jrs_dodge_diesel

Once its plugged in its on. There are no thermal cutouts for the block heater.

Out here on Guam the temps range from low 70s at night to mid 90s during the day, year round (tropical climate). I plug mine in every night since I like to get in and go without waiting for the temps to come up. With the heater on my temps are above 140° in 1 mile or less. When I don't the temps don't come up for at least 5 miles.

Lakemann, I don't know why your bills have gone up so much but your block heater is probably not the cause. Lots of things can cause the bills to go up, like turning the heater up, or more hot water use, leaving lights on, etc.

jrs_dodge_diesel

Same here. My block heater use hasn't caused any significant change on my electric bill. Now my A/C use on the other hand...

Lakemann

Thanks for all the informative facts. I didnt think that plugging her in would cause such a spike. It is definately worth the $13.00 month to get in and have instant heat,not to mention the fact I'm starting her up cold and waiting to get up to temps. Thanks again guys.

Mexstan

Are you guys sure the block heater is 750 watts? I have seen many block heaters that are 1500 watts. Has anybody measured this or is it marked somewhere?

big jimmy

This all assumes a good working heater.

A heater that has a problem, plugged in all night, could easily up your electric bill.

Electricity is a liquid. Just like a garden hose any leaks are volume that will not ever do any good, but are measured.

I would look into whether or not the block heater is drawing more than its rating.

I would rather buy something else with that bit of money every month than electricity that is not doing anything. Like some badges...


Big Jimmy

staarma

My bill went up the first year of owning my truck during the cold months. My usual bill is aournd $48 a month. When I plugged the truck in at around 5:00 PM to 8:00 AM the next day over the winter, my bill almost doubled. The truck was the only thing I changed. I got a timer for the next winter after talking to a friend with a 99.5 CTD and he had the same deal happen to him. He got a timer and his bill went back to normal. I got a timer and my bill has been back to normal ever since. It does get colder here than anywhere else in the states except for maybe Alaska. At first I thout it was all of the christmas lights the wife bought and had me install but I compared apples to apples when I was looking at our bills over the last couple years. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but I know what I experienced was real.

Jfaulkner

1500W is for a semi. Weigh the options: Plug it in pay a little more in electricity, screw with the cord. or Don't plug it in and hope it starts, let it knock like "Mini Me" is in the oil pan with a hammer. if it doesn't start your late for work and lose your job, wife leaves you for your neighbor, takes 1/2 your stuff and your truck that you were too cheap to plug in anyway just so you could save $12.60 a month.

ok i might have taken that too far.

Mexstan

Sorry, have to disagree. Have owned a few cars with 1500W block heaters. At one time a 1500W block heater for small 6 cylinder or V8's could be purchased at my local auto parts store, but not sure these days.

05mxdiesel

Nice argument. I hope this didn't happen to you or anyone you know.

coalburner400

700W is right...

I plug mine in when I get home at night... think it costs 11 cents an hour (in the state that has 13 reactors )

I notice that it takes 6 hours on a nice cold day for the heater to eliminate the "Wait to Start". I don't even use the timer any more.

nickleinonen

i could have sworn that the block heater was 1000 or 1100watts...???

coalburner400

You might be right Nick:

When I purchased my 01 - or in the process there of - I used the 4adodge.com build your own tool on the web page. The option, from what I remember, was a 700w block heater.

For giggles I'll look it up, but it may have changed between years.

big jimmy

Throwing money away is throwing money away, a penny at a time or a dollar it adds up.
Troubleshoot the system, get a timer, buy some beer with the savings.

Seems like the smart play to me.

$150.00 a year.

Send it to me and I'll even let you call me cheap.

Big Jimmy

jrs_dodge_diesel

750 watts is what its rated for. I know the Fords use a 1500 watt heater. An easy way to figure this out is to put an ohm meter on the plug and measure the resistance of the heater. Voltage = Current (amps) times resistance (ohms). So for our heaters since we know voltage (115 VAC) and current (6.5 amps) we can figure out the resistance of the heater. 115 / 6.5 = 17.6. So it should measure about 17 ohms.

supr

While it does not get too cold in Texas, I find plugging it in when under 60 cuts the time to start & warm up. I think an hour for 30+, does OK, where the battery is not being drained too much, 3 secs or so to start.
I think 3-4 hours would be plenty above 0. I think a timer makes sense. Power is $.12/kw here, up from .08, 2- 3 years.
A penny saved is more beer money, right?