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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Another engine heater question

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Dog's Friend

12-22-2004 13:37:04




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How much amperage/wattage does a frost plug block heater draw? My tractor is in an unheated pole barn without electricity. Was wondering if a 300 to 400 watt inverter attached to a 12v marine battery would be enough juice to warm up the tractor for an hour or so before I tried to start it. The tractor is a 3 cyl diesel Ford 1900.




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Bill(Wis)

12-23-2004 06:23:32




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 Re: Another engine heater question in reply to Dog's Friend, 12-22-2004 13:37:04  
Your tractor has a fairly small engine but if you want to heat it in an hour you'll probably need a 1000 watter or so depending on how cold it gets. I manage to run a 12g cord out to my machine shed (110 ft) to power the block heater on a 65HP diesel. It works just fine plugged into the outlet off my back porch (20amp breaker, I think). It takes more than an hour in real cold wx, though.



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G.King

12-23-2004 03:26:22




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 Re: Another engine heater question in reply to Dog's Friend, 12-22-2004 13:37:04  
A FEW YEARS AGO IN SAW A PICKUP WITH A COIL OF HEATER HOSE WITH ENDS LIKE YOU USE ON A HYD. SYSETEM UNDER HOOD OF PICKUP, ASK WHAT THEY WERE FOR , HE SAID I DRIVE UP TO MY SKIDDER (WOOD) PLUG THEM IN SIT IN WARM PICKUP 10 MIM. ,AND THE SKIDDER WILL START RIGHT UP . THIS WILL BE IN THE BACK WOODS OF MAINE.



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buickanddeere

12-22-2004 16:16:04




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 Re: Another engine heater question in reply to Dog's Friend, 12-22-2004 13:37:04  
In theory a battery with reserve capacity of 125 minutes would last 54 minutes on a 600watt load. The reserve capacity can't be fully used however due to the 60 amp draw instead of 25 amps. The invertor would trip off on low voltage at about 30 minutes. A long extension cord or a small portable generator would appear to be a solution. The oil pan could even be warmed if it was possible to blow the generators exhaust onto the oil pan. Of course the pole barn cannot have anything flamable around the generator or live stock that may be fumed by the exhaust. How cold does it get in your barn?

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Leland

12-22-2004 21:22:43




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 Re: Another engine heater question in reply to buickanddeere, 12-22-2004 16:16:04  
Long cord not the answer tried that and always seemed to pop a 30 amp breaker. Can you string juice out there and then use a short 12 gauge cord?



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buickanddeere

12-23-2004 03:52:56




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 Re: Another engine heater question in reply to Leland, 12-22-2004 21:22:43  
What kind of a load was it, how far away, size of load, what kind of cord, amperage of the cord and load? I've seen LP block heaters for equipment used away from utility access. I also seen my Uncle missing some of his facial hair after trying to light one as well.



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Leland

12-23-2004 06:20:04




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 Re: Another engine heater question in reply to buickanddeere, 12-23-2004 03:52:56  
Just a standard block heater on 400 cummins using a 75 ft 12 gauge ext cord and hooked at box to 30 amp breaker and it still would pop from time to time never went the LP route .



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buickanddeere

12-23-2004 10:04:25




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 Re: Another engine heater question in reply to Leland, 12-23-2004 06:20:04  
Something sounds scary there. To trip a 30 amp breaker with a load that should run a 15 amp is odd. It's possible that block heater was on it's last legs and arcing to ground. Possibly through an intermittent coolant leak?



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paul

12-23-2004 15:38:20




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 Re: Another engine heater question in reply to buickanddeere, 12-23-2004 10:04:25  
I run 125 feet of 12g extension to my unwired shed, run a ~1200 watt tank heater, never popped a fuse in 8 years. I think that should have worked too.

--->Paul



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Rick B

12-22-2004 13:53:58




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 Re: Another engine heater question in reply to Dog's Friend, 12-22-2004 13:37:04  
The lowest wattage frostplug heater I am aware of is 600w. They can range up to 1000w. Not sure what Ford spec'ed out for the 1900, but most Ford/NH plug heaters are 600 watts.



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