I need to move my bus Monday morning. Our temps over night are ranging from 0-low teens. Is it ok to leave the block heater on overnight? I ask because we only run our block heaters for 4-6 hours on the planes I fly.
Thanks,
Jason
It won't hurt it but you only need a few hours.
It won't hurt it but you only need a few hours.
Thanks, I have to leave early, so I figured I would plug it in the night before I left.
Jason
Up here, a lot of vehicles are plugged in all the time, so they're ready to go anytime. The only thing that hurts is the power bill.
JC
Jason I always left mine plugged in overnight. No harm
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If continued use is a concern, there are timers available suitable for block heater use.
Quote from: Jim Eh. on January 08, 2017, 03:26:17 AM
If continued use is a concern, there are timers available suitable for block heater use.
There are a few heaters out there that are thermostat controlled, but I'm guessing that Jason is working with what he has and his -- like the majority -- is not. But, yeah, if the temps are about zero leaving if plugged in overnight is no problem.
Just be sure the cord is tight at the connection and in good shape they will melt the cord if not BTDT
Quote from: luvrbus on January 08, 2017, 07:35:15 AMJust be sure the cord is tight at the connection and in good shape they will melt the cord if not BTDT
Yeah, these things pull a *lot* of amps.
They make cords w/timers to use in remote locations where a timer is needed but impractical to install after initial installation.
;D BK ;D
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=extension+cord+with+timer (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=extension+cord+with+timer)
Quote from: B_K on January 09, 2017, 10:44:09 AM
They make cords w/timers to use in remote locations where a timer is needed but impractical to install after initial installation.
;D BK ;D
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=extension+cord+with+timer (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=extension+cord+with+timer)
I hesitate to use those cord timers for a 1000 watt purpose...
in fact I would not.
I have a block heater timer that is rated for 1875 watts and have never had any problems with it .
now the block heater on the MCI was 1500 watts and I would set the timer for 3 hrs if I needed to start it when it was cold
dave
I've never seen a block heater for our coaches that was more than 1500 watts but I could be mistaken. Just get a timer rated for that or more like Dave has. I will say this, we don't have one yet on my 102. I'll be installing one this summer when I do a coolant exchange. So when it was 4 degrees the other morning and I absolutely had to start the coach, I set up a kerosene 35,000 btu salamander heater and stuck it above the muffler on the drivers side engine bay and pointed it at the block. Let it roast for 3 hours and it started right up.
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If you need to use an extension cord, use 12 GA. up to 50 feet. 14 GA. if necessary, up to 25 feet, although socket end may get hot and deteriorate overtime.
When I was driving truck, I had a gasoline genset-Onan 6.5 Emerald Commercial and a electric block heater (verses a Diesel fired block heater). When I was running the genset, the block heater was always on (without the main engine running). That always gave the generator a 1500 watt load and kept it from loading up. That also let the generator last 12,000 hours before the oil pump gave out. Good Luck, TomC