[Vwdiesel] Timer options

[Sandy Cameron]

At 09:14 PM 10/27/05 EDT, you wrote:
>In a message dated 10/27/05 5:49:50 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
>mikitka at earthlink.net writes:
>
>
>> I'm not thrilled with going outside at 5 am to
>> plug the heater in when it is super cold out.
>> 
>
>At my last house I had an outside outlet wired to an inside switch.  I would 
>plug it in the night before, but only switch the outlet on after I made coffee 
>the nect morning.  To answer your question, I don't know what the amp draw of 
>the block heaters is or the permitted load on the timers.  


Frost plug heaters are typically 300 watts, about 2.8 amps.

Tank heaters can be up to 1500 watts, (12 amps) the really big ones, more
commonly 1000 watts, (8 amps)

The common indoor timers with the colck mechanisim and pins for programming
are typically rated at 1500 watts, (12 amps) I find they work well enough
out of doors if sheltered from the driving rain. Had one get wet enough in a
sleet storm last winter, that it froze in the on position until the temp
went above freezing a few days later, and it thawed out enough to dry out.

My block heater cord goes out of the garage through a port made specially
for it. An electrical outlet just inside has the timer plugged into it, and
the cord plugged into the timer

One problem with the el cheapo timers is they dont host a ground pin on
their plug and outlet. The ones with the ground are slightly more expensive.
I highly recommend the grounded ones for block heater service.

You can have a short to chassis with a block heater without affecting it's
heating properties, and when you reach for the door handle, standing in a
puddle, be blasted right back on your ass.

New wiring code demands GFI protection on all outdoor outlets,  but you
should still be carefull and make sure the U -ground circuit  is continuous.
It's the 115 volts that kills.

Sandy