CHICKENKOOP - 25-7-2016 at 11:12 AM
since i started flying these closed cell kites i discovered how important having a inflation / deflation unit. particularly in low wind situations. my
8 meter genesis
will flop around and crumple if not fully inflated, and getting it packed again with its slippy fabric and tiny zip vents is super annoying compared
to my open cells.
so i built this out of computer fan, push switch, and corrugated plastic. it uses li-ion battery from my ryobi drill. the long flaps prevents the kite
fabric from blocking the intake during deflation and help keep it from falling inside kite intake during inflation. it takes 2 or so minutes to
inflate. maybe 4 to empty.
i don't even use the zippers any more i push it into the kites intake.(just as well the pansh zippers seem kinda delicate)
bigkid - 25-7-2016 at 11:45 AM
Yep, that's what us old timers use. Or the cordless leaf blower/mulcher from harbor freight.
indigo_wolf - 25-7-2016 at 03:52 PM
Wait..... people use corrugated plastic for making things other than cat shelters, feed stations for cats, and cold water insulators for cats?
ATB,
Sam
abkayak - 25-7-2016 at 05:44 PM
I was betting USPS mail bin
Blitzhound - 25-7-2016 at 08:49 PM
It's a damn Conspiracy. LIES! ALL LIES! Corrugated plastic doesn't exist. It's just a myth.
BeamerBob - 26-7-2016 at 07:20 AM
I know lots of people enjoy and are good at making stuff but I'm very happy with my Ryobi leaf blower that uses my drill batteries. I've never needed
deflation though so not sure how well it would do at that. Arcs empty easily when you open a zipper and fold it over.
UnknownAX - 26-7-2016 at 11:35 AM
Nice! Should you need more power, you could even replace the PC fan with an RC plane impeller, the big ones are insanely powerful!:D
Wind_dog - 27-7-2016 at 06:50 PM
CHICKENKOOP
WHAT?
You have zippers in your Genesis? Where?
I have a new 6m and have searched and searched
and cannot find any zippers.
It does have two magnetic closures on the center trailing edge that do
not stay open unless you cram a tube inside to keep them from
closing. Otherwise they self seal. I think there is a video
in Russian on replacing the Pansh magnetic strips with velcro.
Am I missing something?
Perhaps a size or age difference,
We flew it yesterday and it self-inflated nicely
in light air after doing a couple turns.
Also was controllable while just partially inflated.
It is a slow process squeezing the air out while packing it up.
Maybe I'll try your suggestion since I have all the parts.
CHICKENKOOP - 28-7-2016 at 12:53 PM
the zips on mine are on under side out towards the tips, maybe two cells from tips, tiny white pulls that are hard to spot.
Wind_dog - 28-7-2016 at 08:58 PM
Searched harder and finally found those
little zips.
Makes your deflation method even more appealing.