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Block heater watage/Timer

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Old Dec 3, 2006 | 07:05 PM
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From: WY
Block heater watage/Timer

I have always wanted a timer that could hold up to the amperage or....wattage of the eng heater!

I have alway thought that our heater were 750w but now i not shore..........can't find it any where's.

Cleaning out my garage to day i found a timer that plug into your wall then plug into it! Can set it from 1 to 24 hours!

Its called a "Intermatic" programmable

Spec on the back said...... 15A "R",1750W "T","H","TV-5,1/3H.P.,125V.A.C.60Hz.

with the 1750W spec sounds like i wouldn't have a problem using this but i just not how house hold wiring? any help would be greatly appreciate!

Educate me! It look kind a cheese to me.
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Old Dec 3, 2006 | 07:10 PM
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That will do just fine. The block heater is only 750 watts, which is around 6 amps. Pretty much any grounded timer will handle it, mine was about $10 at Home Despot.
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Old Dec 4, 2006 | 07:55 AM
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I got one at Walleyworld labeled "Heavy Duty," whatever that means. I think it was around $10 too. I like the way the truck starts after using the heater for couple hours. Even in just slightly cold weather, teens, 20s, and it spins slower and hesitates or sputters for a couple seconds when using just the grids. It did start well enough though, even at around zero degrees one morning with just the grids, after sitting outside work all night. But that block heater makes a big difference in the garage at home - and no dimming lights for the first 5 minutes down the road!
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Old Dec 4, 2006 | 11:32 AM
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Ya mine don't have a problem starting is sub 0 with just the air heater.

don't like the 30 or 40 sec it takes to get oil pressure thow

don't like running it all night. burned up the cord on it last winter and it us a lot of elec.....$$$$$$ when it's plug in for 10-12 hours.

just didn't want to wake up the next morning to find my truck and my garage in a pile of rubble because i did some thing that i though would be ok....and wasn't!

Thanks for the help guys really do a parish the input!
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Old Dec 4, 2006 | 11:36 AM
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From: Port Deposit, MD
Originally Posted by Ace
......Even in just slightly cold weather, teens, 20s,......
Shoot, once it gets below 20 I'm done. Funny how that is "slightly" cold to a lot of people.
I need to get to the Cummins dealer and get mine in the next few days, someone just now turned off the heat here......
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Old Dec 4, 2006 | 12:05 PM
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Yeah, we don't start calling it cold here until we're seeing negative numbers on the thermometer.
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Old Dec 4, 2006 | 03:17 PM
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From: Northern KS
The block heater does not get the oil real warm, for me anyways. I have always thought of adding a magnetic heater to the bottom/side of the oil pan to run in conjunction with the block heater.

Switching to synthetic oil in the winter helps just as much though.

Andy
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Old Dec 4, 2006 | 10:03 PM
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From: WY
last winter when i was leaving the heater plugged in all night......the radiator hose was warm and the oil light would go out immediately after starting!

We will see how it work with my new timer set for 3 hours!
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Old Dec 5, 2006 | 09:22 PM
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From: Longmont, CO
My block heater is about 700W. It is easy to check: measure resistance between contacts on the cable, use the two slotted contacts, do not use ground (it was 20 ohm on mine). Divide 120V by the reading. That's amp draw. Multiply amp draw by 120V - this is wattage (120 / 20 = 6; 120*6 = 720W).
-P
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Old Dec 6, 2006 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by flashgordon
...don't like the 30 or 40 sec it takes to get oil pressure thow
15w40 starts getting really thick much below freezing. The Cummins can take it as many have attested to, but I won't run it in the winter.
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Old Dec 6, 2006 | 11:00 AM
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Ya i have though about synthetic for the winter but this winter, it's not my daily drive. only going to get started up this winter when i'm going sledding. and there just isn't enough Snow to cover the rock and stumps yet!

I will be going up the groomed trail for a x-mas tree this week end. so i will be able to test the timer!
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 11:49 AM
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Iv been running mine for 6 hours on one of the HeavyDuty Timers before starting with a low in the 30's and it will blow warm air.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 02:01 PM
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Yup, got-a love it when you can speed up the warm up process on a cool morning!
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 03:13 PM
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From: Northern KS
30 is cool? I don't even bother to plug mine in at that temp.

I will set the timer to run it 2-3hrs when it is in the single digits above or colder.
I just don't drive mine much anymore so I don't bother with the timer. The truck only moves when I need to pull a trailer. With diesel .40 a gallon higher than gas, better than the .60 cents higher it was for 3 months. Gas went up and diesel down both some this week.
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Old Dec 8, 2006 | 12:11 PM
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Heater seems to start making a real difference for me when the garage gets into the teens, which probably works out to single digits outside, so looks like my weather temp numbers pretty much agree with andyr.

I do hate the lights dimming when I'm headed down the road, but also hate wasting electricity even more. Utility bills are killer around here.
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