Any way to test a block heater?

[snelson]

Hey guys, is there any way to test a block heater?
I've been using mine off/on over the winter, now it appears it's stopped working as I can't get the Deli to start in this cold. Before when it was plugged in, she would start no problem, like it was 80 degrees out. Now, -13, and she just turns and turns (was able to get it started yesterday after lots of coaxing, but it's colder today, and can't get it started...).
If the block heater is dead, that's a real pain, cause it cost 200 to have installed just this fall!

[marsgal42]

Is it drawing any current?

Does the engine temperature change when it's been on for a while? I have a non-contact infrared thermometer, but even feeling with your hand should tell you something.

...laura

[snelson]

Hey laura, thanks for the suggestion. I borrowed one of those plugs that measure the wattage being consumed. Plugged the block heater cable into it and get 0 watts being used.
Damn - what a pain. How does a block heater break!?!? Its a simple resistor - no?

Can you leave a block heater on too long? I've been leaving it plugged in over night sometimes here in banff.

[patty]

i sure hope not, thats what there designed for!?
sure hope that doesn't happen to mine. sounds like you might have got a faulty piece of equipment.

[Adam]

This might be a silly question, but are you plugging it into a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet? All our outside outlets have the built in circuit breaker and it was tripping every couple of days. Took me a while to figure out the outlet was tripped and needed to be reset.

[drrod]

Also check to make sure the plug has not come loose from the actual block heater. Most block heater cords plug into the actual heater and it may have come loose or not been plugged in "enough" when installed. Block heaters can burn out but it is unusual. They can be left plugged in for days on end with no ill effects as a general rule.
Rod

[snelson]

Thanks for the responses/suggestions guys...

The outlet is just a regular old style outdoor plug. It does have power, it'll run an alarm clock just fine.

Wondered about the connection at the block heater. Ill try to get a look at that, but I'm not even sure where it goes! I follow the cord from the front of the van, it snakes along the bottom and then disappears. I'll look more closely tonight.

Such a pain - Just start, damn you!

[EnviroImports.com]

Most likely, the plug has just come loose from the block heater, its just a plug in. so if you make sure the plug is on tight, it should come right on, its just a simple circut. nothing really to stop it as long as your cord is not cut or snaged on something.

[snelson]

Hey guys - a big thanks again for the feedback.

Trying not to beat this topic to death, but one last (hopefully) question - I know nothing,zilch,zip about electricity, but is there some type of gadget that I would hook up to the prongs coming out from the block heater, to test if it's working? What would I test for? Resistance?

Thought if I'm going to climb under there, undo the metal shield thingy etc, and it's not just simply unplugged up in there, I'd like to be able to test to see if it's the actual block heater that's not working, or the cord itself is to blame....

I have access to a volt meter - would this work? If so, could someone perhaps instruct me on what to do with it? (Besides shove it up my..... )
Steve

[EnviroImports.com]

there is not really anything you can do other than make sure its pluged in. but use a flashlight and make sure you havent cut any of the wires by accident or the plug hasent gotten caught on something, you could even Un-plug it and then re- plug it back in to make sure there isent any build up on the plug.
its sort of like pluging in a hair dryer, it will work, or it wont, the current just goes around in a circle. no fuse or anything to blow on the block heater, as long as your plug in place has voltage, then if its pluged in, it should be great

so stop avoiding it, and go crawl under that cold snowy Delica, Have i mentioned that my dafodills are blosoming right now?....
Sorry, I had to add that, I lived in the prairies for a VERY LONG TIME ....

[Green1]

an ohm meter should do the trick, I'm not sure what reading you should be getting, but it shouldn't read as an open. my best guess is somewhere between 10 and 30 ohms of resistance would be about right, but it could be higher, just not at the maximum of your meter. and it has to be over 7 ohms or you'd be tripping your circuit breakers.

[nausea82]

You can also use a clamp meter, set to AC amps. You have to separate the "live" line from the ground and neutral - you can build a little dongle out of a few inches of extension cord, separate the three conductors, and tape them all up safely with electrical tape. It should read approx 2-4 amps depending on the size of your block heater.

Upon reading this it sounds like more of a pain in the ass then it's worth. But it will tell you how much current your load is drawing.

[Green1]

2-4 amps depending on the size of your block heater.

is that all? hrmmm... I woulda figured more than that... but I've never checked one... (nor really enquired about their power rating at all...)

[nausea82]

Well, if watts = volts*amps, at 120 volts, 1 amp is about 100 watts. So a 500 watt block heater will be just under 5 amps. If I remember my physics. Of course you might have a 1500 watt block heater, or a 250 watt one.

[Green1]

I always assumed they'd be up around 1000-1200 or so... but like I said, I've never checked.