Fact or Fiction?
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 1
From: Duluth, Mn.
FYI: the 1000 watt BH uses over 15 amps. A standard houshold timer is usually rated at 10 amps. Make sure you have one that'll handle the load. You don't want to wake up to the garage burning down.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque
I am glad that this thread provided some much needed comic relief! I do not know where my friends came up with this carp. They spend hours on end out Elk hunting up in the mountains. Perhaps they had way too much Crown the night before they tried to start thier truck. It is VERY possible.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
I was going to say we should warn you we all have the much older IDI diesels they were installed from 1983 thru 1994.
They are the fathers (7.3 IDI), uncles (7.3 IDI turbo) and grandfathers (6.9 IDI) of your Power Stroke 1994 thru 1997 (DI) engine.
Same rules do apply in this instance though.
They are the fathers (7.3 IDI), uncles (7.3 IDI turbo) and grandfathers (6.9 IDI) of your Power Stroke 1994 thru 1997 (DI) engine.
Same rules do apply in this instance though.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
Maybe we are being too hard on our PS owner friends.
It is possible (in theory) that using the block heater could confuse the engine controller on the newer trucks into a shortened glow plug cycle for a given ambient temperature or something...
I guess we can just tell them that our old trucks have "industrial strength software" that was developed by Mechanical Engineers.
It is possible (in theory) that using the block heater could confuse the engine controller on the newer trucks into a shortened glow plug cycle for a given ambient temperature or something...
I guess we can just tell them that our old trucks have "industrial strength software" that was developed by Mechanical Engineers.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,548
Likes: 5,589
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
but whether you use a block heater or not at a certain outside temp will not matter to the glow plug controller taking a memory, cause the timer on the controller is determined by the temp of the engine. so if it is plugged in for 6 years, it may only time for 10 seconds, cause the engine is warm. then if you don't plug it in that night, it will time for 65 seconds, cause the engine is -5º
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by tjc transport
but whether you use a block heater or not at a certain outside temp will not matter to the glow plug controller taking a memory, cause the timer on the controller is determined by the temp of the engine. so if it is plugged in for 6 years, it may only time for 10 seconds, cause the engine is warm. then if you don't plug it in that night, it will time for 65 seconds, cause the engine is -5º
The PS glow plugs are controlled by a module which takes battery voltage, oil temperature, and barometric preasure as inputs. The module is not adaptive, so yes there is no memory. One interesting thing is that some California models have individual wires from the module to each glow plug and can detect a bad plug. Now that would be nice to have on an IDI. If I had a lot more time on my hands, I'd whip something up for y'all real cheap.
I guess if you had bad glow plugs and used your block heater every night at home it would start fine until you went up into the mountains.
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,548
Likes: 5,589
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
follow the wire??
i think it is on the passenger side of the block, in a freeze out plug hole.
can't really say for sure, i never looked for it, cause mine has always worked.
i think it is on the passenger side of the block, in a freeze out plug hole.
can't really say for sure, i never looked for it, cause mine has always worked.
Senior User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
I could see doing that IF you had it running on its own separate battery. Something that is isolated from the rest of the truck(with a solenoid) when the truck is off, that way you don't run down your main batteries. A deep cycle would probably be best.
You could use a latching relay so when the truck is started you just push a button and the hater battery will charge, when you turn the key off the battery gets shut off from the rest of the truck.
You could use an auxiliary output from an aftermarket keyless entry/alarm/remote start to turn the heater on from inside your house. These outputs can usually be set to a timed mode.
You will also want to make sure your inverter can handle low voltage situations without letting out the magic smoke, it is expensive to put the back in.
You could use a latching relay so when the truck is started you just push a button and the hater battery will charge, when you turn the key off the battery gets shut off from the rest of the truck.
You could use an auxiliary output from an aftermarket keyless entry/alarm/remote start to turn the heater on from inside your house. These outputs can usually be set to a timed mode.
You will also want to make sure your inverter can handle low voltage situations without letting out the magic smoke, it is expensive to put the back in.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 291
Likes: 4
From: houston,tx
never heard of a latching relay but have used battery isolators like on motorcoaches, it just distributes the charge to the batteries without them being linked together and no switches!
i like the remote idea too.
i like the remote idea too.