Block heater questions

The block heater is not 1500 watts, it is 1000 watts but the inverter trick will not work. At 1000 watts the inverter will draw 83 amps plus what ever inefficiency the inverter has which would probably bring the amp draw to over 90 amps. Batteries would last a very short time.
Jim

Best Block Heater use

Here'z my .02 for it's use... *for as good as it gets:

1. 5w40 full syn oil.

2. A 15 amp timer set for 2 hours On time. (or longer for REAL cold temps or long shut down times) On as dedicated a circuit as possible.

3. A 12 gauge extension cord, as short a length as possible (cut) to reach from the timer.. to the truck. (voltage/amp/resistance issues)

4. Cycle the Glow Plugs (key) Twice.

5. DON'T step on the throttle when you crank it over.

He'll Fire Right Up.

Joe


* Assuming your Batteries, GPR/Glow Plug curcuits are in good shape. Here's where a Battery Tender can come into play also)

Well, I figured out most of my problem...

My starter was fubar. Whoever installed it cross-threaded one of the bolts. A buddy noticed it throwing sparks when I tried to start it yesterday (at 10 degrees). I had cycled the glow plugs TEN times before I started trying to start it, then 5 times before the 2nd try, then 5 more before the 3rd try. After that, I quit because it started to die on me.

My buddy hooked up a generator to it this morning and plugged the block heater in for a few hours (3-4) and a battery charger to top the batteries off (they were down to about 7 or 8 volts from the cranking the day before). After about 3-4 hours of heating/charging, he gave up. Took the starter to Auto Zone to confirm the fubar condition and picked up a new (reman) one.

Put it in and it is starting like a champ now. It's like 20 degrees out now (maybe lower, I'm not sure) and it fired up for me like nothing.

Good deal, glad you found it.
Doug