After Fire Engineer's EBH install - results.

[Godiva]

So, this morning was my first test of the EBH after Wayne's install.

My commute is 12 miles one way. I've got a short (1 mile) neighborhood streets leg until I hit the freeway. Then it's freeway until the last approx. 1/2 mile (which is up a hill).

My usual mileage is 44-46 mpg. This morning: 52 mpg. I'll be checking it when I return home as well.

So far I am more than pleased. If I can maintain a 3-5 mpg improvement over what I've been getting the (current) EPA can eat my dust.

BTW I got two clamps at Home Depot and have a 25 foot extention cord clamped to the garage door and plugged into a timer in the garage. Very easy. I'm sure it will be come part of my routine very quickly.

[priussoris]

Today was the first time for us to try out the EBH that wayne installed at the Hybridfest. ( made up a temporary timer and outlet) in case I need to move it.

Had driven a total of 15 min. and the first 5 min. bar was 60+ mpg along with the other two 5 min. bars following.

The drive was approx 8 miles round trip

So I am pleased with that.

here is my temp. timer , made it up that way incase I want to change locations, and the line side of the timer is pluged into a GFCI receptacle. plus it is under a carport out of the weather. in case someone see's the handy box with a reg. outlet. there is a gfci protecting it.
[attachmentid=10942]
[attachmentid=10943]

[hsamrat]

Hi,
How long did you let the EBH run? And what was the average outside temp? I tried searching but I could not get any interesting results (maybe I used lousy search terms). If anybody has a spreadsheet showing the relation between avg temp and the optimal EBH run time, please do post it. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks a bunch in advance,

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priussoris @ Aug 27 2007, 11:17 AM) [snapback]502735[/snapback]</div>

Today was the first time for us to try out the EBH that wayne installed at the Hybridfest. ( made up a temporary timer and outlet) in case I need to move it.

Had driven a total of 15 min. and the first 5 min. bar was 60+ mpg along with the other two 5 min. bars following.

The drive was approx 8 miles round trip

So I am pleased with that.

here is my temp. timer , made it up that way incase I want to change locations, and the line side of the timer is pluged into a GFCI receptacle. plus it is under a carport out of the weather. in case someone see's the handy box with a reg. outlet. there is a gfci protecting it.
[attachmentid=10942]
[attachmentid=10943]
[/b]

[Godiva]

I'm not adjusting run time for temperature. I read on another thread that three hours is optimal. That's what I set the timer for. The only thing I'll be doing is resetting it twice a year for when the time changes.

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priussoris @ Aug 27 2007, 09:17 AM) [snapback]502735[/snapback]</div>

here is my temp. timer , made it up that way incase I want to change locations, and the line side of the timer is pluged into a GFCI receptacle. plus it is under a carport out of the weather. in case someone see's the handy box with a reg. outlet. there is a gfci protecting it.[/b]

Depending on how "temporary" your setup is, if you will be looking for a more finished look, consider the Intermatic ST01C . . .

http://www.intermatic.com/Default.asp?acti...=43&sid=112
. . . in a three gang box with one timed and one un-timed set of outlets.

Four nice ST01C features which would be helpful for your application:
1) Battery backup for the timer.
2) Automatic Daylight Savings Time adjustment.
3) Weekdays and Weekends can be separately programmed.
4) The face plate is an on/off switch for when you want to turn in on or off manually - say on a weekend or day off from work.

[TonyPSchaefer]

What specific requirements are there for the timer?

I assume that it has to be on a GFCI switch and three-pronged outlet.

For example, while looking for the Intermatic that SPE shows above, I found this one: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores...ocStoreNum=8125


Will this one work? Since I'm hoping to not be in my place forever, I don't want something I have to flush mount and then remove or leave behind.
It turns out that this is the exact same timer I use to turn my coffee maker on in the morning.

[efusco]

That should work fine Tony. I use a cheap Timex digital timer I got at Wally World for $14...it's programmable much like the fancy flush mount shown above, has 3 prong outlet.

[priussoris]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rat @ Aug 27 2007, 10:39 PM) [snapback]503043[/snapback]</div>

Hi,
How long did you let the EBH run? And what was the average outside temp? I tried searching but I could not get any interesting results (maybe I used lousy search terms). If anybody has a spreadsheet showing the relation between avg temp and the optimal EBH run time, please do post it. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks a bunch in advance,
[/b]

I set mine for 3 hours also 4:30 - 7:30
outside temp was 72 degrees the first morning of use.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Aug 28 2007, 08:42 AM) [snapback]503175[/snapback]</div>

What specific requirements are there for the timer?

I assume that it has to be on a GFCI switch and three-pronged outlet.

For example, while looking for the Intermatic that SPE shows above, I found this one: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores...ocStoreNum=8125
[img]http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImage/e38186e8-7e57-42fc-a6b8-c8adfb706906_300.jpg[/img

Will this one work? Since I'm hoping to not be in my place forever, I don't want something I have to flush mount and then remove or leave behind.
It turns out that this is the exact same timer I use to turn my coffee maker on in the morning.
[/b]

Tony,
Here is another temp timer that on the box even states for engine block heaters
http://www.intermatic.com/Default.asp?acti...=44&sid=117

Ebay is your friend here is another
http://cgi.ebay.com/INTERMATIC-15-AMP-OUTD...VQQcmdZViewItem

[Godiva]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Aug 28 2007, 08:42 AM) [snapback]503175[/snapback]</div>

What specific requirements are there for the timer?

I assume that it has to be on a GFCI switch and three-pronged outlet.

For example, while looking for the Intermatic that SPE shows above, I found this one: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores...ocStoreNum=8125


Will this one work? Since I'm hoping to not be in my place forever, I don't want something I have to flush mount and then remove or leave behind.
It turns out that this is the exact same timer I use to turn my coffee maker on in the morning.
[/b]

That will work fine, but it's $20. For half price, I got the dial instead of the digital.

Intermatic 15 amp.

[abq sfr]

Used my EBH for the first time this morning and did not really notice any difference. My garage does not get below 75 this time of year, but I'm wondering if the new timer I bought is bad. From experience, I've found that around 50% of digital timers don't work. Tonight I'm putting a night light on a second port on the extension cord so I can see if it's getting AC. My mpg has been going down for the past month, even though I've put 5 more psi in the tires (40/38). I've attributed that to school starting and having twice the traffic and seldom can pulse and glide now. I'm barely getting 54 now!

Arrgh! I'm getting into this mpg fixation so many others here have!! The highest I've gotten is 57, so I've dropped 3 whole mpg!!! Still, I would have expected some increase from higher TP.