Block-heater-woes ........

[DieselMinded]

IT always gets my attention when unplugging in the rain or snow when the plug is all wet ... ..... Im afraid to get shocked ... ..... Has Any one been shocked???? I would just unplug the other end but I would always be having to crawl over top the 4 wheeler and lawn mower and junk ... ... I just leave the powered end reeled up by the door



I wished Cummins would of put in a retractable cord you could just pull out with out popping the hood and take it in your nice dry garage to plug it in. and when your done you just unplug the nice dry plug-in and let it draw its self back in to position..... (of course I'd have to clean the garage to access my plug)



Maybe some one can fashion something up with a little Auto winder built in for aftermarket applications under the air dam or something so you wont have to pop the hood... ... I'd buy it.



If you forget to unplug no biggie itll just roll its self up when you leave... maybe bend the prongs alittle but hey it'd be your own fault



Also Im courious do you guys unplug before you start you motor????Does it matter???



and Is it just a normal 12-2 with ground pigtail ???



I may make something myself... ... ... ... ...



DM

 

[Dkuhlman]

I have all my outside power on GFI breakers run out of the garage. This should more than protect you even in pouring rain. Of course you want to make sure you don't touch the metal leads! :--) I know what you mean about the an autowind for the cord though.

 

[DHess]

I always unplug before I start the engine - phobia about coolant flowing over the hot heater element. Give it a minute or so to cool.



I use a timer and turn the juice off at the timer before unplugging. You could also get creative and mount a reel on the truck yourself or just get a 3 foot extension cord to extend the heater cord to the outside avoiding the need to open the hood.



Dave

 

[wmorden]

Retractable cord reel... like this? http://www.arcticleash.com/



I didn't use this, but I added a water resistant plug to my bumper to make it easier... the type you use for bass boats. Cut the existing cord, cut a hole in the bumper right above the license plate, and mounted the plug. Now I just stick the end of the extention cord into the recessed mount and if (god-forbid) I should ever try to drive away without unplugging I am confident the cord will pull out without damaging the plug.



Like this: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...311&subdeptNum=310&storeNum=9&productId=14773



Hope this helps...

 

[Thomas]

No need to unplug this.

 

[SRadke]

Nope, never been shocked. Never really worried about it to be honest. Also, it's no problem to leave it plugged in after you start the truck, I do it all the time. I can't proove it but it should help it to warm up a little faster. More heat is better



-Scott

 

[BigEasy]

Here's an idea that I came up with, so I don't forget to unplug it before I driving away... Drape the extension cord up over the driver's side mirror. If you use an orange cord and do this, I guarantee you'll never forget.



I've been dealing with these cords and plugs in our beautiful PA weather for the last five years and I've never been shocked once.



One thing I'm going to do, when I get my '05 in the spring, is to relocate the plug up to the cowl, or maybe even through the firewall to the inside, gotta get it out of all that salt up front.

 

[mberry]

JC Whitney catalog has them in it.

 

[JLEONARD]

I just unplug mine as I walk up the truck... . it's backed in. Coil up the extension cord and hang it on the hook. Get in and fire her up.

The heater plug stays tiewrapped to the grill for the winter. Plug cap gets put back on (if not filled with ice) to keep the majority of crap off the plug.

Been doing this for 3 winters and never got zapped.

Jay

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

Do make sure you have a dummy plug on the end of the cord if you run in salt territory!



Found this out the hard way..... basically I turned myself into a welder and literally burned up the plug and the female end of the extension cord..... thank god I had my heavy leather gloves on at the time... . boy was it bright!:{



How? thin layer of road salt/brine coated the the plug and shorted it out when I plugged up. didnt even blow the breaker in the barn either... . that was scary. :-laf :-laf :-laf Only time it ever happened to me too.



repair was simple... . chopped off the burned end on the block cord... took the good end off the ext cord and spliced it in... . got a new ext. cord and away I went.



Jeff

 

[Cummins Pilot]

Are you serious that you plug your truck in when its raining? Why when its that warm out?



Anyways, I've never been shocked, never known anyone to be shocked. Lived in AK my entire life so plugging in is normal all winter long.



Running your rig while the block heater is plugged in won't hurt anything. Been doing it for years, know lots of people who do it. Never any problems.

 

[DieselMinded]

OHIO HAS RAIN SLEET SNOW HAIL ICE ALL AT THE SAME TIME



thats where mailmen got there motto ... lol



IF ITS wet it counts as a shocking hazzard.



DM

 

[JLEONARD]

Are you serious that you plug your truck in when its raining? Why when its that warm out?

I do... because if it's one of those days when it's freezing rain I have enough warmth at start up to keep the windshield clear.

Jay

 

[rbattelle]

I had lots of trouble getting a nice 120v shock from mine every time it was raining out. I finally decided to do this. Never had a single shock or GFCI trip since I did this mod. Works perfectly.



-Ryan

 

[Cummins Pilot]

OK, that makes sense.

 

[2-ND TIME]

unplugging

If you are getting a shock the ground wire in the cable isn't attached to the ground in the plug. Think that the 16# is on the light side for powering the plugs especilly if any distance. Not going to look at the code book for exact specifics. I would us #14 any way. The GFC's are susposed to trip at ????0. 010 amps I think,it has been alot of years? The use of a retractiable ex- cord you make a good inductor and that isn't nessecarly good. Some years-ago on Sixty MInutes Morley Safer (wrong spelling) On the postal service said that through rain and snow etc,etc wasn't the moto of the Service it was on something else , sorry the rest I have forgotten. So somone please fill us in.

 

[DieselMinded]

Every sence I seen the flash Ive been doing a step by step leaving from work.



start up truck

unplug @ source FIRST !!!!!!!!!!!

unplug at truck

put Junky cap on

shove in to space between headlight and grill

finaly get in truck

throw Xcord on pass floor board



Last year I only plugged in when it was really cold like 10* and less this year shes always plugged in when Im @ work or sleeping ... and durring this time of the year thats just about all the time.



DM

 

[DPinkston]

OHIO HAS RAIN SLEET SNOW HAIL ICE ALL AT THE SAME TIME

thats where mailmen got there motto ... lol

DM

I was in the post office last week during the snowstorm we had in Kentucky and surrounding areas. Postmaster said no mail coming in due to the weather. I said I thought "Neither rain, sleet, snow, or ice would keep them from their appointed rounds". I think I ticked him off. :-laf

Danny

 

[rbattelle]

I said I thought "Neither rain, sleet, snow, or ice would keep them from their appointed rounds". I think I ticked him off. :-laf

Danny

No offense to postmen out there, but last Thursday I mentioned to my wife I was going outside to get the mail. She said "did it even come today", to which I replied "of course, neither rain nor sleet nor snow etc... they always deliver mail!". Guess what? No mail.



This certainly is not the fault of the postmen... it was a decision made by higher-level management.



-Ryan