Plug-In
12-03-2003, 05:33 PM
#31
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Re:Plug-In
I would not want to pay the electricity bill for the guys who leave their trucks plugged in all the time.
Seems like a few hours would be all that is necessary to warm the engine.
-CM
Seems like a few hours would be all that is necessary to warm the engine.
-CM
12-03-2003, 06:30 PM
#33
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Re:Plug-In
[quote author=MARKY MARK link=board=5;threadid=22830;start=30#msg217749 date=1070495951]
I'm going to try it plugged in for an hour or so. Hopefully it works.
[/quote]
Depends on the temp. If it's in the 20's, 1 hour won't hack it. 2 should do it. The heater uses 750 watts, or .75 kilowatt hours. Massachusetts Electric charges me about $0.12 per kilowatt hour, so the block heater costs me about $.09 an hour to run. I run mine about 2 1/2 hours a night until the temps get below zero, then it's 3 hours.
I'm going to try it plugged in for an hour or so. Hopefully it works.
[/quote]
Depends on the temp. If it's in the 20's, 1 hour won't hack it. 2 should do it. The heater uses 750 watts, or .75 kilowatt hours. Massachusetts Electric charges me about $0.12 per kilowatt hour, so the block heater costs me about $.09 an hour to run. I run mine about 2 1/2 hours a night until the temps get below zero, then it's 3 hours.
12-03-2003, 07:41 PM
#35
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Re:Plug-In
When I was a little boy my Grandmother used to nag constantly about how it cost a nickel to turn on a light. This thread reminds me of this. You go and buy a $40,000 truck, and worry about four or five dollars a month to plug it in 
I have owned a lot of diesel trucks in my life, it gets cold, you plug it in, its ready to run. The darn timer costs more than the power to keep the truck warm. IF its below freezing, plug it in when you get home, pull the plug and start it up. The truck likes it, gives it a head start on the warmup, gets oil quicker, why the reluctance to plug it in? If the cost worries you, shut off one security light (everyone has them). Probably save as much in fuel as the block heater costs to run.
I have owned a lot of diesel trucks in my life, it gets cold, you plug it in, its ready to run. The darn timer costs more than the power to keep the truck warm. IF its below freezing, plug it in when you get home, pull the plug and start it up. The truck likes it, gives it a head start on the warmup, gets oil quicker, why the reluctance to plug it in? If the cost worries you, shut off one security light (everyone has them). Probably save as much in fuel as the block heater costs to run.
12-03-2003, 07:51 PM
#36
Re:Plug-In
I am with you Haulin! I can afford a few watts for my favorite truck 
But for these guys that leave the house everyday at the same time, day after day.. after day.. after day.. I can see where a timer wouldn't be so bad.
With my wife on call at the hospital, I want my truck ready to roll all the time in really bad weather. She has a 4x4 as well, but I will take her if she gets the call, when it is treacherous out there.
GuiltyofnotrecyclingsodacansLary
But for these guys that leave the house everyday at the same time, day after day.. after day.. after day.. I can see where a timer wouldn't be so bad.
With my wife on call at the hospital, I want my truck ready to roll all the time in really bad weather. She has a 4x4 as well, but I will take her if she gets the call, when it is treacherous out there.
GuiltyofnotrecyclingsodacansLary
12-04-2003, 06:52 AM
#37
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Re:Plug-In
Did aexperiment last night and this morning. Plug in at 2200 hours, 34 degrees, at 0445 before start up took my hand held contact pyro and at flange of water pump (where it meets the block) 92.8 degrees. At oil pan drain plug 33.4 degrees outside temp was 20 degrees. Truck fired right up and had heat about 4 minutes later. I will leave it plugged in.
12-04-2003, 09:46 PM
#38
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Re:Plug-In
[quote author=Lary Ellis (Top) link=board=5;threadid=22830;start=30#msg217806 date=1070502715]
I am with you Haulin! I can afford a few watts for my favorite truck
But for these guys that leave the house everyday at the same time, day after day.. after day.. after day.. I can see where a timer wouldn't be so bad.
With my wife on call at the hospital, I want my truck ready to roll all the time in really bad weather. She has a 4x4 as well, but I will take her if she gets the call, when it is treacherous out there.
GuiltyofnotrecyclingsodacansLary
[/quote]
I found a solution for the "on call" situation , kinda.
I have a timer with the little green and red thingamajigs that turn it on and off.
It only came with one set.
Bought another timer of similar design (for the Christmas lights) and it came with 2 sets, so I borrowed a set.
I have my timer come on at 6am for the 8am trip to get the kids to school, then again at 6pm for that odd call from work on weekends(or if I decide to go to a movie or something)
2 hours on at a time.
Still seems to be warm when I head of to work at noonish (usually)
The only time the wait to start stays on longer than a 30 seconds is when I don't get a lunch break at work, and the truck sits in the parking lot for 9 hours.
(can't plug in there)
phox
I am with you Haulin! I can afford a few watts for my favorite truck
But for these guys that leave the house everyday at the same time, day after day.. after day.. after day.. I can see where a timer wouldn't be so bad.
With my wife on call at the hospital, I want my truck ready to roll all the time in really bad weather. She has a 4x4 as well, but I will take her if she gets the call, when it is treacherous out there.
GuiltyofnotrecyclingsodacansLary
[/quote]
I found a solution for the "on call" situation , kinda.
I have a timer with the little green and red thingamajigs that turn it on and off.
It only came with one set.
Bought another timer of similar design (for the Christmas lights) and it came with 2 sets, so I borrowed a set.
I have my timer come on at 6am for the 8am trip to get the kids to school, then again at 6pm for that odd call from work on weekends(or if I decide to go to a movie or something)
2 hours on at a time.
Still seems to be warm when I head of to work at noonish (usually)
The only time the wait to start stays on longer than a 30 seconds is when I don't get a lunch break at work, and the truck sits in the parking lot for 9 hours.
(can't plug in there)
phox
12-06-2003, 01:59 PM
#39
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Re:Plug-In
I rarely ever use the block heater, I do however run synthetic oil so it is much easier to pump it around. It seems to be any time that the car is ran up to full operating temperature the day before that the next day it won't have any problems starting. Worst case scenario I'll double glow the GPs. I probably will end up running the heater (upto 2hrs, after this I was told it is pointless) on monday mornings though, that is unless this RWD diesel (300D) gets a little upset with the weather, then I'll get the AWD Talon out. 
12-06-2003, 02:56 PM
#40
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Re:Plug-In
[quote author=BoostnBenz2 link=board=5;threadid=22830;start=30#msg219249 date=1070740790]
Worst case scenario I'll double glow the GPs. [/quote]
HUh....what are GP's?? You must be another Ford Guy. What are they doing with all the abandoned Ford trucks??
Worst case scenario I'll double glow the GPs. [/quote]
HUh....what are GP's?? You must be another Ford Guy. What are they doing with all the abandoned Ford trucks??
12-06-2003, 08:06 PM
#41
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Re:Plug-In
I'm also with Hauling, I just plug mine in when I get home, Honestly I kinda wonder if the people using timers really arn't so much worried about the costs of leaving it plugged in, but are really just gadget freaks, which is great also. Just to clarify that wasn't ment as a bad thing either, just different strokes for different folks, do it which ever way you like and works best for you.
12-06-2003, 10:14 PM
#44
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Re:Plug-In
I agree with Haulin also. You spend $40 some grand on your truck, a few thousand more in BOMB's, every fill you add your fuel additive, change the oil every 3000, paid hundreds for a security system, even installed a light in your driveway so your truck doesn't sit in the dark and you worry about a couple six bucks a month in electricity for what, 5 months of the year. Who cares!!!
Every minute of the day from the first of November to the end of March that my truck sits outside my house, it's plugged in ready to roll at a moments notice. It's hard to accept, but I'll drink one less case of beer over that 5 month time period to pay for the extra electricity.
I'm going to go sit down now ;D
Jeff
Every minute of the day from the first of November to the end of March that my truck sits outside my house, it's plugged in ready to roll at a moments notice. It's hard to accept, but I'll drink one less case of beer over that 5 month time period to pay for the extra electricity.
I'm going to go sit down now ;D
Jeff
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