How much does it cost per night to plug in our trucks?

[Barry]

I want to start plugging in my truck at night. We have cheap electric in our area. My question is: Is it worth it to put a timer on it to kick on at 6 am and off at 10 am or just run it all night. Is the savings great enough to overcome the added cost of the timer? There is some math involved here, I just don't have the factors... ... Thanx

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2001 2500 QC, ETH/DEE,4:10s, LSD, VA Magic Box, Boost/Pyro Guages, 4" Turbo back, BD Brake,Mag- Hytec Cover, Kleen Wheels, Energy Release, 70 gal. fuel, 20K Reese. 22,000 miles on 12/19/00 (RV Dealer)

 

[illflem]

Barry,multiply the kw/hr rate on your power bill by . 7 That will give you the cost per hour to run the approximatly 700 watt heater.

 

[jkern]

barry,

with electric around here at about $. 06 per kw/hr, figuring 750 watt block heater (volts x amps = watts) heater nominally runs 6. 5 amps, it costs about a nickel an hour to have it plugged in.

these are rounded off numbers


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Jeremy Kern
1999 2500HD 4x4 QC,SB, ISB, 5spd, 3. 54LSD, 33x12. 50 cooper STT's Denver off-road bumper with Ramsey RE12000, PIAA series 520, Rancho RS9000's, heavy ft. springs, JVD Torque Enhancer, DiPricol boost and pryo gauges, and a bunch of other little things!

 

[Barry]

So if our cost is 7 cents per hour and if I multiply that times . 7 that should be 4. 9 cents per hour. I would say that is pretty close to the nickle an hour round off that jkern came up with. So, if it ran 3 hours in the morning VS 12 hours all night then it would not take long to pay for a timer and my element would last longer?????????

 

[RobbyRam]

I have time set to go on at 3am and off at 6am when I leave for work. Temps here at night have been in the 40's and high 30's. It's sure nice to have the defroster and heater start working about a mile after driving off instead of 15 miles #ad


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Bob in Sacramento, Y2K Black 3500 ISB 4x4 4:10 LSD,Auto,QC,SLT Laramie, Slightly BOMBED LB, Polished Stull Billet Grill & Fog inserts, Chrome Smitty-Built Step Rails, Mopar Chrome-Tipped Mud Flaps, A-Pillar mounted West-Tach Turbo/Pyro/Trans Temp gauges,Rancho 9000's set at '1',Diamond Plated Tool Box, OEM U. R. Bedliner + other stuff.
Fact:The First Fords' had 'DODGE' Engines! The new PSD's need them!

 

[HC]

So, if it ran 3 hours in the morning VS 12 hours all night then it would not take long to pay for a timer and my element would last longer??????

You've got it!

 

[jkern]

robby

those night time temps must be nice!! the week before christmas our highs were only low to mid 20's with lows around 0!! forgot to plug mine in one night... it wasn't happy trying to start in the morning!! now it is in the mid 'teens here!

 

[Deezal Man]

Just make sure you hide the timer in summer... otherwise your wife will steal it for her Christmas lights next year #ad
#ad

 

[madams]

Deezal Man . . what you mean summer time?

I bought a timer on sale at the end of the summer. Since this is my first winter with the cummins I was anxcious to get try it out.

Down south we had out first cold snap early December . . it dipped well into the 40's. Being from New Orleans . . that was cold enough for me!

Wife made fun and all that good stuff . . well after 2 nights in the 40's our fridgid snap was over. About 2 weeks later another Artic Blast made it through (down to the 30's this time). Away again I went to hook it up but this time . . no timer.

Where was it?? Yep christmas lights! And there was no friggin way she was gonna give up her timer. So off to the depot for another.

She already has her sites set on that 50' 10ga yellow extension cord, and hinting she needs another timer for something.

I can relate . . and the newbies . . be warned.

Michael

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00 Driftwood 2500 ST QC ISB LB 5spd 3:54 LSD Tow & Camper Groups

my photos

 

[JackFen]

Barry, where I live we have just had one of the coldest months in history, many nights in the single digits. I didn't plug the truck in a single night, and had no starting problems at all. Just wait till the light goes out and it starts just like summertime. just thought I would give you my . 02.

 

[JackFen]

Barry, where I live we have just had one of the coldest months in history, many nights in the single digits. I didn't plug the truck in a single night, and had no starting problems at all. Just wait till the light goes out and it starts just like summertime. just thought I would give you my . 02.

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Forest Green Y2K 3500 QC, SLT,ISB,Everything but leather 4X4,or should I say 6X6, Auto, 410 LSD Michelin 235/85/16 M/S,Camper and Trailer Pkg. Silencer ring in glove box. Tow mirrors,Century color match high rise cap, Dually flaps w/Alum. diamond plate,Vent Shade three piece bug deflector,Bumper poles w/marker & turn signal lights,Stirrup steps,Lund sun visor. K&N Filtercharger.

Y2K V-8 Durango,(for the wife).

97 33' Sunline Saturn super slide RV trailer.


Shake, Rattle & Roll!

 

[RobbyRam]

BTW, there's also another atvantage to setting your timer to start up about 3 or 4 hrs before you start your truck=the ice on my windshield has already started melting by the time I go to start my RAM. However, My wife's windshield on her Volvo is still completely frozen over at 6am!
? Why IS the ice on my windshield melting?

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Bob in Sacramento, Y2K Black 3500 ISB 4x4 4:10 LSD,Auto,QC,SLT Laramie, Slightly BOMBED LB, Polished Stull Billet Grill & Fog inserts, Chrome Smitty-Built Step Rails, Mopar Chrome-Tipped Mud Flaps, A-Pillar mounted West-Tach Turbo/Pyro/Trans Temp gauges,Rancho 9000's set at '1',Diamond Plated Tool Box, OEM U. R. Bedliner + other stuff.
Fact:The First Fords' had 'DODGE' Engines! The new PSD's need them!

 

[illflem]

Robby,if you measured the temps around your engine area you'd be surprised how much the block heater warms things up. As long as the temp is above 20°my block heater will melt 3" of snow off the hood and windshield.

Another way to look at it is;most portable 110 volt heaters are 1200 watts,and will heat a 16x16x8 foot high bedroom easily(2048 cubic feet). The block heater is 700 watts and is heating an area about 4x4x3(48 cubic feet)and it only needs to warm it above 32° to melt ice.

 

[Bigsaint]

I also have mine set to a timer and allow 2-3 hours of run time before I start up in the morning, depending on the outside temp. I have a question though... does the block heater operate on some type of thermostat, i. e. , cycles off and then back on at a certain temp. , or is it really always on when plugged in ? Just wondering.

Scott W.

White 2001. 5 3500 ETH/DEE 4X4 Quad cab SLT,tow package and camper prep,Husky liners front and rear,DiPricol pyro,boost and oil temp gauges,Edge EZ,Mopar tonneau,Lund bug shield,PM tractor utility back up lights,Penda bed mat and blow by bottle is bye bye !!! I love the smell of diesel in the morning, it reminds me of... . VICTORY !!!
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1231655&a=9089608" TARGET=_blank><font color=red>My Truck</font></A>
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1231655&a=9089604" TARGET=_blank><font color=red>THE SAINTS</font></A>

 

[Barry]

I have no trouble starting the truck regardless of temp. It just soooo nice having a cozy cab right away and it has to be easier on the engine!!!!!!!

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2001 2500 QC, ETH/DEE,4:10s, LSD, VA Magic Box, Boost/Pyro Guages, 4" Turbo back, BD Brake,Mag- Hytec Cover, Kleen Wheels, Energy Release, 70 gal. fuel, 20K Reese. 22,000 miles on 12/19/00 (RV Dealer)

 

[Pete Peterson]

Barry, my garage is on a seperate meter and if I stay out of there the base rate is $12. 75. For Dec. I plugged the truck in every night and the bill was $36. 56 so about 24 to 25 bucks a month. Thats plugging in between 6&8 at night and unplugging about 6:30 in the AM. Pete