Yep, I have a heavy duty outdoor timer and run my trucks block heater off of it and it draws 700 watts.
At what temperature do you plug in your block heater?
- Thread starter Blue2Orange
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I keep my LX2610 in a unheated pole barn. During the winter I keep it on the trickle charger and the block heater plugged into a Wi-Fi controlled outlet. Whenever I'm going to use the tractor I'll turn on the outlet for 30 minutes or so to save the wear and tear off a low temperature cold start. I have the connections so that it's easy to connect and I don't have to pop the hood.
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Here's what I have in the garage. It's a 50A water heater controller which can be turned on, turned off or set to timer mode. I have a GFCI 20A outlet connected to the timer, and the on/off intervals are in 30 minute increments. In the image below I have the timer set to turn on at 7:00am and turn off at 10:00am so the extension cord plugged into the outlet and the truck will provide power to the block heater for a maximum of 3 hours.
Block heater
I have a L3301 and the temps here have been down in the teens here, and I pluged the block heater in and had it on for about 24 hrs. When I started the trackor it turned over very slow but started and ran find after it warmed up.
I thought it was a battery problem, but it does the same thing when not pluged in and in the teens!
Does anyone know what the resistance is of the heater element?
Thanks in advance.
Don
OOPS I hijacked this thread. soo sorry!
I have a L3301 and the temps here have been down in the teens here, and I pluged the block heater in and had it on for about 24 hrs. When I started the trackor it turned over very slow but started and ran find after it warmed up.
I thought it was a battery problem, but it does the same thing when not pluged in and in the teens!
Does anyone know what the resistance is of the heater element?
Thanks in advance.
Don
OOPS I hijacked this thread. soo sorry!
Unsure the resistance but my block heater draws 400 Watts when running. Also after about 1/2 hour the valve cover is lukewarm to the touch...
That shouldn't be the case. Next time feel if the block is warm after it's been plugged in for a while. Block heaters do burn out (a fairly easy fix). Also, double check that you're getting power to the heating element.
Thank you!
I cked the power and it was ok!
It started easy when it was warmer weather, I even cycle through 2 glow plug cycles befor thrying to start it!
Don
Back in November of 2017 with about 100 hours on the BX that I'd bought in 2016, the block heater failed. I keep spreadsheets for all of my vehicles and equipment, and according to my notes ....
"Heater should have 30Ω across terminals but original one wasn't working and measured 30MΩ across the terminals"
This was more than 8 years ago and I don't remember the source for the resistance value, and I don't know if the L3301 uses the same block heater. The local dealer gave me a replacement at no charge and it was an easy swap.
The block heater on my BX failed a couple years ago. Like McMXi said, it's a pretty easy swap.
We just got a foot of snow, so I started my LX about 10 minutes ago. It's -15ºF ambient right now. It was plugged in for a couple of hours, then a 10-count on the glow plugs and it started up like it's summertime.
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A plugged in block heater should start to feel warm within 1-2 minutes if you put your bare hand on it. At the most it should take 3-4 minutes. That’s the simplest and best way to check them. If your hearing is good, you should be able to hear them start to make sound in about 15-20 seconds. When I was farming, we kept a spare block heater on hand for our feed tractor and our loaders, because at -35 degrees Fahrenheit, especially in back in the 70’s and 80’s, they didn’t start without plugging them in.
If the temperature is only down to "the teens (F)" 1/2 hour should be enough warm-up time to start pretty easily.
Block heaters are like coffee pots: if you leave them on they burn out faster. Using the heater only when needed tends to help it last the life of the engine.
Block heaters are like coffee pots: if you leave them on they burn out faster. Using the heater only when needed tends to help it last the life of the engine.
My Grand L manual says this....
"A block heater is available as an option from your dealer.
It will assist you in starting your tractor when the ambient
temperature is below -20C (-4F)."
So i'm assuming I don't need the heater until is drops to this level.
"A block heater is available as an option from your dealer.
It will assist you in starting your tractor when the ambient
temperature is below -20C (-4F)."
So i'm assuming I don't need the heater until is drops to this level.
In post #23 I wrote this:
It is not just about getting the engine started, warming is better for the battery, starter and all of the moving parts inside the engine.
My well pump in setting in an old chest freezer and I have a light bulb with reflector directed towards the pump/tank. I use this for a heater. Comes on at 32 deg. Works fine and don't have to pay any attention to it.
Amazon.com: 2 Packs Thermostatically Controlled Outlet, On at 32°F/Off at 50°F Plug in Thermostat Controlled Outlet Switch for Heater, Waterproof Temperature Control Outlet Extension Cord for Freeze Protect : Industrial & Scientific
Amazon.com: 2 Packs Thermostatically Controlled Outlet, On at 32°F/Off at 50°F Plug in Thermostat Controlled Outlet Switch for Heater, Waterproof Temperature Control Outlet Extension Cord for Freeze Protect : Industrial & Scientific
www.amazon.com