2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Block heater wattage?

[Gaylord]

Would someone please tell me the wattage of the stock block heater in a "94 CTD.



My last electric bill shows a significant increase and the only thing I did different from the month before is use the block heater.

 

[PSchwering]

Stock is 750 Watts, But you can buy replacements in about any wattage you desire... ... ...

 

[RCrocker]

Run mine (96 12v) on a heavy duty timer from hardware store. I live in Detroit area and have it set to run 4 hours b-4 i have to leave in the morn. Monday morning it was 6 bellow and the truck started fine. Don't forget to use a heavy duty extension cord

 

[Gaylord]

Thanks guys. With a wattage draw of 750, this explains why my electric bill went up $80. I'm now only plugging it in if the temps drop below 20F and I plan on driving it early in the morning.



The truck has started fine with or without the heater. With it the grid heaters are not necessary and the transmission will shift into overdrive right away. Now I use the grid heaters and just drive it for 6 or 7 miles with the OD locked out and then things work fine.



Thanks again.

 

[IanF]

Thanks guys. With a wattage draw of 750, this explains why my electric bill went up $80. I'm now only plugging it in if the temps drop below 20F and I plan on driving it early in the morning.

That still sounds high. I plug my TDI (1000W aftermarket coolant heater) in every night and it's set to run for about 4 hours with a HD timer. The change in my electric bill has been negligible.

 

[Gaylord]

Ian, my truck sat for over twenty days... always pluged in. I am in the process of putting a timer that will operate for just a few hours each day. In my area there are only a few hours at daybreak where it may get below 30F. I didn't even think of a timer... my neighbor asked me why I didn't use one... DUH! Your set up would result in an increase of about $15 a month. Electricity in Southern Ca is expensive... . and the more you use increases the cost... . can get as high as . 23 per Kilowatt... . depends on your baseline & rate plan. . there are many.



Thanks again guys!

 

[jkalchik]

<grin> One of the first things I did when I moved up to Minnesota was spend $20 at the local hardware store for a 15A capable timer. It's set to go on about 2 hours before I start it in morning. Started at -10 F with no issues today.



$$$? Haven't really noticed anything in the power bill that I can attribute to the block heater. I've also got a 1. 8kVA UPS running in the basement to keep 4 computers alive.....

 

[Cryppie]

Just did some quick math... using California average power cost of 12. 2 cents per KWH, running your 750W block heater 4 hours a day would result in about an $11. 00 month increase in your bill. That's assuming you used it everyday. Not sure how Gaylord's bill went up $80, even running nearly continuous it doesn't add up. I think a good rule of thumb is about 2 hours in the morning before planned start-up.

 

[IanF]

depends on your baseline & rate plan. . there are many.

True... I leave my hosue fairly early in the morning, and therefor the heater only runs during off-peak rate hours.



I have a similar set-up on my basement dehumidifier - I set the humidistat to full-on and with a timer to only run during off-peak times. This dropped my electric bill by about $20/mo - easily paying for the timer and overall humidity in my basement seems fine. Also allowed me to stretch out the life of the unit for a couple of years as the humidistat died. :-laf