Timer for my engine block heater

[CJDave]

Is there a timer that can be set to come on just one day a week (same day each week) at the same time for 3 or 4 hours? We are retired and my wife and I go out for breakfast each Tuesday morning. So I only want the block heater to activate on one morning a week. Thanks. CJDave.

 

[Steve W.]

A real quick search shows that this might work for you:

https://www.amazon.com/BN-LINK-Programmable-Weatherproof-Accurate-Christmas/dp/B07G9RK4VV/?tag=atomicindus08-20

.

 

[Rc_Guy]

I don’t know many if any people that plug in a vehicle in Minnesota other than some trucking companies.

How cold does it get in Ohio?

 

[CJDave]

A real quick search shows that this might work for you:

https://www.amazon.com/BN-LINK-Programmable-Weatherproof-Accurate-Christmas/dp/B07G9RK4VV/?tag=atomicindus08-20

.

Thanks Steve. I saw one similar looking but without the Daily feature. I think that will work. CJDave.

 

[CJDave]

I don’t know many if any people that plug in a vehicle in Minnesota other than some trucking companies.

How cold does it get in Ohio?

 

[niget2002]

I use an outdoor smart switch.

 

[CJDave]

It's not so much the temp as the frost and snow. My Expedition sits high enough that I have issues scraping even with a long handled scraper. CJDave.

 

[CJDave]

I use an outdoor smart switch.

I don't know what that is but I'll look into it. Thanks niget2002. CJDave.

 

[niget2002]

I don't know what that is but I'll look into it. Thanks niget2002. CJDave.

Same as the link the other person posted, only this one you'd setup through an app on your phone

https://a.co/d/hUnVZ29

 

[unslow1]

We use outside light timers to turn the battery maintainers on and off.

 

[GRN96WS6]

Smart plug would be the easy way, I actually have one for my truck that turns on the block heater and the battery tender for a few hours 3 times a week. Or you could do this, it only comes on when it's or below https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BH6PYZ5D?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Rc_Guy]

It's not so much the temp as the frost and snow. My Expedition sits high enough that I have issues scraping even with a long handled scraper. CJDave.

What does a block heater have to do with that?

 

[gimpyrobb]

Hey Dave, I'm just over in Loveland. I use a regular dial timer rated at 10 or so amps and it works fine. Been thinking about one of those bluetooth ones as it'd be nice when leaving at a non-standard time!

 

[mikedodge]

You can get one of those wifi plugs that's controlled by by an app.

If it's just once a week you could also plug it in the night before or earlier in the morning. Our driveway plug is on a switc for that reason.

 

[mrVanagon]

If you want a predictable schedule and no phone control, I like one of these:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Intermatic-15-Amp-7-Day-Outdoor-Digital-Plug-In-Timer-Black-HB880RD89/205878344?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl&pla=&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D27L-027_031_HOM_MOB_ELEC-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-NEW24_PRIOCONTROL_PMAXTEST&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D27L-027_031_HOM_MOB_ELEC-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-NEW24_PRIOCONTROL_PMAXTEST-22114481425--&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22114520104

If you like phone control, I like these:

https://www.bestbuy.com/product/tp-link-tapo-smart-wi-fi-outdoor-dual-plug-control-schedule-holiday-decorations-outdoor-lights-black/J39QK2QPT4/sku/6559368?extStoreId=&ref=212&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23322172982

 

[no704]

I think what you actually want is a remote starter? Just leva the heater controls on and click a button 15min before you want to drive.

 

[gimpyrobb]

What does a block heater have to do with that?

The block heater will radiate heat into the heater core and slightly warm the window. I am amazed that you guys in the cold don't have a better grasp on what he is wanting.

 

[dscheidt]

You also get heat immediately, which makes getting into the car a bit more pleasant.

 

[Rc_Guy]

The block heater will radiate heat into the heater core and slightly warm the window. I am amazed that you guys in the cold don't have a better grasp on what he is wanting.

Just heats the water in the block though. Doesn’t circulate the water.

 

[mrVanagon]

Just heats the water in the block though. Doesn’t circulate the water.

Convection will circulate the heat into the heater core if the block heater is on long enough.

 

[cvairwerks]

3 hours on the block heater in my 7.3 diesel makes a heck of a lot of a difference when it's below freezing. Will get heat in about 10-15 minutes vs 45 minutes on the freeway.

 

[LopezBart]

3 hours on the block heater in my 7.3 diesel makes a heck of a lot of a difference when it's below freezing. Will get heat in about 10-15 minutes vs 45 minutes on the freeway.

My 7.3 heats somewhat faster, but the engine is barely working at 55-60 mph. I'd check the thermostat to make sure it's closing completely; keeping it out of overdrive helps too.

I do find that using the block heater makes winter driving a lot more pleasant; a couple of years back we got down to 10F here on Lopez Island which is really cold for being a quarter mile from the Salish Sea, and the heat came on a lot faster w/ the block heater.

 

[cvairwerks]

Mine has always run cold. It struggles to maintain 190F coolant temp in anything under about 55F. I've come off an hour on the interstate and seen the coolant temp drop 30 degrees in less than 15 minutes at idle. Ran it a couple of winters ago with 90% of the radiator blockded off and never could get any real heat out of it. Still can't.
Have a 205 stat to put in, but need to update to the dual alt upper radiator hose.

 

[LopezBart]

Mine has always run cold. It struggles to maintain 190F coolant temp in anything under about 55F. I've come off an hour on the interstate and seen the coolant temp drop 30 degrees in less than 15 minutes at idle. Ran it a couple of winters ago with 90% of the radiator blockded off and never could get any real heat out of it. Still can't.
Have a 205 stat to put in, but need to update to the dual alt upper radiator hose.

Sounds like that thermostat is a long ways from closing completely.

- Bart

 

[gimpyrobb]

Mine has always run cold. It struggles to maintain 190F coolant temp in anything under about 55F. I've come off an hour on the interstate and seen the coolant temp drop 30 degrees in less than 15 minutes at idle. Ran it a couple of winters ago with 90% of the radiator blockded off and never could get any real heat out of it. Still can't.
Have a 205 stat to put in, but need to update to the dual alt upper radiator hose.

Put a lid from a pizza box in front of the radiator. If that helps, find yourself a nice grill cover for the winter.

 

[walrus]

Hey Dave, I'm just over in Loveland. I use a regular dial timer rated at 10 or so amps and it works fine. Been thinking about one of those bluetooth ones as it'd be nice when leaving at a non-standard time!

Defroster works right off as engine is warm?

 

[Firebrick43]

Just heats the water in the block though. Doesn’t circulate the water.

It will blow your mind that old vehicles and tractors didn't even have water pumps. Just circulated via thermosiphon cycle. As HP increased they added water pumps as natural flow wasnt fast enough for the BTU load.

 

[75gmck25]

When I was growing up in North Dakota my car was parked on the street, and my parents car was parked in the garage with a block heater plugged in. Driving off in the morning at -25F in my street-parked car meant it took about 20-30 minutes to get really comfortable heat, but in my parents car it was comfortable by the time you got a few blocks down the street.

Later my wife drove a carbureted '80 Honda Accord that absolutely refused to start in sub-zero (F) weather unless it was plugged in and had some heat in the block.

 

[mike93lx]

I'm disappointed no one has suggested building a garage!

If you are down for it a smart switch could work well, as suggested. I use Emporia and they are completely programmable. Just need to use their app. The ones I use are rated at 1200 watts continuous, 1800 watts for 1 hr per day

 

[Jakeweldsalittle]

I use this one for my little 3.0 duramax when it's super cold. I set it to come on about 2:30 in the morning since my truck claims to be full temp in 4 hours.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-15-Amp-120-Volt-Smart-Wi-Fi-Bluetooth-Outdoor-Plug-with-2-Outlets-Powered-by-Hubspace-HPPA52CWB/315636835

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

I'm disappointed no one has suggested building a garage!

YES!…… A heated garage with in floor radiant heat along with solar panels and a lift!

BTW! The GJ designers right here can help OP build this!

 

[CJDave]

What does a block heater have to do with that?

Clearing the windshield quicker besids getting cabin heat sooner. CJDave.

 

[CJDave]

Convection will circulate the heat into the heater core if the block heater is on long enough.

Exactly. I had a heater on a pickup truck years ago. With the heater controls set to "Defrost" and the temp selector set to "Hot" the windshield was always clear of frost. If snow accumulated on the windshield the windshield was warm enough that the snow slid off with the wipers.
My issue is only wanting the heater to activate for a few hours once per week not every night like the timers you use for lights/lamps for every day use. I have ordered the one that Steve W. linked above. Thanks for all of the input. CJDave.

 

[adsinnott1]

I do exactly what you are trying to do with a smart plug. Multiple brands are linked above. I use a meros brand from amazon. My Christmas lights are also on another smart plug in the same app. You can set the schedule to whatever you want, daily, weekly, day, night, etc... If you dont have access to wifi where the plug is located, there are manual timers with the option to only set it to one day a week at a certain time.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

https://www.amazon.com/8500W-Monitor-Control-Warm-up-Trailer/dp/B0FF4384QN/?tag=atomicindus08-20

How about one of these for heat?

 

[CJDave]

Defroster works right off as engine is warm?

Yes. That has been my past experience. Do you know the guy in Loveland with the red 1969 Mustang Mach 1? Dan Herman is his name. CJDave.

 

[CJDave]

I selected the one suggested above by Steve W. Thanks to you all for your interest. CJDave.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Clearing the windshield quicker besids getting cabin heat sooner. CJDave.

I guess everyone I know has remote start and never worries about plugging in a vehicle.

 

[nadogail]

Sounds like a a Water Heater Timer would serve them well.

 

[75gmck25]

My parents solution for controlling the block heater was a switched receptacle in the garage and a switch inside the kitchen. Get up for your shower and/or first cup of coffee and switch on the block heater receptacle from the kitchen. By the time you left the house it had taken the chill off the engine.