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Timer controller for tractor block heater

R

randallinMo

Member
Can someone recommend a "good" timer that will turn a tractor block heater on and off? I only need to feed once a day and do not need for the heater to run 24 hours a day. All the timers I've seen say "do not use an extension cord". Come on, get real, how many heaters have a factory cord on them long enough to reach an outlet? The little plastic hold in your hand units are junk.
 
Get a drop cord no longer than you need and a 12 ga wire. f you have to make it up yourself. If there is any change of snow I leave my F350 Diesel/Plow plugged in 24hrs. Plug is 29 years old.
 
I bought a heavy duty timer to use for the block heater on my F350 7.3 diesel. I have it set to come on about 3 hrs before I need to leave for work.

I plug the timer in at the wall, then plug a heavy duty, outdoor extension cord into the timer to run to the truck. Been doing that for a couple of years now. Works real well for me.

Biggest problem I've had is remembering where I put the timer when I need to use it the next winter. So I bought two.

Since the plug is outside, I do have to weatherize it to protect it from rain, etc.

There may be somebody who will take exception to this and say this is insanely dangerous, but that's the way it is.
 
Tanker is right. One more example of lawyers getting in thier 2 cents. While an extension cord with oxidized/dirty plugs are not good to use,as long as it is 12 ga or larger,it will carry the load just fine. Another reason lawyers don't like extensions is the risk they might be cut or tripped on.
 
We've always had decent results from an "OUTDOOR" rated timer.

Never paid attention to the "no extension cords" rule. What's the difference if there's 10' of 12ga cord directly attached to the block heater, or it's a 10' 12ga extension?

Probably CYA like someone else said. Most people are too clueless to use a heavy enough extension cord for most things, and the manufacturers don't want a fire.
 
(quoted from post at 07:21:45 11/20/13) I bought a heavy duty timer to use for the block heater on my F350 7.3 diesel. I have it set to come on about 3 hrs before I need to leave for work.

I plug the timer in at the wall, then plug a heavy duty, outdoor extension cord into the timer to run to the truck. Been doing that for a couple of years now. Works real well for me.

Biggest problem I've had is remembering where I put the timer when I need to use it the next winter. So I bought two.

Since the plug is outside, I do have to weatherize it to protect it from rain, etc.

There may be somebody who will take exception to this and say this is insanely dangerous, but that's the way it is.
Click to expand...


Nancy, you live in TX, you shouldn't need a block heater. Many folks here don't plug their diesels in till the temps drop below zero. My 1206 Farmall tractor will start down to about -10 without being plugged in. When I still had a Ford Diesel pickup it too started down to about -10.

You can buy timers that are designed for outdoor applications.

Rick
 
(quoted from post at 10:26:19 11/20/13)
(quoted from post at 07:21:45 11/20/13) I bought a heavy duty timer to use for the block heater on my F350 7.3 diesel. I have it set to come on about 3 hrs before I need to leave for work.

I plug the timer in at the wall, then plug a heavy duty, outdoor extension cord into the timer to run to the truck. Been doing that for a couple of years now. Works real well for me.

Biggest problem I've had is remembering where I put the timer when I need to use it the next winter. So I bought two.

Since the plug is outside, I do have to weatherize it to protect it from rain, etc.

There may be somebody who will take exception to this and say this is insanely dangerous, but that's the way it is.
Click to expand...


Nancy, you live in TX, you shouldn't need a block heater. Many folks here don't plug their diesels in till the temps drop below zero. My 1206 Farmall tractor will start down to about -10 without being plugged in. When I still had a Ford Diesel pickup it too started down to about -10.

You can buy timers that are designed for outdoor applications.

Rick
Click to expand...
aybe no like sitting in cold seat. :)
 
My truck is a true southern truck. Does not like temps below 30.

If nighttime temps are 30 or below and I don't plug it up, it can take 4 or more tries to get it started. As long as I plug it up, it fires immediately.
 
Oxidized prongs also make it hard to plug/unplug. I cleaned the prongs on the cord to the block heater on my truck with fine sandpaper till they were nice and shiny.
 
For years BIL used a heavy duty timer such as used for running yard lights. It was hard wired and mounted on a post at the barn where the feeding tractor was parked. He always used a heavy cord, as short as possible. Timer was set to run for 3 hrs in morning 3 hrs in afternoon
 
And the little bit of electricity you use makes it a lot easier on the engine, starter, battery, you, and everything in general!
I plug in my truck when the temp. is below freezing. Even though it will start, it starts so much easier when plugged in, I think it's worth it.
 
A word of warning: over the last several years, two dairy farmers in our small town have had block heaters fail. In each case, it set the tractor on fire and that spread to the barn. Both barns a total loss, one got almost all the stock out, only lost a dozen calves or so. The other I don't remember. These were not on a timer, someone left the tractor alone for an hour and was working nearby. If this were to happen with a timer while you were asleep, it would all be over by the time you wake up. In one case, maybe both, the heater was acting funny, but they ignored the problem.
 
The safest thing would be the kind of timer you'd use for a home water heater. Very robust with a long life, and not that expensive either.
 
Getting ready to do this myself. Get a TIMECLOCK. It is a HD timer of sorts. Much better than a cheapo plug in deal. It will take some electrical knowhow....but not hard to do.

As someone who has lost a tractor, and a truck to block heater fires....change the dang cord on the heater too!

And as much as I despise them.....A AGCI breaker on the heater circuit is not a bad idea either.
 
Pool timers are rated for outdoor use. And I can't imagine that a block heater would draw more current than a pool pump. If you wanted a more permanent set-up, that's the way I would go.
 
(quoted from post at 09:21:45 11/20/13)

Biggest problem I've had is remembering where I put the timer when I need to use it the next winter. So I bought two.
There may be somebody who will take exception to this and say this is insanely dangerous, but that's the way it is.
Click to expand...
I can't say exactly how dangerous the feeblness is to you but it certainly is scary to think of you driving down IH-30 unsupervised. :shock: Do you think this influnced James' decision to stop commuting with you? :wink:
 
Were I using a heater often where a fire could spread to uninsured or irreplaceable property,these are precautions to reduce risk. All wire and extension cords overrated to breaker capacity.(Insures breaker will trip before excess current melts insulation on wire).
Smoke/fire/co detector hooked to loud horn and strobb light. Redundant kitchen hood extiguisers that no longer meet regulations are very inexpensive once they have been de-certified.
 
Even if the truck started without the block heater. The
reduction of cylinder wall wear, less lube oil dilution , less soot
and wet stacking plus instant defroster heat. Pre - heating is a
hands down winner.
 
Nancy. Here is a suggestion,USE DIALECTIC .Allows current flow and stops oxidation. JMHO which on here doesn't allow credibility LOU
 
I have one like you pictured above. Its in the shop and runs the pool pump all summer long. The winter its used as needed on a block heater. Been installed going on 10 years with no issues. Its about the only way to go in my opinion.
 
Nancy I have a 7.3 and it got down to 20 degrees and I had to cycle the glow plugs 4 times before it would start. I did some checking and I had 5 of the 8 glow plugs not working. I replaced all of them and now it starts the first time with no problem.

Bob
 
Your choice to run a timer but there is nothing worse than the feeling you will get when it is -40 outside and the power goes out an hour before your timer was supposed to start and your cows are hungry.
Same goes for plugging in a truck only when you need it, if it is 2:00 AM and someone needs to go to the hospital is the truck going to start?
Not sure if they are any good or not but you can get an extension cord with a thermostat built in that will turn on the juice when the temp goes below freezing.
 
Saw that warning many times on Generator heaters. Never made sense to me. The timer Chris posted would work just fine. Be sure and get a good brand of heater. Kim Stat and Universal are the ones. I always used on generators. They have a thermostat in line that will keep the engine at a set temp. Just be sure and use wire large enough to handle the load
 
Just make sure the timer has a rating to handle the draw of your heater. I wired my brothers shed for one and he used it for yrs to start the tractor for loading sileage in the pit till he got out of the cattle business.
 
Ive seen some wiring and the line from the tractor just a fire waiting to start. Heater wont start a fire but the wires sure can thats why fuses are used.
 
When I had my diesel FedEx Home Delivery truck, I bought a 3 prong adapter, cut the male terminals off, slugged the female terminals full of dielectric. In the morning I would put this on the engine heater plug to keep all the road gunk off of it. Ran it all summer with it on too, never did have nasty terminals with that set up!
 
I did that too and it screwed up the computer, told me the engine was overheating, found out on this website what was happening. I ended up putting the thermostat plug back on, lucky I left the wires long enough for but connectors!
 
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