12V block heater???

[Kubota_Man]

Has anybody seen or heard of a 12V block heater?

I was thinking (yes that sometimes happen) that when I transport my BX24 in the winter it would be nice to be able to connect it to a hot plug coming from the truck to the Bota. Then when I arrive at my destination it wouldn't take her as long to warm up.

Any thoughts?

 

[dfh1977]

Could use a 12v DC to 120V AC adapter provided it can handle the amps the block heater uses. Just a thought to run cord from battery of truck to adapter then plug heater on tractor to converter

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[North Idaho Wolfman]

NO it's can't be done!
Simply put you would need a bank of batteries and an inverter that could supply 120+ continuous amps.
You would have to have a system like an electric car.

How it could be done is to load a gas or diesel generator on the trailer and have that running and supplying power to run the block heater.

Better yet just start the tractor before you leave home and have it idling on the trailer while your on the way to the job, it wouldn't burn that much fuel and it would be completely warm.

 

[dfh1977]

probably true as battery would drain in a short time drawing power off battery. but running engine, best make sure tie down are not near engine or exhaust if there is a possibility to melt if using nylon straps.

 

[85Hokie]

NO it's can't be done!
Simply put you would need a bank of batteries and an inverter that could supply 120+ continuous amps.
You would have to have a system like an electric car.

How it could be done is to load a gas or diesel generator on the trailer and have that running and supplying power to run the block heater.

Better yet just start the tractor before you leave home and have it idling on the trailer while your on the way to the job, it wouldn't burn that much fuel and it would be completely warm.

North Idaho Wolfman,

everything you said, dead on !

run the sucker for that time, the cost of the fuel used would be so low, a hot cup of JAVA would cost more!

 

[aeblank]

A block heater isn't 120A. House services can be as low as 60A 240v (so 120A@120V). That said, 12v block heater.....not practical.

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[North Idaho Wolfman]

A block heater isn't 120A. House services can be as low as 60A 240v (so 120A@120V). That said, 12v block heater.....not practical.

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UMMMM...

Trailer park power is 40 to 60 amp @ 240VAC
Normal Small home power is 200 amp @240VAC
Normal Large home power is 400 amp @240VAC
2 legs of 120VAC = 240VAC

Block heaters are at 10-12amp @ 120VAC
Converted to 12VAC it would require 100 to 120 amps
Converted to 12VDC it would require 120 to 140 amps or greater depending on the inverter used.

Not going to happen with a normal battery set up.

 

[85Hokie]

UMMMM...

Trailer park power is 40 to 60 amp @ 240VAC
Normal Small home power is 200 amp @240VAC
Normal Large home power is 400 amp @240VAC
2 legs of 120VAC = 240VAC

Block heaters are at 10-12amp @ 120VAC
Converted to 12VAC it would require 100 to 120 amps
Converted to 12VDC it would require 120 to 140 amps or greater depending on the inverter used.

Not going to happen with a normal battery set up.

DAMN YOU ARE GOOD AT HITTING THE NAIL ON THE HEAD!!!!!!
a wattage usage might explain the scenario a bit better.....

a woman's hair dryer probably uses more "power" than any other device in the house for the short time that it is on ! Microwave is a good one too, a hair dryer takes 120volts and about 12.5 ish amps and uses approx 1500 watts an hour........

that block heater is gonna be right there too! 12 volt X 120 amps.....poor wire! AND those batteries.......

the starting and running thing is the best all around answer! it kills all those birds with one .........key!!!!!!!

 

[skeets]

House services can be as low as 60A 240v (so 120A@120V).
Ya never saw the place I grew up, the main panel had 4 15 amp fuses that was for the whole house

 

[plusmoins]

Yes you can go with a 400 or 600 watts DC converter.

My block heater on my M7950 is a 400 watts, i suppose for a little BX its a smaller block heater maybe 200 Watts.

200 watts on a 120v line draw 1.7 amp. On a 12v/120v converter it's 17 amp/hr. With a good 12v 90 amps/hr battery you can easily expect few hours for a little 200 watts block heater.

Forget it if you have à 1500w tank Heater. This one draw 125 amp/hr on a 12 v batt.

Please pardon me again for my poor english.

Plusmoins

 

[85Hokie]

Yes you can go with a 400 or 600 watts DC converter.

My block heater on my M7950 is a 400 watts, i suppose for a little BX its a smaller block heater maybe 200 Watts.

200 watts on a 120v line draw 1.7 amp. On a 12v/120v converter it's 17 amp/hr. With a good 12v 90 amps/hr battery you can easily expect few hours for a little 200 watts block heater.

Forget it if you have à 1500w tank Heater. This one draw 125 amp/hr on a 12 v batt.

Please pardon me again for my poor english.

Plusmoins

English is fine, the thought of heat via 12 volts is the problem, unless a tractor is gonna be hauled for 100 miles, the best heat for the entire system is going to be self generated, the block heater idea is fine if there is a 120 v source available, otherwise start her, and go back inside or the truck. I have got on a tractor in about 12 degrees (f) and the fluids didnt want to work well, if i had started it and walked back inside for a while it would have been fine!

 

[Kubota_Man]

So in summery if I had a boat load of money to buy a bank of batteries to provide my own power grid I could do it. Otherwise when I unplug her from the shop power start her up and run up to a couple of hours until I get to my destination.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

So in summery if I had a boat load of money to buy a bank of batteries to provide my own power grid I could do it. Otherwise when I unplug her from the shop power start her up and run up to a couple of hours until I get to my destination.

Yep you got it!

 

[PrairieSoul]

This is one of those stories of theoretically possible and practical.

Most likely the block heater is a 400 watt unit, meaning a 600 watt continuous inverter would comfortably handle it. Taking the efficiency of the inverter into consideration it would require about 40 amps of current. Most modern trucks have large enough alternators that will probably handle an additional 40 amp load, assuming no extra lights or other load on the system.

If you figure around $ 100 for a basic inverter, a circuit breaker or fuse holder, connecters, heavy duty wire, you could install one under the hood (need as short a run as possible from the battery) for around $200.

You could mount the inverter on your trailer with a couple of large deep discharge batteries for around $400 (would need 2 to run the inverter for more than an hour at a low ambient temperature) and save the hassle of running wire from the hood to your trailer.

Or you could spend that $200 (0r $600) on diesel fuel and have a tractor that is ready to go at your destination without needing to run a few minutes to reach operating temperature.

 

[dmanlyr]

The other point here is that regardless of block heater usage, the transmission oil still needs to be warmed up for best service life. While the block heater makes it easier to crank the engine over, it does not raise the temp even of the engine up to operating temp, let alone do anything to warm up the transmission. Some warm up is still needed in any case.

I like the suggestion of just letting it idle. That way you also generate some heat in the transmission as well.

David

 

[85Hokie]

This is one of those stories of theoretically possible and practical.

Most likely the block heater is a 400 watt unit, meaning a 600 watt continuous inverter would comfortably handle it. Taking the efficiency of the inverter into consideration it would require about 40 amps of current. Most modern trucks have large enough alternators that will probably handle an additional 40 amp load, assuming no extra lights or other load on the system.

If you figure around $ 100 for a basic inverter, a circuit breaker or fuse holder, connecters, heavy duty wire, you could install one under the hood (need as short a run as possible from the battery) for around $200.

You could mount the inverter on your trailer with a couple of large deep discharge batteries for around $400 (would need 2 to run the inverter for more than an hour at a low ambient temperature) and save the hassle of running wire from the hood to your trailer.

Or you could spend that $200 (0r $600) on diesel fuel and have a tractor that is ready to go at your destination without needing to run a few minutes to reach operating temperature.

i could run my BX for an hour straight at idle for less than $2 !!! and all i have to do is turn the key! I get engine oil warm, and tranny oil and hydraulic oil warm to boot! the block heater would only heat that which it touches...........but to each his own, i think i will fill the tank and leave the rest alone .......

 

[gpreuss]

Yes you can go with a 400 or 600 watts DC converter.

My block heater on my M7950 is a 400 watts, i suppose for a little BX its a smaller block heater maybe 200 Watts.

200 watts on a 120v line draw 1.7 amp. On a 12v/120v converter it's 17 amp/hr. With a good 12v 90 amps/hr battery you can easily expect few hours for a little 200 watts block heater.

Forget it if you have à 1500w tank Heater. This one draw 125 amp/hr on a 12 v batt.

Please pardon me again for my poor english.

Plusmoins

I just went out this morning and checked my Kubota block heater. Yep, a bit under 3.5a, about 400W. That would be about 35a - call it 40a at 12V. Less at 14V. Pretty well any truck that'll pull the tractor has that to spare.
I also just checked on inverters on ebay. $50 or so. One was bid at $2.75, running out of time.
And I really like my block heater. At -10F, the engine just starts right up - no cranking, no glow plug.
Actually, I agree with idling the motor. I've done it that way myself on several occasions, when my battery was questionable. But there is not a whole lot wrong with what the gentleman wants to do. And think of the bragging rights he'll have!

Kubota man,
Just make sure to turn off the inverter if you go into a diner at the truck stop on the way...

 

[Tooljunkie]

I have a 1000 watt inverter.i have used it
On long trips to power all kinds of things,
It draws less than 50 amps at any given
Time. Average alternator puts out
100+ amps.
A low wattage oil pan heater is what i would
Consider.

 

[Kubota_Man]

Kubota man,
Just make sure to turn off the inverter if you go into a diner at the truck stop on the way...

Being able to start my truck up after a full belly would be nice

 

[tjd7869]

im not going to get into which way is better, but being as i have installed INVERTERS {DC to AC (converter is AC to DC)} on my mothers 18-wheeler i will say this.... inverters come in an array of sizes smallest i seen was a 25watt that plugged into the cig lighter plug, the biggest being the one i put into my mothers rig 7500watts!!!! it had to be hard wired to the batteries using 0 gauge wires and grounded to the frame. that inverter could run a mini fridge, 700watt microwave, 24inch tv, dvd player, 200watt surround sound sys, coffee pot, a george forman electric grill, plus charger for laptop and cell phone. now the batteries and charging system on my moms rig is a bit bigger than your average pickup truck but we are talking about only needing 1/10 of what i mentioned. a 750watt inverter wired up to a pickup truck would hardly bring noticeable difference other than having a 120v outlet available anywhere your truck is! just make sure it is off when your vehicle is not running, inverters will drain a battery as fast as headlights.