2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Engine Block Heater ?

[chazj]

I just purchased a timer to use with my block heater. Am curious if I should also purchase a GFI connector or will the use of a standard electrical outlet be "safe enough"?



Curious if there developed a short in heating element/or cord... would I risk a fire without a GFI circuit in the mix.

 

[6naline01]

Engine Block heater

The price of a GFI is cheap insurance.

 

[DKnotts]

By rights and NEC (National Electrical Code) any outdoor recepticle must be protected by GFI - whether it is the outlet type as most people are familiar with or in the breaker itself (electrical panel).

Now, if have no such protection (old house, barn or what have you) and you're asking if you'll still be safe using an extension cord to plug into outdoors... the absolute answer is you're risking it. Chances are nothing will ever happen. This is also why there is a ground included in the heating element, in case of internal shorts (i. e. no fires either). Worse case scenerio is the cord become frayed somehow and while plugged in only the "hot" wire makes contact with any metal part of the truck. While nothing will happen to the truck, the whole truck will be at 120v charge with respect to the ground you will be standing on. If you happen to touch your truck in that situation and it's raining or you are kneeling on the ground to unplug the heater, etc. you will become the path the electric will flow through and trust me you woun't like it. Depending on the route through your body anything from a shock to death could occur without GFI protection.

In the real world you're probably fine but just how hard is it to replace that outlet with a GFI one? 10 minutes tops and maybe $10? Better safe than sorry.

 

[jelag]

I ran a short cord in each of my trucks and ran the end of the cord to the gap between the fender and bumper at the front of the drivers front wheel...



With this cord at the front wheel its easy to walk up and unplug it... . its a common reminder that the thing is plugged in... on the front of the truck I used to forget it was plugged in... also there were times I'd park one of the trucks close to the building and it was a tight fit...

 

[vssman]

If you not comfortable with updating the outlet to GFI you can use an extension cord that has GFI built in to it.

 

[DBentley]

GFI's are great but can trip at the best(when your at risk of shock) and worst times (during a rain storm and then it drops to 0 by morning)leaving you with a cold truck. Just try to keep the male female plugs out of the rain or tapped up on nasty nights and you will be ok.

 

[chazj]

As an update I heeded the above advice & purchased a "Shock Buster" GFI plug outlet to feed the timer and thus the truck's engine block heater.



The plug fits nicely inside the outside enclosure with the circuit breaker. Because the timer runs on a battery, I intend to use the circuit breaker to energize the circuit on those nights I plug in the truck.



Thanks again for everyone's help!

 

[JPittinger]

Circuit breakers aren't designed or intended to be used as a switch. Put in an outlet and just unplug the extension cord. My timer runs on 120V so there's no batteries to replace.