, and low RPM=lower heat "retarding"
the light off. Now connect a glow driver like some pattern guys have...always on.
Does that provide better hi end or low end performance or is it just a "belt and braces" thing
more for preventing flameouts during manuevers??

RE: Glow drivers and timing
 

Hi Bumstead,

I'll venture a guess that the bulk of guys using glow drivers are doing so because of idle issues. Mine's set to be on at idle, and shuts off about 20% throttle. I don't notice any difference on my 1.60 fourstroke twin, if I set the driver to be on all the time, except at low idle.

Even the idle issue, I could live with, but I'd still have to rig the dual glow wiring to attach a glow starter. I just chose to go for the on board battery & driver, so I don't have to have an external connector. Just my choice.

Anybody else?

Good luck,
Dave Olson

RE: Glow drivers and timing
 

I have on-board glow batteries on many of my planes. I've tried all kinds. Currently, I have one glow driver that is plugged into the gear slot on the receiver and I can turn it on and off with the gear switch when I want to. Most planes, if I am not concerned about weight, I will install a heavy duty C or D NiCd, an external jack to charge it, and a switch to turn it on to the glow plug. I turn it on, start, and leave it on all during the flight. Simplest and most effective method. So convenient to have an on-board battery. Just flip the switch and start and fly. The C cells are rated at 2400 MAH and the D at 4500 MAH. Either will supply all the flying I want in a day. Used to get them from Radio Shack, but they discontinued the heavy duty cells. BTW, the best glow plug connector and charging jack I've found is the Hangar 9 unit. Excellent glow plug connector and a jack for the airplane with a short cable with a glow plug connector on the end for charging.

I never worried about the timing thing. They just start easy and run great.

Coop