| Author | Message | ||
| james dean boggs (Jd_boggs)
Registered Member Username: Jd_boggs Post Number: 133 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 71.102.32.163 Rating: N/A |
Have 1500 watt block heater never used before. Do I keep it plugged in all night or just a few hours? It's been 17-19 degrees at night and will need to travel next few days. Thanks all. | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 116 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.10  Rating: N/A |
It wont hurt to leave it pluged in all night. Dave L | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 241 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 74.244.14.221  Rating: N/A |
When I took my last trip I just turned mine on before I went to bed then she was all ready in the morning | ||
| Dan West (Utahclaimjumper)
Registered Member Username: Utahclaimjumper Post Number: 147 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 208.66.38.60 Rating: N/A |
Usually a couple of hours will do it, much more is a waste of electricity ($$$$)>>>Dan | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1435 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.68.133.120  Rating: |
Hello. How long do you engage your engine heating apparatus? As long as it takes to get the engine warm enough to start. So, do some trials. Another dandy use for your infra red temp gun. See how long it takes your heater to raise the temp of the block to what terminal temp, in what conditions? Always looking for a way to save a buck? Don't want that heater on any longer than necessary! Worth the convenience? Leave it plugged in overnight. My world? 1500 watt block heater in an 8V71, snow covered landscape, two hours does the job. -30C/-22F? 20 minute burn of a Webasto DBW300. (1/3 gallon of fuel) and she'll fire! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 611 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 69.19.14.16 Rating: |
When traveling we plug it in on arrival at the campsite and leave it on till departure. NICE!! to start in 1/2 turn, at freezing . FF | ||
| Frank Allen (Frank66)
Registered Member Username: Frank66 Post Number: 100 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 64.12.117.73 Rating: N/A |
i can turn mine on for 45 mins and it starts right up, Frank allen 4106 | ||
| Mel La Plante (Mel_4104)
Registered Member Username: Mel_4104 Post Number: 106 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 205.250.187.86 Rating: N/A |
it will not hurt to leave the block heater on over nite, in fact i like to do just that as it tends to warm up the whoke inside area of the engine compartment and heats the compressor,warms the power steering oil and even conducts heat to the tranny. this all helps to the oil moving better. up here we even put a heater on the bottom of the tranny of our equipment, sure saves on wear as the oil lubs much better and no cold running before the oil warms up. even a light bulb put under the oil pan is a great help. | ||
| William D. Watkins (Sivrtnge2)
Registered Member Username: Sivrtnge2 Post Number: 207 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 173.110.98.144 Rating: N/A |
Well, I guess I need to ask...will it hurt anything to leave it plugged in months at a time??? I plugged mine in back in October...haven't been home since. Not worried about the electric bill because the only thing on is the engine heater, a few house lights, and the heatpump set at 50 degrees for the house. -- BILL | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 451 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.12.126.44 Rating: |
I had 2 block heaters so I plugged 'em both in for a month while I postponed replacing the antifreeze. The heaters were 1500 watts each & don't have thermostats to turm 'em off, so that added up all too quickly. The bill was a lot more than I was planning for. Even tho they were the only things plugged in after that meter. I suppose adding a thermostat would pay for itself rather quickly if I feel the need to do that again. . . . Bill, I hope your elec bill isn't what mine was. | ||
| Don Evans (Doninwa)
Registered Member Username: Doninwa Post Number: 174 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 208.81.157.90 Rating: N/A |
Here in the Northwest with cheep power a 1500 watt heater would cost about $75 a month @ 6.9 cents/KW. What does 1080KW cost were you are? Don 4107 | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 1243 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 65.74.69.188 Rating: N/A |
Bill, the $100 per month saved on electricity could go towards fuel to help pay for a trip! You will need cheap power to keep it down to $100. For what it's worth. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska | ||
| Floyd Lillies (Flois)
Registered Member Username: Flois Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 216.86.127.176  Rating: N/A |
I use a programmable timer to warm the block "just in time" to fire up the coach and head out in the morning ... one hour to 3 hours depending on the outside temperature. | ||
| james dean boggs (Jd_boggs)
Registered Member Username: Jd_boggs Post Number: 134 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 71.102.32.163 Rating: N/A |
I'm paying .064 cents per kW hour $69 per month. When the solar panels get installed here in So Cal it should drop even more. I'm already surrounded by wind generators. My last count of wind generators in my vicinity is over 1,000 units and there crews installing more. | ||
| William D. Watkins (Sivrtnge2)
Registered Member Username: Sivrtnge2 Post Number: 208 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 68.30.38.2 Rating: N/A |
I guess I might be in trouble!!! -- BILL | ||
| William D. Watkins (Sivrtnge2)
Registered Member Username: Sivrtnge2 Post Number: 209 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 68.30.38.2 Rating: N/A |
As for fuel money to take a trip...I produce my own fuel. After I refine it, I charge myself 5.999 per gallon for it. Thats cheap compaired to most. I just might have to raise the price per gallon to keep up with the economy!!! -- BILL | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 452 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193 Rating: N/A |
Yep, ~$80 per heater per month is what I remember paying.  It didn't take long to justify new coolant!  | ||
| William D. Watkins (Sivrtnge2)
Registered Member Username: Sivrtnge2 Post Number: 210 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 173.108.172.74 Rating: N/A |
My better half said it is costing us about 40.00 per month. Our bill has jumped from 80.00 to 120.00. She said for Nov. and Dec. I figure 3 to 4 months per year...worse case 160.00 isn't bad. I'll right it off to "U.N.C.L.E. S.A.M. | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 349 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 69.77.157.42 Rating: N/A |
William, are you working for Uncle Sam? Did you get called about 6 months ago? | ||
| William D. Watkins (Sivrtnge2)
Registered Member Username: Sivrtnge2 Post Number: 211 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 173.110.88.82 Rating: N/A |
Everyday!!! I got called about 8 years ago. Been in active duty ever since!!! -- BILL |
