Block heater current draw
Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,345
Likes: 21
Draw is between 1,200 - 1500 watts.
Its a lot so use a heavy-duty extension cord and timer... cheap ones will melt or get very warm.
Good luck and please advise what kind or brand of timer you chose... I want to get one to... however, the weather in KC went from 7 degrees last weekend to the 60's today and 80's by Thursday here in Kansas City!!!!!
Its a lot so use a heavy-duty extension cord and timer... cheap ones will melt or get very warm.
Good luck and please advise what kind or brand of timer you chose... I want to get one to... however, the weather in KC went from 7 degrees last weekend to the 60's today and 80's by Thursday here in Kansas City!!!!!
Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,345
Likes: 21
Originally Posted by LVEILLON
WOW...I didn't know it pulled that much!
If you plug in for 4 hours or more, you will feel the upper radiator hose as being warm... so yu know its working. It is heating up a lot of coolant and the block (where the coolant is touching)... so it takes some wattage to do so. This is serious truck stuff here.... no wimpy heating element for the PowerStroke Diesel!!!
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 797
Likes: 0
From: Wickenburg, AZ
Yeah, be sure to use a good, heavy gauge cord. We're talking 10-12 amps worth of draw here. It does do a pretty good job of keeping it warm, though...
Another word of warning should go out to those of you with those newer style GFCI outlets...if you have a plug on your cord that it corroded up, you might go out the next morning and find yourself with a popped GFCI and a cold truck. That has come up on here before.
Another word of warning should go out to those of you with those newer style GFCI outlets...if you have a plug on your cord that it corroded up, you might go out the next morning and find yourself with a popped GFCI and a cold truck. That has come up on here before.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Pilot Mountain, NC
Intermatic HB31R
I am using a heavy duty extension cord attached to the Intermatic HB31R, an heavy duty outdoor timer sold for $19.99 at Home Deport. A Google search reveals it being sold for less if you care to pay for shipping, etc. If the temperature is forecast to drop below 30 degrees, I connect it to the truck. I program the timer to deliver current 3 hours before departure. It works.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 107
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Originally Posted by Bosko
I am using a heavy duty extension cord attached to the Intermatic HB31R, an heavy duty outdoor timer sold for $19.99 at Home Deport. A Google search reveals it being sold for less if you care to pay for shipping, etc. If the temperature is forecast to drop below 30 degrees, I connect it to the truck. I program the timer to deliver current 3 hours before departure. It works.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Aurora / Moores Hill, IN
I do the timer thing also. I have a timer that I got from Harbor Freight and I can select up to a 15 minute interval. I have my timer come on for 1 hour then off for an hour....running a total of 12 hours a day. Here in the Cincinnati climate area it works out perfect. The truck is warm enough to keep the white smoke down and the sounds much quieter when the truck is put into gear under load. My truck used to be SO LOUD before it warmed up, but not anymore.
The timer is only $ 5.99 and you can order online. My timer is for 115 volts and I believe that it is rated for 15 amps according to the label on the back of the unit. It does not say the amperage rating on the web site, but to verify you could call the store and ask. The link is below.....
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40148
The timer is only $ 5.99 and you can order online. My timer is for 115 volts and I believe that it is rated for 15 amps according to the label on the back of the unit. It does not say the amperage rating on the web site, but to verify you could call the store and ask. The link is below.....
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40148
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