heater plug in

tumbleweed40 · 01-11-2010, 05:32 PM

i leave my 95 ram 12valve plugged in all the time ,but only drive it about once a week,does it hurt anything too leave it plugged in all the time?i dont care about the electricity.

illflem · 01-11-2010, 07:39 PM

Won't hurt at all.
I've had mine plugged in for weeks at a time for 15 years, original heater works the same as day one.
Does help having the cheapest power in the world here in the Pacific NW.

ykdave · 01-11-2010, 09:11 PM

only thing its going to hurt is the power bill, the block heaters in these things are 750w+

nick112207 · 01-11-2010, 10:54 PM

i can't imagine them sucking that much extra power. they are what, like 5 or 6 amps?

ykdave · 01-11-2010, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick112207

i can't imagine them sucking that much extra power. they are what, like 5 or 6 amps?

actually, closer to 7amps (depending on the particular block heater and your actual voltage)

Pretty much the same thing as leaving every light on in your house 24/7...

illflem · 01-12-2010, 11:31 AM

Watts are what relate to your power bill.
Multiply your power rate in kWh by .75 to find what it costs you per hour.
National average rate is 10¢/kWh x .75 = 7.5¢ per hour.

ykdave · 01-12-2010, 11:34 AM

10c/kwh.... wow you guys are lucky....

illflem · 01-12-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ykdave

10c/kwh.... wow you guys are lucky....

That's the national average, where I live we pay 1.5¢/kWh but it's going up half a cent in 2012.
Contract is for 20 years though but still the rate hike is about 40%. If the national rate goes up by the same amount the average could be 18¢/kWh

tumbleweed40 · 01-12-2010, 11:52 AM

my kid rents the house and plugs in his dodge so he pays the bill as rent,so i dont worry about the cost.just my truck1

ykdave · 01-12-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illflem

That's the national average, where I live we pay 1.5¢/kWh but it's going up half a cent in 2012.
Contract is for 20 years though but still the rate hike is about 40%. If the national rate goes up by the same amount the average could be 18¢/kWh

Last bill i looked at was 24c/kwh and their was talk of another raise. my power bills typically run me 400-$500/month and i barely use anything around here!