Block Heater

[JRG]

How much electricty does the block heater draw? Looked like it said 2400 watt on the cord!!!



PS. The outside temp is about 35*- 45* most of the night.



JRG

 

[Casey Balvert]

600 watts last time I checked.



Casey

 

[Dean Upson]

JRG



If it is that warm overnight, I wouldn't bother with the block heater. I, personally don't use mine unless it goes down to the low 20's or the teens.



Dean

 

[Bertram65]

9 degrees here this morning, truck fired right up without being plugged in, instant high idle.

 

[CKruse]

I like plugging mine in when it's cold out at all for an instant warm up and having a warm heater instantly. To each his own I guess!

 

[JRG]

Instant heat/Quiet mornings

Exactly as CKruse stated.



Is the draw constant all night, or does it cycle depending on outside temp? You could imagine leaving 1 60 watt light on over night, but 10. . 20. . 30. . or even 40 of them!!!



Now if thy made a fluorescent block heater



JRG

 

[DPelletier]

I only use mine below 0 deg C. (32 deg for you guys!). I have a NOMA outdoor light timer and have it set to come on 2 hrs before work. By the time I leave, the truck is ready to go. I have only a short drive to work so my rationale is that the truck wouldn't fully warm up at those temps and not warming the truck up all the time is hard on it.

My two pennies

Dave

 

[gonzo2]

I drive around for an extra half hour. Just to be sure!

 

[dnitzel]

If your heater draws 600 watts, that calculates to about 5 amps. So use no less that a 14 ga. extenstion cord.



Cost? (based on rate at 1000 kw use per month)



In Omaha Nebraska, you are looking at $. 06486 a kilowatt, operating your heater for 12 hours would cost you about $. 47 per 12 hour period.



Here in Grand Island, we have the second lowest priced electric power in the nation, our power costs are . 046 per kw, per 12 hr period, it costs me about $. 33 .



IN New York City, the highest priced electricity in the nation when it's on, power is $. 15677 per kw, and per 12 hr period it would cost you $1. 128 .



To find out how much you pay, take your electric bill, take the price you pay, divide it by the amount of kilowatts you used, you then get the price per kw. Take that figure, multiply it times 12, then by . 6 . There's your answer per 12 hour period.



I plug mine all the time when it's cold, even at work. I work at the power plant, and get all the free power I can take home in my lunch box . It's nice to get into a warm truck.



Or look up your rate at http://www.les.com/pdf/2003KPMGSurvey.pdf