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Self Contained Engine Block Heater

6.2K views 15 replies 8 participants last post by  TRIMMELL  
#1 ·
Hey guys. I have been looking at designing a self contained engine block heater that will have a digital timer built into it so it can be set to turn on at a certain time and shut off at a certain time. Would anyone be interested in one. The factory engine block heater has about a 6.5 amp draw on a 115 volt outlet. The unit will use a couple battery's that I am still testing, a digital timer system that we use for pump testing in the field ect. and a lead wire that would run to the back of the truck up into the bed where the unit would be stored. The lead wire would recharge the battery's through a converter after the truck was started. It's 0 degrees here at the moment in southeast Kansas so I am going to see how well the prototype works lol. I have been wanting to do this for awhile for myself and the guys who possibly don't have access to a outlet to plug their trucks in. Tonight's the first night I have been able to get it hooked up so I will post in the morning and tell everyone how it works. This system would also possibly be able to be wired into a remote start that has the cell phone capability so you could turn the unit on and have it warming the truck up while you were gone so it would be ready to go ect.
 
#3 ·
I have been trying to find one just to see if there was one out there. I am testing some batteries for remote recovery wells tonight so we will see if it works out or not.
 
#4 ·
:worthless::worthless::worthless::worthless:
 
#6 ·
I will try and get some pics tomorrow. Hey snoman the unit I have prototyped is alot different. That one circulates coolant I believe and warms it but still requires a cord. The unit I am working on allows you to plug the factory engine block heater into it and it uses batteries to power the heater and then gets recharged as soon as the truck is started. Similar to running a lead to the back of the truck that you hook up to a trailer to power a winch, lights and other accessories.
 
#11 · (Edited)
This unit runs of the diesel in your main fuel tank. Yes it warms and circulates coolant and also powers the fan heater without drawing from your battery

You have a good idea but my concern would be battery conditioning at -35c. The espar heater heats the inside of the truck using the heater fan as well.
 
#7 ·
This would be an awesome idea if it isn't overly large or heavy. I can't plug in at work either so I'd be interested. Keep us posted!
 
#12 ·
already done for you - ESPAR Heater

Prices in Canadian Funds from cummin dealer in Edmonton Alberta
$1216 - Heater Unit with 24hr timer
$260 - 300ft remote (requires 7 day timer)
$229 - 7 day timer
$108 - programable timer
 
#9 ·
Well??? It's 9am kansas time. How did it work?
 
#10 ·
I'm not familiar with the remote starts that you can use with your cell phone but I'd be interested to learn.

TR
 
#13 ·
Hey guys sorry it took me so long. It worked well. I used a couple of batteries of my dads that he took back to use at work. I tested the temperature of the coolant it was only on for a little over two hours before I started the truck and the coolant was up to 73 degrees at the radiator cap. The outside temp was about 9 degrees. I forgot to get some pics. The batteries I used seemed to hold up well but are really expensive so now I am looking at two deep cycle marine batteries from Autozone that are about $75 a piece. I crunched some numbers and the unit should be able to power the heater all night if you would like to let the truck warm all night. But I have a few questions....#1-How do the marine deep cycles handle being pulled down and then recharged on a day to day basis. And also I ran a temporary lead from my battery to the unit right in front of the truck. When I started the truck it seemed to pull it down quite abit similar to jump starting a car. But my question is #2-how will the alternator handle having to charge the two extra batteries when you start the truck while running the grid heater for its cycle and maintaining the state of the factory installed batteries. #3-Would it be to much strain to one battery to run the heater on all night. The batteries I was looking at have a 1000 cold cranking amp with 115 amp reserve for 180 minutes. And as far as size goes it will be about 18"s tall X 18" wide X 18 long. I could do one of two things I could build it as cheap as possible for around $300 or maybe a little less using Autozone batteries, cheap timer that will be analog that plugs into the outlet, converter, power lead to run to the bed, some sort of cover that I am still looking into, an outdoor extension cord custom length for the cab of the truck, conduit or just wire loom to keep everything neat, and a frame to hold the batteries and a perch to hold the converter. I am still getting prices from a few different places. Or I could make a really nice unit. Using either Autozone marine deep cycle batteries Optima's or any other battery that you guys think would be best I am very open to suggestions concerns, digital timer of some sort the one I used was alright but I don't like the layout its really complicated with to many other functions that we would not use, nice frame possibly aluminum, with the same leads, wire loom, extension cord, but for the cover I was thinking we have a plastic manufacturing facility right across the street from my house and I went to school with the owners son so I may be able to get a nice cover made with a built in carry handle and a place for the timer in the cover. Which remember this thing will be heavy if it has both marine batteries in it. So guys I need comments, questions, concerns and other ideas you guys may have or input.

Joshua Trimmell
 
#14 ·
Oh sorry trganey. The Remote start system I was refering to is a basic remote start system that you pay a little extra for the service but it allows you to start your car basically anywhere in the country. It uses the GSM network or "cell phone networks" to transmit the command from your phone to the vehicle which has to have a receiver you buy for it. I am not sure on the pricing but I know that you can also get the remote start unit to do other functions like roll windows down, turn lights on ect which require lots of relays but with a little time and some experience someone could potentially wire the unit up to turn on when you command it to and begin warming the engine up while you are gone and then you could start it when you were close to home ect. But that would be along ways down the road. It is possible though.
 
#15 ·
Viper Alarms makes one that you can start through your cell phone. Only problem is it has to be through a 3G network, and if you park underground in the bigger cities, the signal won't reach. However, if you have 3G anyway and don't park underground, it works out pretty good.

JTrimmell...I'm totally ignorant to all of this, but why couldn't you just use the two batteries that are already in the truck? That way they're already wired to recharge and there wouldn't be extra pull on the alternator. Remember, I'm electrically deficient!
 
#16 ·
Airforceokie--If you wire the engine block heater and a converter in to the factory batteries it would put to much pull on the batteries and I don't know if the batteries would have enough juice to start the truck after running the heater all night. Especially when its cold out. They may work fine but I am not sure. I guess I could hook up the converter to my batteries and try it. Whats the worst that's gonna happen I guess if my truck didn't start.