Bombed my Heater Grid Plug!

[1 ALC]

Today I extended my grid heater plug. I cut and spliced in a piece of drop cord. I extended it about 2' - ran it down behind the bumper.



No more popping the hood to get to the plug. Next I'm going to get a timer for the cord.



Anyone know what amps it draws?

 

[_Hyde]

750 Watts?

I think I read in the manual on my '96 that it was 750 watts which would be around 7 amps.

 

[Cooker]

Hyde is correct. I think it's actually 720 watts, but 750 is close enough.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I drilled a big hole in my bumper to mount one of those quick disconnect plugs. Kind of like your trailer plug but in 110V. If you want to get real serious, get one that "spits" the plug out when it sees 12volts like on an emergency vehicle.

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Just a note... Divide watts by volts to get amperage... 720W ÷ 120V = 6 Amps.



I won't get into power factor or voltage drop this time... Used to work with this stuff every day for 2 and a half years.

 

[illflem]

So you mean to say that on the newer trucks they don't give you enough cord to make it past the bumper? My '95s have plenty. Must have saved Dodge a whole 5¢ shortening the cord.

 

[DAWG-1]

Originally posted by Evan A. Beck

Just a note... Divide watts by volts to get amperage... 720W ÷ 120V = 6 Amps.



I won't get into power factor or voltage drop this time... Used to work with this stuff every day for 2 and a half years.

Thanks Evan.

 

[_Hyde]

720, 721. Whatever it takes.

 

[Bad340fish]

Cord

In the winter the one on my 99 sits right in front of the headlight. Just open the hood and lay it out there. I just leave it that way so I don't have to keep opening the hood.



I have come home more than once to find I drug the extension cord out to the street before it came unplugged lol.

 

[pcorssmit]

Originally posted by illflem

So you mean to say that on the newer trucks they don't give you enough cord to make it past the bumper? My '95s have plenty. Must have saved Dodge a whole 5¢ shortening the cord.

I too leave mine out in front of the headlight in the winter. After finding out the extension cord had come unplugged from the wall one cold morning, I went out and bought a little neon bulb light that goes in the end of the cord (about 1 1/2" long, it has a socket in the end of it). Now I know if it's got juice. Also makes it easier to find the end of the cord in the snow.



Pete

 

[Motorhead]

Timer for block heater

Intermatic makes a Heavy duty three prong/grounded timer. They are about $14. 00. I have burned out one light duty.

 

[RATTLINRAM]

Woosy paint,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I think I'm gonna extend mine too. I did like some of you and left it hang out last winter a few times (the block heater plug) and the rubber plug rubbed thru the paint. They sure don't paint em like they used to.

I guess the guys that don't have Sport models with the painted plastic bumpers don't have that problem.

 

[illflem]

If you're going to extend the cord you might as well route it over to the drivers side at the same time. Makes it easier to plug in especially if you have a snow bank in front of your truck. I have my heater cord and extension cord bomb proof attached, I don't unplug, just back up. Ex cord ends up hanging a foot off the ground, makes a good target for pulling in the next time. Use a high quality cord that has the receptacles molded to the cord, not an add on receptacle. I just bought a good cord and cut it in half. The type with the lighted female end also makes things easier and lets you know you have power.

 

[RGRAT1618]

I have a automatic plug kicker. I got sick of repairing plug ends from pulling out without unplugging when leaveing at 2am for a fire call. I love it.





Rob

 

[SS]

Plug kicker?

Do tell more about the "automatic plug kicker". Where do I get one and how much?



Thanks from the memory challenged - what was I talking about again?

 

[redneckdr]

automatic plug kicker

yeah, tell us more. sounds better than a 15 mile long drop cord that would allow me to get to work. of course the darn thing would get one knot in it and pull out or rip the cord in two, about 100 feet from my parking spot!

 

[JohnE]

I use a $5 light duty timer. The trick on the light duty is to <b>not</b> let the timer turn the circuit off. The limiting factor on switches is always the break not the make rating.



Line amperage should be calculated as rated wattage divided by <em>nominal</em> voltage (110 not 120) and because the block heater may be operated for 3 hours or more a 20% derate is require, meaning around 8 amps. I'm going to add a 150 watt oil pan heater (if it ever gets here) which adds another 1. 7 amps to the circuit. A dedicated 15 amp circuit will work great. Just don't add the holiday lighting load and expect things to hold.



I could use a plug kicker for my wife. She tends to forget unless I wrap the extension cord arounf the driver's side mirror. .



-John

 

[illflem]

The county road yard where I live has a post where each truck plugs in with a light bulb higher than the hood that goes on when the truck's plugged in. Maybe in series with the heater? Might be better than losing a mirror

 

[Scooby]

Originally posted by Hyde

720, 721. Whatever it takes.

I knew someone out there had to make the "Mr. Mom" reference!



Thanks Hyde!

 

[_Hyde]

I have a friend that's very precise on figures such as that and would probably go as far as to add decimal points. He gets the Mr. Mom quite a bit.