Hints and Tips: using a heater cable for fuselage repair

During the FAI contest of Briançon, I learned a great way to repair quickly and solidely a fuselage boom. The idea consists in using a ground heater cable that guarantees a regular and even heating.

This heating cable is usually used in aquariums, as well as in terrariums. I bought mine in a Botanic shop. 3 models exists: 25, 50 and 100W. For our purpose, the 25W is the one to choose, as it is already 4.30 m long.

One you have done the repair with carbon/glass cloth or tape, you first surround with some large tape or thin plastic sheet, then you roll up the heater cable around the boom and plug it to the 220v. According to the people using it, it provides a temperature around 30 to 40°.

You can also use a sheet of aluminium around the boom before to roll up the heater cable. This will help to propagate the heat all around.

After the night, the fuselage is ready for sanding and painting (if you have time) or flying if you are on a hurry :)

Technical data: Hydor Hydrokable Ground Heater 25 W:

• Heating Power: 25 W
• Cable length: 4.30 m
• for aquaria: 40 up to 65 litres
• 230 V/50 Hz, with Euro plug
• Price: around 30 Euros