So I figured out how to install my block heater

hdrygas · 12-03-2005, 08:37 PM

But if it is on a timer then it does not draw power. I would guess but do not know (yet) that the lower the temperature the longer it may take. 3 hours may be "average" from Franks data in a climate similar to mine, but this winter looks coder than last so that may be longer. I would love to see information from those in colder climates.

tripp · 12-03-2005, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hdrygas@Dec 3 2005, 07:37 PM
But if it is on a timer then it does not draw power. I would guess but do not know (yet) that the lower the temperature the longer it may take. 3 hours may be "average" from Franks data in a climate similar to mine, but this winter looks coder than last so that may be longer. I would love to see information from those in colder climates.

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I'm planning to buy a timer (where does one buy something like that?) so that the bloody thing isn't on all the time.

Also curious about the warm-up time. I'm in Colorado. It's starting to get pretty cold. The overnight lows are dropping below the 20F during the next week. I keep the car in the garage but that doesn't help a whole lot. Keeps the snow and ice off at least. Got my block heater yesterday but my wife didn't tell me until this evening

Gonna try to install it tomorrow. Now to review the thread.

Frank Hudon · 12-03-2005, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripp@Dec 3 2005, 05:26 PM
Yep, those are never good. However, if the EBH is running in the early hours or the morning or at night it's probably just drawing on base load, which would be generated anyway right? So in that case there would actually be a reduction in emissions because of the gasoline savings? Am I full of it or is this correct?

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like I said you do your part because no body else does. If you can lower your greenhouse gas foot print, and it's not only CO2 but all the polutants from unburnt gasoline that goes out your tail pipe, you have done all you can. Because Con Ed et:al just keep pumping it out and they don't care, never have, never will.

Frank Hudon · 12-03-2005, 11:04 PM

Tripp the timer I use is and Intermatic DT17 digital timer that is programable for start stop and day week Daylight savings time etc. About $27Cdn.
http://www.intermatic.com/?action=prod&pid=203

tripp · 12-03-2005, 11:18 PM

Very nice. Thanks Frank. And they sell it at Home Depot, too. That's just too easy.

**efusco** · 12-04-2005, 05:25 PM

Tripp,
I paid <$10 at Wal-mart for a Timex brand digital timer that is fairly easy to program (but keep the instructions as the buttons aren't intuitive). Once programmed it's nice b/c if you want to use it 'off timer' it's easy to cycle through the various options of off, on, timer-off (which switches off the circuit but turns the timer back on), or timer-on which turns the circuit on but goes back into timer mode.

tripp · 12-04-2005, 05:54 PM

Thankee, Evan. I've got the car up on the ramps right now. I'm just looking at some things last minute before I get my hands dirty. I'll probably pick up a timer tonight. Thanks to all who've helped!

hdrygas · 12-04-2005, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by efusco@Dec 4 2005, 02:25 PM
Tripp,
I paid <$10 at Wal-mart for a Timex brand digital timer that is fairly easy to program (but keep the instructions as the buttons aren't intuitive). Once programmed it's nice b/c if you want to use it 'off timer' it's easy to cycle through the various options of off, on, timer-off (which switches off the circuit but turns the timer back on), or timer-on which turns the circuit on but goes back into timer mode.

[snapback]167599[/snapback]

I don't shop at Wally World but I got mine from Lowes. It was $11 plus tax. No slam intended but I have seen too many problems with Wally Worlds FMLA policies. They are not patient friendly, doctor friendly ( it takes me twice as long to fill out their forms). I go to Cost Co they are somewhat better.

**efusco** · 12-04-2005, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripp@Dec 4 2005, 04:54 PM
Thankee, Evan. I've got the car up on the ramps right now. I'm just looking at some things last minute before I get my hands dirty. I'll probably pick up a timer tonight. Thanks to all who've helped!

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Well Tripp....how'd it go? Everything working OK?

tripp · 12-04-2005, 11:27 PM

Evan, it took me about 45 mins after we got off the phone.

Man am I chuffed! Definitely the biggest car project of my life. Before that the hardest thing I've done is change the oil/filter. All in all it wasn't too bad. Only a few minor scraps on the hands. The hardest thing was finding the bloody heater recepticle. Evan was kind enough to help talk me through it. Without that, I'd have wasted a TON of time. I owe you a six pack.

Getting the power cord installed only about a minute. The hardest part was just getting the wretched thing in position near the heating element. Thanks to all the tips I got here the actual connection step was a snap.

Has anyone made a HOWTO on this yet? This thread is pretty long now and there's a lot of good info here. Just needs to be condensed.

Thanks again to everyone who helped!

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12-03-2005, 08:37 PM	#211
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	But if it is on a timer then it does not draw power. I would guess but do not know (yet) that the lower the temperature the longer it may take. 3 hours may be "average" from Franks data in a climate similar to mine, but this winter looks coder than last so that may be longer. I would love to see information from those in colder climates.

12-03-2005, 11:04 PM	#214
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Tripp the timer I use is and Intermatic DT17 digital timer that is programable for start stop and day week Daylight savings time etc. About $27Cdn. http://www.intermatic.com/?action=prod&pid=203

12-03-2005, 11:18 PM	#215
tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,323 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 6	Very nice. Thanks Frank. And they sell it at Home Depot, too. That's just too easy.

12-04-2005, 05:25 PM	#216
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,231 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	Tripp, I paid <$10 at Wal-mart for a Timex brand digital timer that is fairly easy to program (but keep the instructions as the buttons aren't intuitive). Once programmed it's nice b/c if you want to use it 'off timer' it's easy to cycle through the various options of off, on, timer-off (which switches off the circuit but turns the timer back on), or timer-on which turns the circuit on but goes back into timer mode.

12-04-2005, 05:54 PM	#217
tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,323 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 6	Thankee, Evan. I've got the car up on the ramps right now. I'm just looking at some things last minute before I get my hands dirty. I'll probably pick up a timer tonight. Thanks to all who've helped!

12-04-2005, 11:27 PM	#220
tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,323 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 6	Evan, it took me about 45 mins after we got off the phone. Man am I chuffed! Definitely the biggest car project of my life. Before that the hardest thing I've done is change the oil/filter. All in all it wasn't too bad. Only a few minor scraps on the hands. The hardest thing was finding the bloody heater recepticle. Evan was kind enough to help talk me through it. Without that, I'd have wasted a TON of time. I owe you a six pack. Getting the power cord installed only about a minute. The hardest part was just getting the wretched thing in position near the heating element. Thanks to all the tips I got here the actual connection step was a snap. Has anyone made a HOWTO on this yet? This thread is pretty long now and there's a lot of good info here. Just needs to be condensed. Thanks again to everyone who helped!