[Vwdiesel] Block Heater Watts?

[James Hansen]

yeah, inverters are rated at peak current not constant current as I recall,
so multipying advertised current capacity by .7 might be in order I think.
I can't remember, I was looking at dad's last month, as he was wondering
what he could power with it and I recall it was not really as advertised for
constant load. 

I've seen 400w block heaters too, temro ones I think.

I would advise against the battery-inverter-block heater scenario anyway,
sort of a diminishing return, ya know.  If you really need it, find a tiny
used gas engine powerplant like a  yamaha or a $honda$ that can handle the
current.  The little ones are really cheap used, except the honda that is,
and small enough to almost carry under your arm.  Not to advocate burning
your car down or anything, but a one shot deal that works is some briquettes
in an old hubcap/garbage can lid- light them and slide the mess under the
oilpan.  Wait 20 min, and start the car like it was summer.  I've used my
svea mountaineering stove in a pinch, but that was long ago, before 0-40
synthetic oil.  If the engine is worth anything, it will start to -25C
without plugging in and -30 with skill and a good battery.  If you carry a
new fully charged battery in the trunk to boost yourself it should be all
you should ever need.

Cold weather starts are good battery (you cannot beat an Optima or Orbit AGM
battery), good heavy amperage battery cables attached to clean posts and
good clean grounding points, good glow plugs, good injectors, perfect
timing, and good oil.
Below -20 will really show off injectors with worn nozzles.  I have found
that slightly higher injector break pressures aid cold starts as well.

Your 92 has the 1.9 td, right?  My recently acquired 97 Golf has the 1.9 td,
and aside from a tdi, have never had a diesel volks that started as well. It
pops off at -30, so others should be able to accomplish this as well, and I
know the timing isn't spot on either.  I'm waiting for dad to get his new
duramax out of the shop so I can get the Golf in to give it the once over. I
haven't really touched it other than change rims to the Blizzaks off my old
Jetta since I got it.
-James

> -----Original Message-----
> From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com]On
> Behalf Of Lee Hillsgrove
> Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 7:43 PM
> To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Block Heater Watts?
> 
> 
> >
> > Just wondering how much the average block heater uses on a 92 
> Jetta TD in
> > Watts??
> 
> 
>   I think the standard freeze plug heaters are about 350 watts.
> 
> 
> >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.
> 
> 
>  I guess that would work, but you'd have to keep the other car running the
> whole time to keep the voltage up. Better use one of the ones that clips
> onto the battery, not powered through the cigarette lighter. I'd want at
> least a 500 watt inverter to run the block heater.
> 
> 
>   Lee
>   Oo-v-oO
>   PP-ASEL
>   KB1GNI
> 
> 
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