When do you plug in??

[jharvey]

Since this is my first winter with the 6.0, I was wondering at what temp does everybody plug in??

 

[CHPMustang]

I'll assume you're referring to the block heater and if that's the case my timer kicks the heater on 3-4 hours prior to anticipated startup.

 

[jharvey]

Bill, yes I was refering to the block heater, I was curious if the 6.0 was any different than the 7.3's in this regard. I usually plugged it in anytime it was below freezing, to help ease the starting a little.

John

(I have had either too much nyquil or not enough )

 

[CHPMustang]

To my knowledge the block heating requirements is near the same between the two engines.

If you have a 15 amp rated timer available I'd definitely utilize it as it'll kick on at the right time.

 

[Big K]

John,

I would suggest any time you can below 40*, it isn't neccesary then but it will make it warm up and start alot easier.

 

[95_stroker]

I must be a tight wad........... I dont plug in unless its going to be in the single digits early in the evening (clear nights with a full moon are the worst) and stay that way until I need to start up. I also use a timer, set for three or four hours prior to anticipated start time in energizes the block heater and away we go.

And I think the coldest I have started the rig without plugging in was around 15 below.

 

[Big K]

geesh, you do realise how much it cost to run the block heater right?????

Must really be a tight wad!

 

[95_stroker]

geesh, you do realise how much it cost to run the block heater right?????

Must really be a tight wad!

My math tells me about $0.60/day @ $0.10/kwh and a 1500 watt user running approx 4 hrs a day. Youre right, that is chump change,




























unless I used your theory and plugged in anytime below 40°F, then it would be approximately $20.00/month for 9 months. Hence I only plug in when its cold out, which is under 10°F. -popcorn

I was a farm boy raised in ND, we had diesel engines out the wazoo and I have probably a much different perspective of what cold is than do most folks.

 

[Big K]

1500 watt???

They normally pull around 1000 watts, but I have measured lower than that, around 950 Watts.

 

[95_stroker]

My bad, I thought they were 1500 watt heaters.............. So the $20.00/ month goes to $15.00/month, and I just used 10 cents/KWH as a round figure...I'm not sure what a kwh costs right now to be honest.