Block Heater Question

[RickB]

There are two ways to test a block heater. One is a device by JJeb company who manufacture's block heaters. You plug it into the power cord then to the block heater. If the block heater is good a light will come illuminate on the test device. The other way is use a ohm's meter and check for continuity across the the blades of the block heater plug(not the ground stud). If you have a open circuit the block heater is not good.

Hearing it sizzle or feeling the heat it makes isn't good enough?

 

[ninefinger]

When you take it to the most basic fact an electrical heater is nothing more than a dead short. When it is quite I can hear the plug pick up the load when I plug in my truck. If you are able to look down at the plug you may be able to see a small arc as the plug makes contact. Just remember arcs travel up not down or sideways. For those that may want to nit pick that last statement I am not saying they will not make a "ball".

 

[ramoffroader]

Hearing it sizzle or feeling the heat it makes isn't good enough?

Sorry. Did i give you to much information??? I am a professional heavy equipment mechanic. There are peices of equipment I work on where it takes alot of work to get to the block heater. Yes on most tractors you can put your hand on them and see if they get hot. The original poster asked how to test a block heater and I gave them the information. MY BAD next time I will keep my ignorant advice to myself.

 

[zzvyb6]

Have a laugh, R.O.R.

Remember that there are folks on here who apply vegetable oil on their snowblowers before each use, who take their lawnmowers into the dining room for vacuuming, who have to ask the old lady if its OK to change the oil, spend way too much time with Hobby Lobby paintbrushes touching up their tractors with colors like taupe, emerald, tomato, chili spice and periwinkle.

The New Depression will solve some of this, as periwinkle will soon be replaced by sage. (And, my emerald with sunflower will last forever).

 

[Charlton John]

Sorry. Did i give you to much information??? I am a professional heavy equipment mechanic. There are peices of equipment I work on where it takes alot of work to get to the block heater. Yes on most tractors you can put your hand on them and see if they get hot. The original poster asked how to test a block heater and I gave them the information. MY BAD next time I will keep my ignorant advice to myself.

No I dont think you gave me to much info, I aprreciate your feedback and all others feedback as well. Unfortunatly no seat time anyway this weekend so I didnt get to test the block heater out. We are getting another foot of snow tonight so I should get to play some later this week I hope, thanks again for all the replys guys!

 

[JB4310]

Another handy tip is; use one of those extension cords that have a power indicator light at the end. For my diesel work truck that gets plugged in on a timer on those frigid nights, in the morning I can see from the kitchen window that it is indeed on, even though the truck is parked over 150' away, eliminating any surprises when I get out there. This just saved me today as I noticed the light on when it shouldn't of been last night and found the timer was not set to the right time, possibly kids messing with it or power outage.

Comes in handy even if the tractor is in a shed, as you can see quickly and easily that your block heater is or isn't getting powered, when your out and about working.

JB.

 

[Charlton John]

Great idea, thanks I have one of these already for the Christmas lights. My barn has windows so I could also easlily see if it were on. I plan on running power out there in the spring.

 

[RickB]

Sorry. Did i give you to much information??? I am a professional heavy equipment mechanic. There are peices of equipment I work on where it takes alot of work to get to the block heater. Yes on most tractors you can put your hand on them and see if they get hot. The original poster asked how to test a block heater and I gave them the information. MY BAD next time I will keep my ignorant advice to myself.

Whoopie DOO. I am also a professional mechanic. And I don't need a dedicated tool to check block heaters when a sense of hearing and touch will do. If that isn't adequate, an ohm meter and non-contact infrared thermometer will test block heaters just fine, thank you very much. And both can be used for many, many other tasks.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Must be the sub zero temps this winter that's making the mechanics on here a little cranky.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[RickB]

Must be the sub zero temps this winter that's making the mechanics on here a little cranky.

Sincerely, Dirt

That's a distinct possibility.
My bad.