Cockpit Dryers...a cheap tip.
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Joined: Jun 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 2,901
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From: MAN. UK.
Cockpit Dryers...a cheap tip.
Spotted an advert for a 'Cockpit Dryer' priced at £20 recently and thought I would pass on a cheaper alternative.
Head down to your local pet store and buy a sack of 'Silica Gel Cat Litter'. Raid your wardrobe for some old socks and fill one sock with the gel, tie it at the end, place in second sock, tie the end. Leave in cockpit.....result. Dry Radios! I have at least one in all my cars and aircraft and have yet to see internal condensation in any of them over the last three years that I have been using the idea.
You can warm the gel up if you wish to dry it out but I rarely have to. Sacks of litter are usually about £5, if that.
The only drawback I have found so far is having to make the odd excuse to passengers as to why you seem to have a loose laundry problem, or providing a convincing explanation to the Police as to why the contents does not involve you in the 'recreational pharmaceutical industry'.
BB.
Head down to your local pet store and buy a sack of 'Silica Gel Cat Litter'. Raid your wardrobe for some old socks and fill one sock with the gel, tie it at the end, place in second sock, tie the end. Leave in cockpit.....result. Dry Radios! I have at least one in all my cars and aircraft and have yet to see internal condensation in any of them over the last three years that I have been using the idea.
You can warm the gel up if you wish to dry it out but I rarely have to. Sacks of litter are usually about £5, if that.
The only drawback I have found so far is having to make the odd excuse to passengers as to why you seem to have a loose laundry problem, or providing a convincing explanation to the Police as to why the contents does not involve you in the 'recreational pharmaceutical industry'.
BB.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 283
Likes: 1
From: Faversham
I use a "Kontrol Streamline Moisture Trap" as can be found on Am*z*n for less than 4 quid. It's a shallow tray that fits under my back seat. It comes with a decent supply of dessicant which you put in top of tray. As moisture is attracted onto it it dissolves into the bottom reservoir which you empty from time to time (there's a little corner spout so you can simply tip it without taking it apart). The dessicant supplied is enough for several refills (you need to seal the bag of course) but after that you can buy a big tub of "Kilrok" dessicant from your local DIY store very cheaply. The Kontrol trap is the one to go for as it's low level and stable - never had a spillage even in tight turns......
