Block Heater Energy Usage
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From: Whitecourt AB, Canada
Block Heater Energy Usage
Just out of curiosity, I measured 7.5A current draw with 112.51VAC at the end of my 12AWG extension cord. Heater's a resistive load, so this is only about 850 watts. Or as much power as my furnace blower fan uses (and it runs 24x7 anyway).
I use the heater in conjunction with a battery charger during colder weather. I put battery chargers on any battery that is sitting outside so that they don't discharge, lose specific gravity and freeze because that is a mess to clean up.
I use the heater in conjunction with a battery charger during colder weather. I put battery chargers on any battery that is sitting outside so that they don't discharge, lose specific gravity and freeze because that is a mess to clean up.
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From: Whitecourt AB, Canada
0.850kW times how many hours you plug it in for results in kWh. That number times the cost charged per kilowatt-hour by your utility results in the cost of operation.
I couldn't fill in the hours of operation or the cost of electricity for you since I don't know the values, unfortunately.
I couldn't fill in the hours of operation or the cost of electricity for you since I don't know the values, unfortunately.
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From: Metuchen
0.850kW times how many hours you plug it in for results in kWh. That number times the cost charged per kilowatt-hour by your utility results in the cost of operation.
I couldn't fill in the hours of operation or the cost of electricity for you since I don't know the values, unfortunately.
I couldn't fill in the hours of operation or the cost of electricity for you since I don't know the values, unfortunately.
Thanks
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 301
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From: Northwestern Ontario
I don't start plugging mine till about -20c (0F). And plug it in about 11pm till 7 am. I am on call during the nights (tow truck driver), so I don't have it on a timer....
As for the DEF freezing, last winter it started freezing (crystalized) about -15c (5F). I left a jug sitting out side so I could monitor it. I filled my truck up in November, and am sure it was frozen all winter. In March when it started warming up, I could only add 1 quart, and I put about 4000 kms on the truck. The CEL light was on, but it took the "flash" in June to get rid of it.
--
Gordon
As for the DEF freezing, last winter it started freezing (crystalized) about -15c (5F). I left a jug sitting out side so I could monitor it. I filled my truck up in November, and am sure it was frozen all winter. In March when it started warming up, I could only add 1 quart, and I put about 4000 kms on the truck. The CEL light was on, but it took the "flash" in June to get rid of it.
--
Gordon
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From: Isanti, MN
I don't start plugging mine till about -20c (0F). And plug it in about 11pm till 7 am. I am on call during the nights (tow truck driver), so I don't have it on a timer....
As for the DEF freezing, last winter it started freezing (crystalized) about -15c (5F). I left a jug sitting out side so I could monitor it. I filled my truck up in November, and am sure it was frozen all winter. In March when it started warming up, I could only add 1 quart, and I put about 4000 kms on the truck. The CEL light was on, but it took the "flash" in June to get rid of it.
--
Gordon
As for the DEF freezing, last winter it started freezing (crystalized) about -15c (5F). I left a jug sitting out side so I could monitor it. I filled my truck up in November, and am sure it was frozen all winter. In March when it started warming up, I could only add 1 quart, and I put about 4000 kms on the truck. The CEL light was on, but it took the "flash" in June to get rid of it.
--
Gordon
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From: Whitecourt AB, Canada
What would be the best thing to measure? I can sample and graph readings, but is there a negative/positive thermal coefficient sensor that I can just clip on to or dip a thermocouple into something to check that? I know just doing block surface temp would not be too accurate.
I'm doing this as a test of how effective the block heater is on the truck and whether or not it's worth using it. And I'm looking for some numbers to show the temp difference with it plugged in or not. It was choking a few times on the cold start Saturday evening making awful noises and just about stalled out for a second there. I mean it doesn't miss for several minutes as bad as my 7.3 T444E does when IT'S doing a -25°C cold start, but still.
I'll use gauge cluster test mode and check the coolant temp right at startup and then compare to some other time. There will be plenty more of those times over the course of the next few months anyway.
I'm doing this as a test of how effective the block heater is on the truck and whether or not it's worth using it. And I'm looking for some numbers to show the temp difference with it plugged in or not. It was choking a few times on the cold start Saturday evening making awful noises and just about stalled out for a second there. I mean it doesn't miss for several minutes as bad as my 7.3 T444E does when IT'S doing a -25°C cold start, but still.
I'll use gauge cluster test mode and check the coolant temp right at startup and then compare to some other time. There will be plenty more of those times over the course of the next few months anyway.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northwestern Ontario
Quote:
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" itxtNodeId="1035" itxtHarvested="0"><TBODY itxtNodeId="1037" itxtHarvested="0"><TR itxtNodeId="1038" itxtHarvested="0"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset" class=alt2 itxtNodeId="1039" itxtHarvested="0">Originally Posted by fixdent
I don't start plugging mine till about -20c (0F). And plug it in about 11pm till 7 am. I am on call during the nights (tow truck driver), so I don't have it on a timer....
As for the DEF freezing, last winter it started freezing (crystalized) about -15c (5F). I left a jug sitting out side so I could monitor it. I filled my truck up in November, and am sure it was frozen all winter. In March when it started warming up, I could only add 1 quart, and I put about 4000 kms on the truck. The CEL light was on, but it took the "flash" in June to get rid of it.
--
Gordon
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Unless you never went on any long trips I'm pretty confident it wasn't frozen all winter. First of all the comparison with your jug of DEF isn't going to be accurate, as your DEF tank is insulated and the jug of DEF isn't. Furthermore your DEF tank has a heating element controlled by the glow plug module, and unless you went on short trips and shut the truck down it would be able to thaw out your DEF pretty quickly. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
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Tom,
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" itxtNodeId="1035" itxtHarvested="0"><TBODY itxtNodeId="1037" itxtHarvested="0"><TR itxtNodeId="1038" itxtHarvested="0"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset" class=alt2 itxtNodeId="1039" itxtHarvested="0">Originally Posted by fixdent
I don't start plugging mine till about -20c (0F). And plug it in about 11pm till 7 am. I am on call during the nights (tow truck driver), so I don't have it on a timer....
As for the DEF freezing, last winter it started freezing (crystalized) about -15c (5F). I left a jug sitting out side so I could monitor it. I filled my truck up in November, and am sure it was frozen all winter. In March when it started warming up, I could only add 1 quart, and I put about 4000 kms on the truck. The CEL light was on, but it took the "flash" in June to get rid of it.
--
Gordon
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Unless you never went on any long trips I'm pretty confident it wasn't frozen all winter. First of all the comparison with your jug of DEF isn't going to be accurate, as your DEF tank is insulated and the jug of DEF isn't. Furthermore your DEF tank has a heating element controlled by the glow plug module, and unless you went on short trips and shut the truck down it would be able to thaw out your DEF pretty quickly. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
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Tom,
All I can really say is I only used 1 quart (litre) last winter from November to March, and put on about 4000 kms (2500 miles)
My bet is that the tank is frozen.
I'm surprised that a winter formula cannot be made.
--
Gordon
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Well I think when you chemically reduce the freezing point of water it is no longer water, you're burning other things along with it.
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From: Isanti, MN
Yes, my trips are mostly short. I drive only about a mile to work. I do let it run for 15 - 20 minutes before leaving.
All I can really say is I only used 1 quart (litre) last winter from November to March, and put on about 4000 kms (2500 miles)
My bet is that the tank is frozen.
I'm surprised that a winter formula cannot be made.
All I can really say is I only used 1 quart (litre) last winter from November to March, and put on about 4000 kms (2500 miles)
My bet is that the tank is frozen.
I'm surprised that a winter formula cannot be made.
Your tank is insolated, so the DEF isn't going to get as cold as the air gets at night, and you have a relatively powerful heating element in that tank. The 15 minutes you idle to get the truck warmed up should be more than sufficient to thaw enough of your DEF so that it's available for use when driving. But because your engine never gets that hot you are barely using any DEF in those temperatures. The PCM is designed to comply with US and Canadian emissions laws, which don't allow the truck to run for long with frozen DEF. This is why the tank heater exists.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 301
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From: Northwestern Ontario
I'd bet that your tank isn't frozen. Remember that the biggest cause of NOX in engine exhaust is high temperatures. I'm willing to bet you're barely, if at all getting to your operating temperatures during your short commute during the winter.
Your tank is insolated, so the DEF isn't going to get as cold as the air gets at night, and you have a relatively powerful heating element in that tank. The 15 minutes you idle to get the truck warmed up should be more than sufficient to thaw enough of your DEF so that it's available for use when driving. But because your engine never gets that hot you are barely using any DEF in those temperatures. The PCM is designed to comply with US and Canadian emissions laws, which don't allow the truck to run for long with frozen DEF. This is why the tank heater exists. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
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Your tank is insolated, so the DEF isn't going to get as cold as the air gets at night, and you have a relatively powerful heating element in that tank. The 15 minutes you idle to get the truck warmed up should be more than sufficient to thaw enough of your DEF so that it's available for use when driving. But because your engine never gets that hot you are barely using any DEF in those temperatures. The PCM is designed to comply with US and Canadian emissions laws, which don't allow the truck to run for long with frozen DEF. This is why the tank heater exists. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
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Another thing I noticed last winter was a very different exhause smell, much stronger.
Oh well, I just hope my CEL light does not come on this winter.
--
Gordon
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