73-87chevytrucks.com
General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bonanza on November 12, 2009, 12:22:21 pm
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Hello all, I need some help. I have a 1976 Chevy 1/2 ton with a block heater, the kind that actually has hoses and keeps the antifreeze warm, not the heat pad on oil pan style and i'd like to pick everyones brain on how to power this system this winter. I live in a condo which doesn't have elec. outlets outside for me to plug into so I need to figure out a way to plug in this heater. Is there a way I can hook up another battery that could power this? I guess i'd have to hook it up to the alternator too to keep it charged, or should/could I buy a portable power supply that would have enough juice in the cold of winter, to plug the heater into? Any help/thoughts/product suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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I imagine this is a aftermarket system? Is it 12v or 110v? Everyone here loves pics!
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I used to plug it into a reg. wall outlet so 110v I'll take some pics soon.
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A parallel auxiliary battery with an on off switch is fine. How many watts is the heater so we can determine what size inverter you need?
do you really need the heater? You can't run a stealth extension cord somewhere?
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i don't know if I really need the heater or not. I figured since I have it though, I might as well use it. I live in Steamboat Springs, CO. and it gets super cold here in the winter. I have put in Valvo Syn Power 10w-30 full synthetic for the winter though, maybe help with cold starts and no, there is no way to run a stealth cord. the parking is kinda far from my place and the cord would have to run across the lot. I'll take some pics in about 30 mins and post them so you all could get a better idea. Thanks for the quick responses.
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Ok, got some more info for you all. The heater is a Kats, Model #K85, 850W-120V. I tried to upload some pics but I think they are too big. I'll try to shrink them down and attach them again.
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ok, let's try it this way.
(http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac169/cappel77/Block%20Heater/CIMG2687.jpg)
(http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac169/cappel77/Block%20Heater/CIMG2685.jpg)
(http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac169/cappel77/Block%20Heater/CIMG2689.jpg)
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I thought you had a diesel!
So in about 8 hours or less your battery will be stone dead.
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Oh yeah, it's gasoline, sorry. So the extra battery idea is out the window eh?
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Have you ever had problems with your engine cooling system? How cold does it get there? I suppose if you had fresh antifreeze at the right mixture, you wouldnt need the block heater. This California guy doesn't have experience with what cold is.
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I'll throw my 2 cents in ....
Make sure ur antifreeze is good , 65/35 is what I run here in the winter , also make sure the battery is good and can handle the cold start 's . I'd switch to 5w30 oil . Plus make sure the carb is set up well . -35 c is what I'm used to up here in Canada .
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Everything Ramcharger said. Good tune, good strong battery, clean connections. Just allow yourself a little extra "warm-up" time. I don't believe we get quite as cold up here as you do, but I don't believe I've plugged in a gasoline vehicle since the '70's.
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X2 on the previous. We regularly see -10 below here. Some nights up to -20 below but not common. I don't plug any of my rigs in. Another cold start tip is to turn your head lights on for 20 or 30 seconds before you crank it. It kinda wakes the battery up a little bit.
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Keep a jump box charged up in your house and a can of starting fluid as your back up. Make sure the choke is properly set, tune it up ( run the stock heat range plug), run 5w30 or 10w30, make sure the battery is healthy. Keep a lil dry gas in there too. You'll be fine.
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a good inverter will have a low voltage cut-out... at 10v one can put a clock switch on the outlet to turn the heater one 1-2 hours prior to driving the truck...
1,000W invert will run that.. also runing the heater and engine will short warm-up time...
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all excellent advice. Thank you! There are many suggestions i'm going to be applying this winter/fall. I have always run 10W-30 and I thought that would be ok. The truck has always started fine in the cold, was 10 degrees last night but I haven't started the truck today, I guess I was just thinking since i have the heater, I might as well use it. I guess if Donut hasn't used a block heater since, well close to when I was born, I should be ok. I just replaced the thermostat beastie and ramcharger and put in a 50/50 mix when I replaced what I had lost due to draining. Blazin, i'll give the headlight turn on a try too. Vile, thanks for the dry gas tip. Now, dry gas comes in....Malibu, are talking about plugging the truck into a reg. outside outlet and putting an inverter in the truck. Running the heater will help warm the engine up faster?
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No he means using a 12V battery to 120VAC with an inverter. It's hardly worth it unless you find it difficult to warm up.
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ok
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No he means using a 12V battery to 120VAC with an inverter. It's hardly worth it unless you find it difficult to warm up.
that the general idea
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I know this may sound a little odd but how are you with 120AC wiring?
if your Ok with it find an outlet in your home, near where you park your rig.
kill the power to it pull the cover carefully remove the screws holding in the outlet and pull it out enough to see what is behind it.
if there's no cement or rock work you may consider drilling a hole through the wall and mounting a external outlet they have kits at most hard ware stores to do this I have one of those kats heaters and they work great! but they do draw a lot of Amps.and use a good quality extention cord.
Always Check with you local build department for regulations before doing this, They may have limits on outlets per circuit breakers. and remodeling.
I've done this before and it can work.
Good luck
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That was my first thought, or just move the truck closer.
The OP lives in a condo with no outside outlets, so I don't believe this was an option.
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Hey try hooking up your pre heater hose from your exhaust manifold to the air cleaner box also, it really made a difference on my truck. i think you can pick up a piece of hose for like $3
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You know A condo is still a private residence and the rules still apply. the only exceptions are. in addition dealing with building inspector. he needs to talk with the home owners association, and if it's a rental talk to the land lord. I worked with land lords before and with home owners, condos association and in many instances this could be some thing over looked or can be changed.
Don't sell the guy short and please don't answer for him thank you.
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???
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Reinovator, read the part where he says
there is no way to run a stealth cord. the parking is kinda far from my place and the cord would have to run across the lot
If he could just run an extension cord he wouldn't have asked for alternatives.
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Ok Heres the issue Jury rigging and Using equipment as designed are to different things I'm trying to explore an option in which Melt downs and excessive waste in time and energy are wasted. Modifying is what I do but.
I stay with in Safe and reasonable parameters. especially when it comes to working in a community environment as this case many Condo communities especially with this 'Save the whales' attitude we live in now. So who do you get a Condo Community to except the Idea of out lets in or around a parking area? You back door it. I've established the Idea that a power source can be for the most part easily done may through an extension cord but the Idea has been thought?
What about this today we deal with hybrid and electric cars more and more why not take advantage of this thought and see what the options are?
I know this seems like a round about way to deal with an issue but if an outlet Simple can be established then maybe this community can though community effort, establish a pressidence, How do you do that? Use the band wagon to your advantage. take it and run with it. how many residences want some way or are looking in to buying a eletric car, but have now way to plug in, (I my self like the Idea but not with today Tech. it's not proven well enough and I prefer the feel of car being twisted through Horse power and internal combustion) are the condo owners willing to invest in this kind of an idea. with out looking at these avenues of investigation nothing can be done.
Maybe this person doesn't want to look at this type of investigation and maybe he does, but has the idea ever been presented?
I've seen to many burned up, nice and not so nice cars. because someone didn't check options.
I may self am tired of being treated like I don't know anything by you Ville. and don't like it!
When you make people think GOOD Ideas Come About.
Not by shotting them down.
you need to take a pill and stop being all powerful!
I pleased that you have all your degrees and certifications you had to do something to earn them and I'm very very happy because it helps or industry
keep good standards but experience has some advantages to.
and personally you need more thank you for the advise you have given me but. as of now I'm done with this forum have a good life and remove me from the this forum.
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Thanks for all the ideas. Hooking up an extension cord or installing a new outlet outside really is not an option. Though I do own my condo, dealing with the assoc. is a real pain and frankly, not worth it. My homeowners rep is a real space case. Reinovator, thanks for your thoughts. I am confindent with my elec. skills but hooking up an outside box really is not an option. I'm actually hoping to sell this place next year, tried this year but you can imagine how that went so hopefully next winter i'll have a new place with an outlet right outside I can use. Really the truck has no problems starting cold, I just figured since I had the heater, I might as well use it. Everyone has posted very useful information and I appreciate it! heavychevy, could you elaborate on... "hooking up your pre heater hose from your exhaust manifold to the air cleaner box". I think I know what your talking about but? At the bottom of the snorkel on the air cleaner box is an open hole. That should have a hose running from it to the exhaust manifold. Oh wait, I think I get it and no, there isn't a hose hooked up there. You mean like a foil, flexible hose right?
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(http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac169/cappel77/CIMG2687.jpg)
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I'd get that heat riser hose and make sure u have vacuum lines hooked up and working . I'd also recommend that jumper box idea in case you do run your battery down trying to get it to start . For myself when the colds snaps hit hard here I always warm it up in neutral and drive it after 5 mins , not hard but till she feels right . I've got a 1000 CCA bat in my ramcharger and have let it sit for a week in 40 below and have had her fire .
I'd make sure the choke is set right and your battery is good , get it load tested .
I never sweat the cold days with my old stuff 9/10 times when it's cold I usually end up boosting the neighbors newer cars .
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That pipe that goes to the thermostatic air cleaner is called the stove pipe. The heat riser is the flap that closes in the exhaust manifold (if you have one). And yeah like 84ramcharger is saying it's useless unless the thermostatic air cleaner is actually functioning.
Reinovator:
What theare you talking about? Where do I shoot you down? Yes I have knowledge AND experience and offer my advice but I don't think I'm God here either. A few people here have gotten mad at me lately all of which were really mad because I edited their posts that violated the forum rules.... So they take it out on me in another thread sooner or later. This wouldn't happen to be the case would it? Nevertheless, I think you're the one who need to take a pill. If you want to take yourself off the forum that's your choice but rather unecessary. A discussion forum will be full of opinions and ideas. We welcome everyones whether they are right or wrong and not a personal attack on another member. If you have a personal beef with me pm me and leave it out of this thread.
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Not sure what all sparked this Reinovator, but the forum posts are NOT the place to take care of it. There are a number of moderators on the board and they are instructed by me to remove or edit any post that doesn't follow the rules. If you have been edited you should be more mad at yourself for not following these rules which were laid out in the registration agreement when you joined than someone changing them.
NO ACCOUNTS are deleted from the forum.
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oh right i got that whole heatriser thing mixed up haha,
but yeah hooking up the stove pipe on my truck made a real difference