Block Heater Polarity

[BHiggins]

I posted a thread here last week about my block heater not working and one of you suggested I check the cord before I replaced the heater. As it turns out it was in fact the cord, which I then fixed with a new end from the hardware store. My new question is this: Does the polarity of the cord matter? Obviously the middle wire on the flat cord is ground, but if I got the other two mixed up will the heater still function correctly? Don't get me wrong, it works, but is it critical to get it right?

 

[testraub]

Electric

Black is HOT copper screw on plug

Green is GND green screw

White is Nuetral Silver screw



It would still work, but this is a safety thing

 

[BHiggins]

polarity

Thanks, I'll check it in the a. m. All I did was put a new end on the existing cord, but I dropped it and lost track of which was which. It happened tp be 8 degrees out when I did it so I left it.

 

[DKasper]

I'll have to double-check, but I'm pretty sure that with a resistance type block heater polarity is of no consequence, even for safety issues. With lamps and some other appliances it is important because it would be possible to energize a part of the fixture that is exposed, but with the heater, everything is enclosed. The flow would be reversed, but the functioning would not be affected.

 

[ARhine]

Polarity doesn't really matter on an AC circuit (unless you are working with defferent phases) since the polarity reverses direction 60 times per second. The only reason to wire it one way is just for safety to the people wiring it.

 

[BHiggins]

Thanks

Thanks for all the input, I did "fix" the polarity this morning but apparently it doesn't matter anyway. I'd just like to say that TDR is the best. I've owned Cummins powered Dodges for over ten years, but only joined TDR in June of '04... Wish I joined ten years ago. Any problem I had over the years (and they've been few) I've had to figure out on my own. Not too many Cummins specialized repair shops in New York, and the ones we have are super expensive. TDR input has been invaluable, glad to be a part of it.



'92 W350 Dually, X-Cab, 4X4, 4" exhaust, Diff locker (For fishin' @ Montauk)... Much more to come.

 

[bmoeller]

The end of the cord, that is attached to the heater, can be hooked up either of two ways. There are only 2 pins on the heater.



Glad that was all it was.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

You know, the block heater cord is REALLY a common problem on these things. In my case the darn plug wire just back of the plug itself was looking like it had shorted internally and melted but there was VERY little usage of the plug/wire prior to that showing up.

It must have really been a lame component right from the get-go. hmmmm... ... .



pb... .

 

[ekroman]

Worst case scenario, if you wire it wrong, it will be a 120V deterrent for someone touching the truck.



If you're on a GFCI, it will trip the breaker.



Eddie