so as for the timer thingy......
could i use a timer for like a spa or heat lamp and wire it into the cord?
i need to start pluggin in soon and don't feel the real need to run the heater all night. or isthere a certain kinda timer i should look for? where can i find it?
thanks.

 

Nothing special, the $10-$15 Home Depot one works just fine, the "heavy duty" one.
Should be in abundance this time of year, perfect for Christmas Lights.


phox

 

I've been using one of these since I bought my truck in '99.
Still working great.
About $12.00 at your local Home Store.
15 amp 1750 watt rating

 

I start to plug in when it gets to -15c(5 in english).

 

Just a quick question. I plug my truck in usually when I'm done with it for the day. This way the heater only has to maintain a temperature. If you use the timer for about 3 hours (which I used to use) the heater has to warm a cold engine. Which is cheaper in the long run???? I do realize we're talking just pennies here but I'm curious.

 

Since I can't really put a timer on mine because of the fact that I could leave for work or a fire call at anytime. So I keep the ol' girl in the garage with the hood up and plugged in. The nice part is the extra heat the block puts off is keeping the shop warm! So in this case there is nothing wasted.

 

I wouldn't think that it would make any difference. I block heater doesn't have a temp gauge on it, it just runs at one temp all the time. So if you run it longer it will use more elcetricity.

 

I received a flyer from Home Depot a couple of days ago, they have a Coleman Powermate generator on sale right now with a 12 volt DC output along with 110 AC that would easily run the block heater. Pretty good price.

 

Home Depot has a timer that's intended for
outdoor use. It's enclosed in a plastic box with
a short pigtail (about a foot).

It's made by the same mfgr (Intermatic) as the one
pictured by Shovelhead. Avail in 10 and 15 amp.

Handy things to have around . . .(for other stuff too)
don't need it for block heater - 'cause right now (11:30AM)
it's 80 degrees . . . but it did get down to 60 last night!
[Santa Ana winds here in So. Kali-fornia]

 

Running the block heater from the time you get home from work until you get up in the morning would rock your world unless you're the guy that doesn't pay an electric bill. That's a lot of amps. A timer is a much cheaper way to do exactly the same thing. I found that about two hours is plenty to keep the wait to start light from coming on.

 

does anyone else wish there was a light or something so you KNOW that the heater is working when you plug it in?? I know it works since it's warm in the AM, but I like to see and verify that its working...

But thats just me

 

Seems that when I go to plug mine in that there is always some moisture/frost under the plug cover and on the plug prongs. When I plug her into the extension cord she'll crackle a bit!! I do, however, make sure that I'm not touching anything I shouldn't be for all you OSHA types!!

 

speaking of timers....

I was thinking about installing one on the garage....But I cant do that at work...I just toss the cord in the back floorboard, take it to work, and plug it in before I get to bed....by chance is there a cord/timer combo on the market anywhere?? BTW i work 24 hour shifts

 

Check your local home store's electrical section for a lighted plug end.
They also have cords with this feature already installed.


http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/450265/612

 

Sounds like you are making things more complicated than they need be. Timer installation consists of just plugging a timer in. A cheap appliance timer is more than adequate, just make sure it has a ground prong. Unless you can keep the timer under cover suggest you stick it under the hood.