Block Heater
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 81
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Block Heater
Two quick questions. Got a 94 turbo IDI that i'm slowly getting comfortable with. Never got a manual (on order as we speak) and was wondering about the block heater. What outside temp is the magic temp when you should plug it in and how long do you let it heat before you try starting?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
I plug mine in when it is below 20. I also plug it in when it is snowing even if it is warmer so it is ready to go when the phone rings to start plowing. That way I can start defrosting the windows as soon as it starts.
When I plug mine in....it is plugged in for the night.
I used to have a timer on the outlet I used to plug into but the clock died. When it was working it turned on about 3 hours before I wanted to go.
I should get another one cause I think that heater is a 1000 watt heater. I have seen them anywhere from 600 watts to 1200 watts.
If you use a timer it should be good for at least 15 amps to give you a little reserve on amperage.
When I plug mine in....it is plugged in for the night.
I used to have a timer on the outlet I used to plug into but the clock died. When it was working it turned on about 3 hours before I wanted to go.
I should get another one cause I think that heater is a 1000 watt heater. I have seen them anywhere from 600 watts to 1200 watts.
If you use a timer it should be good for at least 15 amps to give you a little reserve on amperage.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Québec
I can start mine down to about zéro Farenheight not pluged in, about minus 18 celcius. BUT, I have two new 1000 amps batteries fully charged, all glow plugs are working and I use winter additive. I normally plug it in when it is around 10 F. I have a 1200 watt heater and if I plug it in for an hour, it is good enough. I started mine at minus 20 F, after being pluged in for an hour.
One thing I found is when you start your engine it uses a lot of batteries. So do not start and shut down. You have to let the batteries recharged. Your batteries must also be of the same strenght. If you have one low batterie, it tends to drain the other and the weak one does not recharge enough. What you can do is disconnect one batterie at the time AFTER starting up and charge them up one at a time to full charge, or use a low amp charger. I also cranked up the RPM to about 800. It gives the batteries more juice when iddling in winter.
Good winter.
One thing I found is when you start your engine it uses a lot of batteries. So do not start and shut down. You have to let the batteries recharged. Your batteries must also be of the same strenght. If you have one low batterie, it tends to drain the other and the weak one does not recharge enough. What you can do is disconnect one batterie at the time AFTER starting up and charge them up one at a time to full charge, or use a low amp charger. I also cranked up the RPM to about 800. It gives the batteries more juice when iddling in winter.
Good winter.
