[Vwdiesel] Block Heater Watts?

[Sandy Cameron]

At 07:15 PM 1/13/04 -0500, you wrote:
>Hey Guys
>
>Just wondering how much the average block heater uses on a 92 Jetta TD in
>Watts??

I have measured all mine, and they draw a little less than 3 amps, which
equals around 300 watts.

>
>Reason I ask is that I live in an apart block with no parking in montreal
>and have the "luxury" of parking in the streets with no plugs therefore no
>block heaters. If, in the worst case scenario I had to start the car when it
>was really cold, I could run the block heater off an AC/DC convertor from
>another car. Boosting at -30C doesnt help much.

You are right. there is no substitute for a little heat. Really Long
extension cord?

About 20 minutes of block heater is enough to get it warm enough to start,
half an hour would be better.

Canadian tire sells a 400 watt inverter that will do it, I have experimented
with a 300 watt wal-mart inverter, and it just makes it, but complains about it.

300 watts at 12 volts is about 25 amps, well within the range of most if not
all car alternators. If heating from a running car, a fast idle will provide
the power without running down the donor's battery. There would even be
enough in his battery to provide a bit of cranking boost as well. Do not try
to run the inverter/block heater from a battery barefoot, the inverter will
quit too soon on low voltage, especially if the battery is tired,
undercharged, and/or cold.

A friend who drives a 90 jetta and has to park it out in the cold desolate
wastes, uses a deep cycle trolling motor battery he keeps warm and charged
at his island home, then he drags it across the ice to the car park, runs
the inverter into the block heater for half an hour, starts the car, and
then sets out on his jurny to the city (more than an hour) with the trolling
battery connected to the jetta's charging system, comming and going, which
nearly recharges it. 
Back home, he drags it back to the island and puts it on high trickle for
the night. Seems to work for him.

My next experiment, a 500 watt generator in the trunk, or, set up the
wintermiser (a diesel fired hot water boiler device made for transport
trucks) I scaffed a while ago, or a simple propane fired boiler plumbed into
the heater circuit.

This so I can go to the camp in winter and not have to drag the camp
generator out to the car park when I want to leave.

Sandy