Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Block Heater Wattage

[madmanmanick]

Does anybody know how many watts the block heater on a 2001 Dodge Ram uses. I am thinking about next winter attempting to mount 3-4 extra batteries in the bed of the truck and hard wire a power inverter and run an extension cord to the block heater plug. I of course would wire the batteries in the trucks main electrical system so that they would charge while the engine is running. Has anybody ever attempted this and does this seem like a good idea, or would I be just wasting my money.

 

[DSeamans]

My biggest concern would be the alternator being able to charge the extra batteries. Most of todays alts are sized at near minimum reguired. Many times they die from doing a quick jumpstart on dead batts and trying to charge them with the altenator. They are meant to run the electrical system of the vehicle and a minimum of charging to top off from starting.

 

[seemore]

The block heater draws about ~700 watts. A GOOD inverter that could run 700 watts continuously would cost maybe $75-$100. 4 Batteries ~$300, battery isolators ~$75. Lots of heavy wiring ect. You might be better off considering a Webasco or Espar heater!

Unless your temperature is WAY below zero the grid heaters should work fine.

 

[Mundgyver]

The block heater don't seem to work real well on level ground, at least that is what I have found. But if you put the nose of the truck on a down hill slope and use the block heater, it works great and the hole block is nice and warm in the morning. On level ground it seems to just cylce through the radiator.



Winter time I always try and point the nose of the truck down. Nice thing also is that this configuration gives you some flow through the heater and keeps the windshield clear too.



That my experience with the block heater.

 

[BK]

ditto on what DSeamans and seemore said, not practical...

really will be rough on the batteries as well.



If your gonna do it, better to run a 2nd alternator...

Putting those drained batteries across the engine batteries, with such a disparage in charge will shorten the life of the engine batteries AND, if they get dragged down enough, you can cause problems with the computer while running till things charge up. \

which is gonna take a long time, more so since your intake heater will be cycling too...

 

[Ncostello]

Is this because you have no place to plug in? Or you think this would be cheaper than paying for a kilowatt/hour from the electric utility?

 

[firefighter_2000]

Stock block heater draws 750 watts. I recently bought one of the "hotter" 1000 watt heaters recently. May just wait til next year to put it on.