mitchkim

i need to buy a 25 foot drop cord to plug my truck in with

what guage wire do i need to carry the amp the block heater requires

i have been using a 50 ft 16 guage wire and notices it gets kind of warm on the ends

also does the block heater just warm the water in the block or does it warm the water in the radiator and heater core as well

Shovelhead

It warms the water in the block.
Use the largest gage and shortest cord that will reach.
I leave mine plugged in while "Fast Idleing" on cold mornings to help warm-up the engine a little quicker.

Don't forget to unplug the cord before driving off!

Lary Ellis (Top)

[quote author=Shovelhead

Don't forget to unplug the cord before driving off!
Good advice! A couple of times every year when I first start using the heater, I will come home and find that someone has stretched my cord out, leaving it laying in my driveway ;D

Imagine that :

TheMoose

I just got a 12 gauge 25' cord & tonight's the first time I've plugged my truck in so I'll see if the cord is warm tomorrow.

As for driving off with the cord plugged in....yea I'm worried about that, I'm not very awake when I leave for work, so it's possible!!!!! :

I wish they'd have put in a warning light that came on when the block heater was plugged in!!

Commatoze

[quote author=Shovelhead link=board=17;threadid=21545;start=0#msg201831 date=1067222248]
It warms the water in the block.
Use the largest gage and shortest cord that will reach.........
[/quote]

....and try and find either a silicone or rubber jacket cable. Standard vinyl jacketed extension cords are really stiff on a cold morning.

vernl

I have my block heater and in cab heater with a 2 amp battery trickle charger all plugged into one 14 guage 20ft cord, used this combo for many years on different trucks in the Canadian winters...the block heater only draws 600 watts, under half the capacity of a standard 15amp circuit..no worries...I think almost every cord sold with a 3 prong plug in the auto dept will be rated for 12 to 15 amps..if it gets a bit warm, its not a problem...melting is a different story as far as when to plug in..when i'm on the road I hate frost on my windows in the morning, as i have an in cab warmer I plug in as soon as there is a chance of frost on the windows..srev manual recomends around freezing as well..I have been forced on ocasion to start my truck stone cold at -40 and with 0-40 oil and cycling the heaters a few times first..it fired right up...sounded like a D8 Cat for awhile, but didnt leave me stranded...try that with a glow plug engine

jeffteel

At what temperature do you guys start plugging in at night?

Haulin_in_Dixie

[quote author=Redneck Headbanger link=board=17;threadid=21545;start=0#msg201915 date=1067230609]
At what temperature do you guys start plugging in at night?
[/quote]

I plug in when temperatures in the 30's are expected. Not for starting but easier on the engine starting with some warmth.

TheMoose

[quote author=Redneck Headbanger link=board=17;threadid=21545;start=0#msg201915 date=1067230609]
At what temperature do you guys start plugging in at night?
[/quote]
It's starting to get down in the 40's now so I'm plugging mine in for faster heat in the mornings (so it's more for my comfort than the trucks needs!!)!!

Shovelhead

This is what I use to "remind me" to unplug.


It's a simple piece of velcro that I wrap around the steering wheel before I plug it in at night.
I haven't driven off "plugged-in" since I started doing this.

Jonesey

I now have owned two CTDs both of which I plug in only when the temperature reaches the teens. It just doesn't seem to make much difference at higher temperatures. Just IMHO.

Hoss

[quote author=Shovelhead link=board=17;threadid=21545;start=0#msg201947 date=1067255653]
This is what I use to "remind me" to unplug.


It's a simple piece of velcro that I wrap around the steering wheel before I plug it in at night.
I haven't driven off "plugged-in" since I started doing this.
[/quote]

Yes...we know...we've all seen it a thousand times now. : Look at me!! I use velcro!! Look at me!! I use velcro!! ;D :P

Shovelhead

Hey Hoss,

Did I mention that I use velcro?



(for an obviously different purpose than a few of our sheep lovin' members who shall remain nameless.)

Hoss

Just messin' with ya. If I ever get around to using my block heater I'll probably do something similar (although I'd NEVER admit who I got the idea from). ;D

Shovelhead

I'm just happy that your profile finally changed.