[Vwdiesel] Block Heater Watts?

[Kevin Jack]

Thanks for the info...

I guess Ill just stick to the basics...

Sounded interesting though....

Thanks for all the info and braincandy....:)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sandy Cameron" <scameron at compmore.net>
To: "O Kevin Jack" <kevin.jack at primus.ca>; <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 9:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Block Heater Watts?


> At 12:26 AM 1/14/04 -0500, you wrote:
> >I was just thinking of setting up 2 6V deep-cycle...with a 400W inverter.
> >The problem would be charging.
> >
> >1) Could I safely wire them up from say the 12V outlet to charge....
> >What would that entail.....taking a 12V cable and adding alligator clips?
> >Would it be enough charge? Would this affect the alternator?
>
>
> An on-board battery would probably only be usefull if you had 2 or 3 hours
> of driving per use, to recharge them. The alternator in the car can
> certainly do it, but at a much slower rate than you took it out. (law of
> entropy). Also, the battery left in the car overnight to cold soak will
> provide less than half the capacity it would at room temperature.
> Now we are back to the trolling battery and perhaps a luggage cart to
strap
> it to for handling.
>
> The battery/inverter/block heater idea is for occasional use, where the
> battery can be kept indoors, and charged by a hydro operated charger. If
one
> had a long commute every day, there might be some motivation to create an
> on-board system, otherwise it probably won't work.
>
> If we lived in europe, small propane fired point of use water heaters
would
> be readily available, and would be the perfect solution for the diesel.
> Turn it on for 15 minutes and the engine would be toasty warm as if it had
> just been running. The heaters are thermostaticallly protected too, to
> prevent overheating. If you ever see one. let me know.
>
> Now, Block heaters 101
> >
> >2) I know what and where the block heater are, but what kind of a heater
is
> >it....
> >I assume it is just a resistor..and if so couldnt I just cut the end off
of
> >the cable and hook it up to a battery. It would still heat the resistor.
>
> Yes on most counts, It is a resistor, which is why it works efficiently on
> an inverter. Power factor of 1, no reactance. The resistance wire is
encased
> in a copper jacket bent intu a U shape that will fit through the 1.5"
frost
> plug hole on the block. Next time you are in CTC, look in the auto
> accessories section, you will find them hanging in blister packs near the
> wiper blades and antifreeze, an yes, they have a size that fits jettas.
> The are a pig to replace as they are on the back of the block near the
> firewall, and obscured by the exhaust down pipe and the right rear engine
> mount. On a non-turbo, they can be replaced from above on the right hand
> side, by removing the plastic air filter box from the manifold, and diving
> over the top of the engine down between it and the firewall.(UGH!) I do
mine
> (and others) any time I have the engine out for other reasons.
> Pulling an engine/tranny only takes a couple of hours, and then you can
get
> at everything easily.
>
> The block heater resistance value in OHMs is chosen to disipate 300 watts
> with 115 volts applied. At 12 volts applied, it would not produce any
> perceptable heat. You would have to have a 115 volt battery.
>
> Finally, there remain these: The battery/inverter trick, the Honda
lunchbox
> generator, which will work anywhere, ski camp, etc, and provide a bit of
> camping power for your tv withdrawl problems and when HQ fails you at
home.
> And last and the one I would like to try, the propane water heater spliced
> into the heater circuit of the cooling system.
> Check the propane distributors for SMALL point of use water heaters, most
I
> have seen in this country so far are the whole-house tankless type,
humungus
> gas users and far too big for this application.
>
> The kind I am talking about, I saw in Holland over the kitchen sink that
> only burns while you are running the sink tap. They were often the only
hot
> water in the house. You filled a bucket and went off to the tub to wash
up.
> (Poor folks after the war).
>
> Come to think of it, the Honda lunch box, or equivalent (cheaper) 500 watt
> generator, will cost only maybe twice what the battery/inverter/charger
> trick would, and has no upkeep hassel. Might be the best way to go.
>
> Sandy
>
>