Block heater timer??

[bstienwand]

Starting a new job up north, 9 and 5 shift. Wondering if there is a block heater timer out there that will let me set it when I get there (day 1) for a couple hours before I get back to it on day 9. I dont really want it plugged in for the whole 9 days that I am there.

 

[pfi572]

Google my friend! Not S&M. Lol

 

[Pinner]

I've seen 7 day timers but not 14 ?

 

[bstienwand]

Yea hard to find figured I'd try on here

 

[Vipertonytro]

Two things wrong! You drive a Dodge and you spelled your last name wrong!!

 

[bstienwand]

Two things wrong! You drive a Dodge and you spelled your last name wrong!!

Always I before E! And dodge don't need block heater timers

 

[InFeRnO]

It's not going to hurt the truck at all to be plugged in for that amount of time. The element is the only thing you have to worry about and it is in cast iron block with coolant surrounding it. I would say do not even hesitate. In my professional opinion. Having ten years as an auto service tech. Never once saw a vehicle burnt to the ground because of a block heater. The thing that you really have to worry about is your battery. I would worry more about keeping your battery warm then anything. If you leave the vehicle parked for that amount of time there is a small parasitic draw on the battery that will kill it. Which in turn will change the chemical process in the battery and leave you with an ice block and cracked lead plates inside the battery when you get back. You can get battery warmers as well which would also be a good option. Or you can always disconnect your negative battery terminal to stop that draw and you should be fine for the 14 days just with your block heater plugged in. Your choice just don't forget about the battery!

 

[InFeRnO]

Sorry your shift is 9 days not 14.

 

[SIRsleeper]

It's not going to hurt the truck at all to be plugged in for that amount of time. The element is the only thing you have to worry about and it is in cast iron block with coolant surrounding it. I would say do not even hesitate. In my professional opinion. Having ten years as an auto service tech. Never once saw a vehicle burnt to the ground because of a block heater. The thing that you really have to worry about is your battery. I would worry more about keeping your battery warm then anything. If you leave the vehicle parked for that amount of time there is a small parasitic draw on the battery that will kill it. Which in turn will change the chemical process in the battery and leave you with an ice block and cracked lead plates inside the battery when you get back. You can get battery warmers as well which would also be a good option. Or you can always disconnect your negative battery terminal to stop that draw and you should be fine for the 14 days just with your block heater plugged in. Your choice just don't forget about the battery!

As an apprentice my bosses mother in laws car burnt to the ground a week after I did an oil change (you can just imagine how bad I got grilled the next day)... Turns out when the plug end broke off the block heater cord, her husband put on a new plug end rather then replace the whole cord. The high resistance of the corroded wires inside got hot and that's how the fire started! Didn't help that it wasn't a waterproof plug end, so yes block heaters CAN cause fires!!!

I wouldn't see a problem with using a 7day timer and let it come on a few times when not needed. I use a timer but only to help my electricity bill at home.

 

[Vipertonytro]

Always I before E! And dodge don't need block heater timers

Ever see how "beer stEIn" is spelled lol. I must sEIze the moment to explore this wEIrd I before E rule,it makes the vEIns in my head bulge thinking of our forefathers changeling thEIr forEIgn name and coming up with two different spellings. Sorry just feeling fEIsty tonight hahaha . Ahhhh this convo will never end!

 

[bstienwand]

Lol thanks fellas I found a 7 day timer and will just have to come on the one extra day. The beasts got dual batteries so should be ok

 

[GYMBRAT]

Ever see how "beer stEIn" is spelled lol. I must sEIze the moment to explore this wEIrd I before E rule,it makes the vEIns in my head bulge thinking of our forefathers changeling thEIr forEIgn name and coming up with two different spellings. Sorry just feeling fEIsty tonight hahaha . Ahhhh this convo will never end!

Your wEIrd

 

[maxwell]

It's not going to hurt the truck at all to be plugged in for that amount of time. The element is the only thing you have to worry about and it is in cast iron block with coolant surrounding it. I would say do not even hesitate. In my professional opinion. Having ten years as an auto service tech. Never once saw a vehicle burnt to the ground because of a block heater. The thing that you really have to worry about is your battery. I would worry more about keeping your battery warm then anything. If you leave the vehicle parked for that amount of time there is a small parasitic draw on the battery that will kill it. Which in turn will change the chemical process in the battery and leave you with an ice block and cracked lead plates inside the battery when you get back. You can get battery warmers as well which would also be a good option. Or you can always disconnect your negative battery terminal to stop that draw and you should be fine for the 14 days just with your block heater plugged in. Your choice just don't forget about the battery!

dont block heaters murder your power bill? i wouldnt be woried about it burning but i would be worried about getting a nasty electricity bill

 

[InFeRnO]

When guys/women work up north do you pay for power? At home would be a different question but if you work for a rich oil company does it really matter? Lol. Good point thought. I'm just as cheap. I would plug my vehicle two hours before I left for my wife and kids but all I'm saying is remember about your battery.

 

[InFeRnO]

I am proved wrong by SIRsleeper and yes when people don't know what they are doing with electrical, things can happen lol. I've had customers come in the shop and say " well I tried to the wire it but then I smelled smoke so I stopped. Give me a call when it's done". Those are always fun. I'm glad you found a timer that will work. I just personally have not had any issues leaving vehicles plugged in for 5-10-15 days. Especially diesels with their hard cold starts.

 

[summit1974]

Lol thanks fellas I found a 7 day timer and will just have to come on the one extra day. The beasts got dual batteries so should be ok

if its cold enough you will have two dead batteries then,they have two cause they need that many cold cranking amps to start.my 2 cents

 

[bstienwand]

When guys/women work up north do you pay for power? At home would be a different question but if you work for a rich oil company does it really matter? Lol. Good point thought. I'm just as cheap. I would plug my vehicle two hours before I left for my wife and kids but all I'm saying is remember about your battery.

Yea it really don't matter about power cause I ain't paying for it where it's gunna be parked so that's not a issue just didn't want to burn anything out leaving it plugged in for that long shift after shift

 

[SIRsleeper]

if its cold enough you will have two dead batteries then,they have two cause they need that many cold cranking amps to start.my 2 cents

Agreed I'd invest in some battery heaters that tie into the block heaters plug-In, then if it's -30 for the whole 9 days you don't come back to a surprise... It'll be about the same or cheaper then two new batteries but good insurance!

 

[Caper11]

Starting a new job up north, 9 and 5 shift. Wondering if there is a block heater timer out there that will let me set it when I get there (day 1) for a couple hours before I get back to it on day 9. I dont really want it plugged in for the whole 9 days that I am there.

I dont know where your flying out of but there is a new indoor park and fly in nisku. It's a little more money but that's the one I'd be using. I used it two winters ago and was very happy with the service, they even washed my car for us. I was thinking of taking a fly in and out job, that's the place where I'd leave my truck for sure.


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