How do you know when your block heater is bad ?

Well, last year, it added about 15 bucks a month to my garage electric bill (I get a seperate bill for the garage). Well, this year, in Oct, it jumped up to 45 (from 25). Ok.

Well, in Nov it jumped again to 65. Then in Jan it jumped again to 95.

I just went out and looked at how fast the meter was spinning, and then unplugged the truck, and the meter easily slowed down by 90 % !!


I'm thinking somehow my heater is drawing a lot more current, but yet the coolant isn't boiling out (like it would if it was overheating the block).

So I guess the resistance in the heater has skyrocketed.

 

never seen a heater act like that most times they just burn out

 

I do not know what the spec is , but check the resistance at the block heater , not the cord , compare to new , should be close .

 

I don't think it would be possible for a block heater to start using more power unless it was a complete short to ground.
That should blow the breaker.

 

That's what I thought, but when I unplugged it, the meter all but stopped turning.

the only other load on the garage is my boat battery charger, which only maintains the charged batteries

 

A block heater should run about 50 cents a day, here's why. block heater draws about 600 watts hour which = .6 kilowatts/hr, power co charges about .06 cents per kilowatt/hr (around here anyway). thererefore it should cost you 3.6 cents per hour x 12 = 43.2 cents per day x 30 days = $12.96 per month. I had one go bad in the boat once just about lost the whole thing luckily it was on gfi circuit.
there are a couple of variables like the wattage of your block heater and the rate your power company is charging but something isn't right!

 

Well, I just went and re-read my meter.

If the truck is plugged in, the garage uses 24-25 kw's per day. Without it plugged in, and no other changes in loading in the garage, it uses 3-4 kw per day

That's a huge difference !!!

 

does the block heater cord get hot? I wonder if some of the wires in the cord may be broke and an insufficent connection is causing high resistance.

 

the cord for the heater itself maybe, but the extension cord to the truck, well, it's not even a year old.

 

Just checked again, and 2 days in a row, the garage used 4 kw/day with the block heater unplugged.

with it plugged in, it uses 24 kw/day

 

It does sound like something is not right, sorry I can't give any info to help fix the problem. What could help with the bill is putting a timer on the block heater I have mine come on about three hours before I need the truck.

Floyd

 

I know you said that this came on gradually, 45-65-95/month, but I had the dealership install a block heater on my JD skidloader when I got it. Either they didnt know or didnt tell me, but they installed one of those super high powered heaters, that you only need to plug in for 10 minutes before you start it. Well it was like a 1500 watt or more heater. It gets so HOT, it feels like you just got done running the engine. Well, may be some one installed one of those hi out put heaters before you got it.

 

Well, the only reason I had it plugged in all the itme is I never know when I am gonna use it. it is not a daily driver, but if I get the urge to go fishing, it will be needed.

 

0.65 kw/hr X 24 hr= 15.6 kw. At East coast rates of around 15¢/kw-h and 30 day monthly average it adds up very quickly to your $100 bill.

Still doesn't fully add up to the 20kw delta you noted.
There may be some leakage on the circuit you use to power the block heater.

I=V/R If resistance goes up the amps go down. A similar inverse relationship as intelligence & common sense?

 

Does your truck need heater THAT BAD ?

I am in Minnesota (a little colder than VA) and I can leave mine unplugged when it's -10 and it will start with no problem.

I understand if you were a firefighter or EMT where you need truck warm and ready all the time for full throttle service.
But I believe you can explain your fishing buddies they can "suck it up" a little while truck gets warm, and save a bundle NOT plugging it in.

I have a video on YouTube of my 3rd gen starting at -24 with no problem at all.