whats the amperage draw for block heater??

[continentaldrifter]

I've got a 2008 5500 and a Ford F550 both plugged into the same 20amp circuit. Its not tripping the breaker but popping the GFCI. This will be the second GFCI plug i've changed this year. Now i will remove/replace with a standard 20amp outlet. Should they be plugged into seperate circuit lines due to amperage and whats the draw at the plug??

 

[chuckwilson]

They should have 750 to 800 watt heaters in them so they are draying about 7 amps each. they should be fine. Block heaters wont work well with gfci outlets as they are not earth grounded.

 

[E2360]

Had the same problem. Try using a Pass & Seymour brand 20 amp GFCI. I believe Menards carrys this brand.



They are built to be more tolerant of this type of load and the only one that I have found that work with most motors such as those on treadmills.

 

[Bouma]

I would just remove the GFCI from the circuit. The NEC ( National Electrical Code ) will allow a non GFCI protected circuit for a dedicated load. That would be allowed for one outlet not the hole garage. With that being said, I would just put a dedicated circuit outside on a 20 amp breaker and be done with it. GFCI will always to some degree give you nuisance tripping like you are experiencing. All manufactures of GFCI's have to comply with UL standards. I think changing GFCI is only a temp fix. As time goes on the GFCI will become weaker and trip again. The job of the GFCI is to sense a imbalance between the hot conductor and the grounded conductor(neutral or white) a block heater just like a electric motor is not a good application for a GFCI. That been said my GFCI that I plug mine into has never tripped. Maybe 2 block heaters is to much? I guess in a long round about way I am saying, install a dedicated non-GFCI protected circuit and your good. Hope this helps.

 

[jelag]

Using ohm's law... . 800 watts / 120 volts = 6. 66 amps... . a 700 watt heating element would draw 5. 83 amps... .

So 2 800 watt loads will run easily on a 20 amp circuit... 6. 66 x 2 = 13. 32 amps... I personally would run 14 gauge cords to each vehicle and not tee off of one 14 guage cord, that assures low voltage drop...

The popping of the GFI is from some of current leaking off to ground... I assume that is because of moisture at the connections under the hood of the truck... My trucks sit outside and often the plugs are coated with snow or ice... thus some loss to ground and the tripping of the GFI... either take the GFI out of the circuit or clip the ground prong on the extension cord where it plugs into the outlet... thus making sure there is not bleed off to ground... . and if you do this... make sure your feet are not wet and your not standing in a puddle of water when you disconnect the truck... .

We've run a special short 14 gauge cord to in front of the left front tire... . so that the driver as he goes to the truck can see the cord plugged into the truck... this prevents drive aways after its snowed at night...

 

[steved]

I was popping the GFCI like jelag, finally got fed up and put some grease on the plug... its messy, but it solved my problem.

If it continues to pop a GFCI, one of two other things are possibly wrong... either the GFCI is "weak" and needs replaced, or the block heater is faulty. I have been running all my trucks (including multiple brands: dodge, ford, international, and caterpillar) on multiple and different GFCIs, only had a problem with two GFCIS over the years, of which both turned out to be a faulty GFCI (they only last so long)...

 

[continentaldrifter]

Well, just removed the GFCI and put in a standard 20A outlet. All my wiring is correct as i ran all the circuits and this dedicated 8 gang outlets for the trucks on the correct gauge. Now i understand why it was tripping, couldnt figure it out for the life of me, but knew someone experienced it before, Thank you.

 

[TimothyLong]

I read somewhere, owner's manual or factory maintenance manual, that the block heaters draw about 6. 5 amps. I had a breaker popping problem when both mine and my wife's were plugged in because my house was wired in typical "Harry Homeowner" fashion with both my outdoor outlets (front and back) on the same 15 amp circuit as the upstairs bathroom and first floor powder room. This was a pain with Christmas lights! Had to make 50 trips up and down the steps to reset the GFCI till I figured out which set had the fault! #@$%! About 3 years ago, I fixed all of that and put both outdoor plugs on their own 20 amp circuit, both with Leviton 20 amp GFCI outlets. I am able to plug both trucks into the one in the front with no problem. I even have the Christmas lights and a 90 watt flood to keep "Old Glory" lit at night plugged in too.

 

[StephenBailey]

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After 3 seasons of winter use, block heater began to trip GFI outlet. Swapped out extension cord, then GFI, then heater cord with no luck. Ordered new block heater from Geno's. Installed today and no tripping of GFI. Coolant looked nice and clean. Buildup of some kind on old block heater (does not appear to be mineral). Deposits sticky paste in nature.

 

[E2360]

A "burned out" heating element will trip a GFCI since there wil be no "sensed" return of the input power. s an aside, Happens very often with RV's that keep triping a GFCI becuse of a burnt out water heater element.

 

[rjones]

Get rid the GFCI I had to in my garage it kept popping too plus at work with the auto ejects they pop the GFCI

 

[rbattelle]

Stephen, what coolant do you have in that engine?

That's a very interesting photo of the old element. I have reason to suspect mine looks similar.

-Ryan

 

[StephenBailey]

I bought the truck used, but I'm pretty sure it's still the factory fill.

 

[StephenBailey]

Actually, I expected it to look a lot worse the way it tripped the GFI all the time.

 

[BK]

I've got a 2008 5500 and a Ford F550 both plugged into the same 20amp circuit. Its not tripping the breaker but popping the GFCI. This will be the second GFCI plug i've changed this year. Now i will remove/replace with a standard 20amp outlet. Should they be plugged into seperate circuit lines due to amperage and whats the draw at the plug??

When my 99 was new it too popped GFCI outlets. . finally had to go to a normal outlet.



Someone state about 750watt, that's about right.

There are variations, and the extension longer the cord, the lower the wattage you'll get.



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Due to the plugs going bad, and leaving me w/o a block heater , I started monitoring the current and voltage 100% of the time. .





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