What are the rules regarding known icing and experimentals.

I believe on certified airplanes a system must be approved
 for "known icing" before a flight may be launched into
 "forcast icing" conditions.
 Approval is different than having the equipment. That is
 you can install all or part of a known icing package on an
 airframe under a field approval and still not get "known icing"
 approval because the airfame is a different model year.

 Having the equipment is a great "safety of flight" issue as
 a "unforcast icing" encounter might be survivable.

 Are the rules different for experimentals? Approved icing tests
 would be very expensive.Are we allowed to self approve
 for the purpose of expermentation? How about if I am experimenting
 with the power of prayer? ;)

 If not, it seems from a regulation point of view the utility (dispatch into
"known icing")
 of the aircraft would not be improved. Of course the safety of flight would
 be vastly improved.

 David Lowry