Block Heater Intervals

[patty]

hey all,

well its block heater season for sure in PG now, and i had a curiosity to settle. Im not driving my delica every day, but still once every couple days. now i hate having to plan on my trips three hours in advance when i plug in, and it just seems weird to leave it plugged in for 3 days in between use. to solve this i was going to get a timer that would turn on the block heater and battery blanket. if i were to do this what interval would be sufficient? i was think 3 hrs on 2 hr off, or could it be off for longer?

thanks

[delicat]

You could have it off the entire time until 3-4 hrs before you need it... So if your timer is on a 12hrs set it for 8 off 4 on if it's very cold, less time if closer to -10.

[Green1]

probably even less frequent would be ok... another thing you might want to consider, is a temperature sensitive plug, available at most auto parts stores, they only turn on the block heater when the temperature dips below a certain point (I think it's about -3 or so, should be more like -10)

[Firesong]

It's hitting -19 already here over night.
I go out and plug it in 1.5 hrs before I need it.
That and 0w40 rotella oil and it's starting on the
first catch and quick to warm.

FS

[patty]

thanks yall!

[Erebus]

another thing you might want to consider, is a temperature sensitive plug, available at most auto parts stores, they only turn on the block heater when the temperature dips below a certain point (I think it's about -3 or so, should be more like -10)

No longer easy to find. Temro used to make them, but are now discontinued (I phoned them). Haven't found one yet still laying around in a store. I want one. (Green1 gave me a tip on a source yesterday, I hope it works out.)

[loki]

how about something like this?

http://www.eleproducts.com/

[Erebus]

how about something like this?

http://www.eleproducts.com/

Boy, their website is bad. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for their own product! But, after studying the little info they provide, it senses outside air temperature and turns on/off the block heater based on that. Sounds like it would work for patty.

But what I want is a black box that senses the coolant temperature, and keeps the block heater off until the coolant is cold, then turns it on, and shuts it off when the coolant gets warm. We put one on the search and rescue command post, which is parked unattended for weeks at a time. Since you want it to start at -20, but don't need a block heater when it warms to +15 two days later, it was ideal.

[loki]

how about something like this?

http://www.eleproducts.com/

Boy, their website is bad. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for their own product! But, after studying the little info they provide, it senses outside air temperature and turns on/off the block heater based on that. Sounds like it would work for patty.

But what I want is a black box that senses the coolant temperature, and keeps the block heater off until the coolant is cold, then turns it on, and shuts it off when the coolant gets warm. We put one on the search and rescue command post, which is parked unattended for weeks at a time. Since you want it to start at -20, but don't need a block heater when it warms to +15 two days later, it was ideal.

ya I think having one that sensed outside and coolant temp would be best, the one I linked was actually just the first page that came up in a google search for block heater controller

[nvanadm]

So are you guys saying it's bad to leave the block heater plugged in for extended periods of time?

I get home at 6pm, plug it in and then leave in the morning around 7am. Should I not be doing this?

BTW, i'm not going to wake up at 4am to plug it in...if it's not ok I think i'll take my chances anyway, but hopefully it's fine.

Thanks.

[Erebus]

So are you guys saying it's bad to leave the block heater plugged in for extended periods of time?

I get home at 6pm, plug it in and then leave in the morning around 7am. Should I not be doing this?

BTW, i'm not going to wake up at 4am to plug it in...if it's not ok I think i'll take my chances anyway, but hopefully it's fine.

Thanks.

It won't damage anything, but it is certainly a waste of electricity. It only takes 1-3 hours even in the worst of weather for the block heater to bring the block and coolant up to the temperature where the radiating cooling balances the heating from the block heater. So any longer than that is a waste.

I plug my Delica in when I get home, but the outlet is turned off with an in-the-house switch unless I want the block heater on. Unless it is below about -15, I can turn it on as soon as I get up, and by the time I go out, it has been on for 1-2 hours, which is enough.

If you don't have an inside switch, a simple relatively inexpensive outdoor timer can be set to turn it on 2 hours before you expect to leave. Save electricity but still not have to wake up and go outside at 4 am.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I'm moving this thread to "Delica Canada Technical" >> "L-300 Technical". Patty you should know better.

Falco.