Block Heater/Timer
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Block Heater/Timer
Hey gang,
It does not get terribly cold down here, but she does like to plugged in at night.
Anybody got a good source for some type of timer that you can use in an outside environment? I want to plug her in when I get home and have the timer set to come on about 2 hours before I am ready to leave in the morning.
I have noticed that my electric bill goes up when I have her plugged in all night. Seems like I remember it pulls around 1,000 watts ? That is kind of like running a blow dryer all night !!
Thanks for any suggestions, this is a great place with great folks !
It does not get terribly cold down here, but she does like to plugged in at night.
Anybody got a good source for some type of timer that you can use in an outside environment? I want to plug her in when I get home and have the timer set to come on about 2 hours before I am ready to leave in the morning.
I have noticed that my electric bill goes up when I have her plugged in all night. Seems like I remember it pulls around 1,000 watts ? That is kind of like running a blow dryer all night !!
Thanks for any suggestions, this is a great place with great folks !
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad, California
Home Depot or similar HW store should carry them.
Any good outdoor timer that is good enough to handle 1500 W (typically they'll do this) should do. As you said, the block heater will draw in the neighborhood of 1000 to 1100 W.
With Christmas about here, most places will carry timer that can work out doors and turn the outdoor Christmas decoration lights on and off - I'd think that one of those would do.
Any good outdoor timer that is good enough to handle 1500 W (typically they'll do this) should do. As you said, the block heater will draw in the neighborhood of 1000 to 1100 W.
With Christmas about here, most places will carry timer that can work out doors and turn the outdoor Christmas decoration lights on and off - I'd think that one of those would do.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 0
From: Lynden, WA.
On the chilly nights, I've gone from 3 now to 4 hours.
Temps are dipping into the high 30s. That deams another hour of cudling. What a difference in the sound when starting prewarmed vs just plain cold.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 3
From: Valdez, Alaska
Its been in the single digits to teens and I have been having the timer turn on 3 hrs prior. Truck warms up real fast for me.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: All Over
Having lived in Canada and Alaska...whats wrong with leaving it plugged in overnight? Granted its not near as cold at my present location...just wondering if there is some issue that I missed with all this talk about timers.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad, California
Nothing is wrong with leaving it plugged in all the time, just that the electric bills can start to add up 
General concensus is that after three hours it is as warm as it's going to get.
General concensus is that after three hours it is as warm as it's going to get.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by jackofalltrades
Temps are dipping into the high 30s. That deams another hour of cudling. What a difference in the sound when starting prewarmed vs just plain cold.
-Steve
-Steve
We've had a cold snap even here in Texus...
(low 20's last night is HORRIBLY cold for us....
and it SURE makes a lot of noise when you wake it up when that cold !!!
Almost as much noise as my knees when I wake up !!!!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Ha, Ha! High 30's and 20's. I live in NW MN. I can spit out my kitchen window and it will land in Canada. Up here we don't even think about plugging them in until it hit's 0. Don't even let them warm up unless its in the teens. Anything 20 and above is get in and go. Gets so cold up here when i wake up water in the kitchen coffee pot is froze. When I go to start my 89 f-250 and the hydralic clutch stays on the floor board for a few minutes then it might be time to plug it in. Or up here sometimes only reason we plug them in is to keep the anyfreeze in the block from FREEZING! You know it is cold when your antifreeze is good to -45 and you take the radiator cap off to look in the radiator and you see slush! Have a 1973 Ford 5000 Tractor. In 97 it ran nonstop from Nov - Mar. Didn't dare shut it off or both the diesel and oil would jell up. Had a jug of 10W-30. I made an indent in it with my finger up to my knuckle. It was so cold it didn't even stick to my finger. It was thick, like rubber. 8 hours later the indent was still there.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: RI
I was wondering if the block heaters are controled by a thermostat? I use deicer's (water heaters) in the cow waterers and they are about the same as the block heaters, they fit in the drain plug hole and the elements are right in the water, they are 1500 watts. They are in 100 gallon tanks. I have them plugged in all the time and they only come on when the temp gets low. Not sure what temp, but the water doesnt get warm to the touch. I would think the block heaters work that way and if they did wouldnt it be more cost effective to plug them in when the blocks are still warm, and leave them plugged in all nite? That way it once it cooled to below its preset temp it would come on just long enuff to bring it back up. Just reading and doing some wondering, was 13 here last nite. Take care, Thanks, John
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,310
Likes: 31
From: Nevada
Did It !!!
Just set up my timer last week, it can get crazy cold were im at (-0) although it hasnt yet. I bought a timer that was on display for christmas lights !!!
It works great, I set her for 6am and off at 12pm. .No smoke from the big stroke when shes plugged in, I know my 6.0 loves me
I also got a 1 foot heavy duty extension cord for the truck stub cord, I hated yanking on that thing, fearing it would come un rapped or something.
It works great, I set her for 6am and off at 12pm. .No smoke from the big stroke when shes plugged in, I know my 6.0 loves me
I also got a 1 foot heavy duty extension cord for the truck stub cord, I hated yanking on that thing, fearing it would come un rapped or something.