Block Heater Cord
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Block Heater Cord
Hello all. Hope some of you east coasters get to play in some snow! I know my truck is going out as soon as we get about 6-8" on the ground!
I've got a 1000 watt block heater in my truck and I plugged it in a couple times over the last few weeks and it's been giving me problems.
What's the best way to check continuity on the plug? check blades to ground?
Plugged in two hours this morning, block heater seemed barely warm. Cranked on the truck a few times nothing. (bad glow plugs needing fixed). Then plugged back in about 30 minutes and checked it again and it was almost too hot to touch. 1000 watts really cranks when it's working and truck starts.
I figure it's a short in it. Don't want to burn my truck to the ground and don't have all the stuff to fix gp's yet...
I've got a 1000 watt block heater in my truck and I plugged it in a couple times over the last few weeks and it's been giving me problems.
What's the best way to check continuity on the plug? check blades to ground?
Plugged in two hours this morning, block heater seemed barely warm. Cranked on the truck a few times nothing. (bad glow plugs needing fixed). Then plugged back in about 30 minutes and checked it again and it was almost too hot to touch. 1000 watts really cranks when it's working and truck starts.
I figure it's a short in it. Don't want to burn my truck to the ground and don't have all the stuff to fix gp's yet...
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 664
Likes: 129
From: Columbia, MD
Expected Ohms
1000 watts on 110 volts should be about 9 amps, 12 ohms.
A short would draw excess current, should pop the breaker in the house.
More likely, you have high resistance somewhere. Likely causes are corroded blades on the plug, kinked cord and broken conductors near the plug or the heater, or possibly a loose connection from the cord to the heater proper. A high resistance point can overheat and start a fire, but they're often self-limiting (high resistance reduces current, limiting heat input).
The plug blades sound like the culprit. They hang out exposed and get corroded, like trailer light plugs). You scraped corrosion off them plugging / unplugging / plugging, and now they're working nicely. Put some dielectric grease (electrical connection grease, check a good trailering section) on the blades to reduce future corrosion.
If you put an ohmmeter on the plug, check that both the blades and probes are bright where they touch.
Or your problem is somewhere else...
A short would draw excess current, should pop the breaker in the house.
More likely, you have high resistance somewhere. Likely causes are corroded blades on the plug, kinked cord and broken conductors near the plug or the heater, or possibly a loose connection from the cord to the heater proper. A high resistance point can overheat and start a fire, but they're often self-limiting (high resistance reduces current, limiting heat input).
The plug blades sound like the culprit. They hang out exposed and get corroded, like trailer light plugs). You scraped corrosion off them plugging / unplugging / plugging, and now they're working nicely. Put some dielectric grease (electrical connection grease, check a good trailering section) on the blades to reduce future corrosion.
If you put an ohmmeter on the plug, check that both the blades and probes are bright where they touch.
Or your problem is somewhere else...
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great advice paddler. that's exactly what it is. I was getting funky ohm readings until I found a shiny spot on the blades and then I was getting 12-13 ohms consistently.
Run the plug in and out a few more times and now I'm good. Have kept the truck plugged in last night and today and it's started fine. Gladly so b/c we have 22 inches of snow on the ground and I would like to make sure at least one vehicle can get out in case of emergency! thanks,
Run the plug in and out a few more times and now I'm good. Have kept the truck plugged in last night and today and it's started fine. Gladly so b/c we have 22 inches of snow on the ground and I would like to make sure at least one vehicle can get out in case of emergency! thanks,
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