engine warmers (the coolant heater type)

[rusmannx]

i've got a 1500 watt one of these which plugs into my house... it's very nice.
what i would like is a DC powered one that i can have running off of my battery.
I work graves, and when i come out in the morning to go home, it would be nice to have the engine warm. it would be easy enough to wire one to turn on at a certain time of the day (lets say 30 minutes before i get to my car).... but i can't find such a beast.
i assume if they are out there, they would have to be low wattage as to not drain the battery....
any thoughts? links?

 

[nuclearlemon]

hhmmm...haven't seen that, but haven't looked either.

try these companies.

zerostart or phillips/temro
kim hotstart

those are two major block heater companies.

 

[Rich]

You don't have enough battery capacity to use the battery to heat your coolant. There are small fuel powered coolant heaters, most run on diesel, some may run on gas. They cost $$$.

 

[rusmannx]

You don't have enough battery capacity to use the battery to heat your coolant. There are small fuel powered coolant heaters, most run on diesel, some may run on gas. They cost $$$.

i know, battery will die quickly......
seen the fuel powered...... hate it.

thanks guys.

 

[MrMoMo]

1500W of AC power is about 12.5 Amps. That is fine out of the wall as most of your outlets are probably protected at 15 Amps.

To get the same effect out of a 12V battery - 1500W is 125A. This means you are asking your battery to provide 125 amps continuously for 2 hours. Try it sometime, see if you can crank your engine over for 2 hours.

Lets say you have TWIN 24 series batteries - you would kill the battery down to 1/2 (maximum safe discharge for a lead acid battery) in 1/2 an hour.

So, to run your 12V heater for 2 hours, you would need something like 3 8D batteries, basically they would take up your entire rear cargo area. Oh, and they are not light!!

Get a cord & plug it in where you work!

 

[rusmannx]

Get a cord & plug it in where you work!

not an option.
thanks for the data.

 

[MoGas]

Get a small generator and plug it in to that for the couple hours

 

[MrMoMo]

Ditto on the small generator.

 

[firetruck41]

As it seems a battery powered block heater is not practically possible, you might consider a remote starter, they have a long range, and you can just hit the button 10-15 minutes before you get off work, it will be warm by the time you are ready to leave.

 

[haystax]

Use your lawn mower engine in the off season as a pony motor like they do on old dozers and graders. That seems to be the only option you've got since you "hate" the only real alternative that is readily available.

 

[Kazmanff]

My last truck's remote start system was programmable to automatically start every couple hours and run for 10 or so minutes then shut off. Never used that option, but I loved being able to start the truck from inside the house and have it warm by the time I was ready to leave.

 

[rusmannx]

i've been looking at small motors... and i've got some ideas.
i work at a prison. i park my car about 1/3 of a mile from where i work, and i can't leave my control room to walk down and start my car....
thanks for the thoughts everyone.

 

[Montana Cruiser]

Like Kazmanff, my alarm and remote start allows for a "cold weather" mode that turns the truck on every few hours to warm it up and then it shuts back down throughout the night. Came in very handy in International Falls MN where the temps are commonly -20+. I remember seeing one remote start a few years back that allowed you to actually have the truck on a timer, meaning you could set the time for it to turn on, thats what you need IMHO.

 

[NMuzj100]

The fancy remote systems might allow you to call the truck on a phone and start it up. Quite a few of them will cal you on your cell if they are broken into.

I remember seeing one remote start a few years back that allowed you to actually have the truck on a timer, meaning you could set the time for it to turn on, thats what you need IMHO.

I bet you could build one of these with a kitchen timer and a relay pretty easy.

 

[rusmannx]

Like Kazmanff, my alarm and remote start allows for a "cold weather" mode that turns the truck on every few hours to warm it up and then it shuts back down throughout the night. Came in very handy in International Falls MN where the temps are commonly -20+. I remember seeing one remote start a few years back that allowed you to actually have the truck on a timer, meaning you could set the time for it to turn on, thats what you need IMHO.

don't these systems work only on automatics?
i drive a stick.

 

[firetruck41]

don't these systems work only on automatics?
i drive a stick.

I believe there are "work arounds" for that, and there are some which are made to work w/manuals, just make sure you set the parking brake and put it in neutral when you park it before work

 

[MoGas]

I don't know how good of an idea it would be to have a running, unattended vehicle outside of a prison...... Just a thought

 

[semlin]

forget remote starters, sounds like a job for trunk monkey.

 

[firetruck41]

I don't know how good of an idea it would be to have a running, unattended vehicle outside of a prison...... Just a thought

The engine cuts off as soon as you step on the brake/clutch (if there's a switch)/open hood/etc. unless you put the key in the ignition and turn it to on. If they can figure a way around that they can probably hotwire a simple older vehicle like a FJ40 any way

 

[rusmannx]

I don't know how good of an idea it would be to have a running, unattended vehicle outside of a prison...... Just a thought

thought of that too.
that's why i was just looking for a warmer.