Ideas on 12v block heater when 120 plugs are not available.

[BBBxcursion]

Ok I gotta another idea. Everyweekend I drive to my Girlfriends college to visit her and a bunch of my buddies. It's VERY cold and windy. My truck has been starting ok but I'd like to use some sort of block heater. Problem is, i can't plug it in anywhere. Can I buy a 12V oil heater and stick to the bottom of my oil pan and run a separate 12v battery to the heater? I could weld up a battery tray to the side of the frame. Instead of walking outside to turn it on, is there anyway I can have a remote to do it? Or a pager hooked up to a relay and the pager is the 12v tickler to activate the circuit? Any ideas? Or am I just crazy?

 

[DaveBen]

Using 12V for heat is a bad idea. A battery will not provide enough watts of power to heat anything for any period of time. 12 volts will require 10 times the current (amps) to do the same job. Not a good idea. You would be better off using a small Honda Generator to power your block heater. Lock up the Honda Genset or it will vanish.

Dave

 

[Crumm]

Just put synthetic oil in it and it will be fine. With synthetic you can start down to -30 without a problem.

 

[DaveBen]

You know Crumm, you never fail to amase me. What a good solution, I have been running Syn oil for a year now and I did forget.

Dave

 

[BBBxcursion]

I'm running synthetic, I just want the truck to warm up faster

 

[Crumm]

Install a remote start and hit the button 10-20 minutes(depending on temp)before you want to leave and it will be warm. Some remote starts can also be set to start the engine ever so often or when the coolant reaches a certain temp.

Dave, My wife says I amaze her too but the context is a little different

 

[BIG JOE]

How 'bout an Inverter ? Prolly have to watch the length of time you run it but if you got a good quality one with enough Wattage, seems like that might work. 1500 running watts, AT LEAST. Need real good Batteries too, 850-900 CCAs ?

 

[DaveBen]

Dave, My wife says I amaze her too but the context is a little different

I hope so Crumm... I am glad you go it.

Dave

 

[DaveBen]

How 'bout an Inverter ? Prolly have to watch the length of time you run it but if you got a good quality one with enough Wattage, seems like that might work. 1500 running watts, AT LEAST. Need real good Batteries too, 850-900 CCAs ?

An inverter will work, but you will lose about 40 - 50% in the conversion. This means your batteries will have to supply 40 - 50% more power than the inverter needs. Maybe a timer and inverter?

Dave

 

[Max Power]

How about an Espar heater?