At what temperature do you need to plug in a tractor?

KYErik · Dec 16, 2011

My tractor sits in a shed that has power running from my house breaker panel.

If I know I'll use the tractor in the morning, I'll plug it in the night before (right before I lock up the shed) and then turn off the shed breaker when I get in the house (I leave an outside shed light on so I don't forget to cut off the shed power off).

Then early in the morning, I can turn on the shed power (and heater) from the comfort of my house.

pat32rf · Dec 16, 2011

If a bit of heat for a few hours is good, a lot of heat for 1/2hr is handier.
I have a rad hose heater, block heater, battery heater and a "pilot light" all tied together on the same cord. Draws about 12amps on my meter. The cord is plugged into an outlet that is switched from the kitchen and the tractor sits where I can see the pilot light. When its predicted to go down to -30C (about -30F) I will also throw an old blanket over the engine...
Once its running it idles for 3-4minutes before I slowly head for my destination, normally the woodshed as it seldom snows at -30 around here. Either way, it won't see full rpm or heavy loads until the HST oil is warm

Wyld Bill · Dec 17, 2011

A couple interseting things I noticed today.
1. In Walmart they have outdoor use remote control switches that have 150' range for $20. I think I may get one & try it out.
2. I plugged my tractor in for 1 to 2 hours today before I used it (30 deg. out) when I turned on the key my recently installed heater was blowing hot air already! Pretty neat! I didn't expect THAT to happen but I suppose if your heating up the anti-freeze then the heater should start throwing heat as soon as you turn the key on.

Wyld Bill · Dec 17, 2011

Something else I was thinking.
Can you overheat the engine with the electric heater?? No I don't mean damage to the engine but more like your running there heater when it doesn't need to be on wasting electricity & causing unessasary wear on the engine heater.

Why couldn't you wire a t-stat sensing coolant temp in series with one of the power leads to the engien heater?
Like a therm-o-disc type t-stat

massy1635 · Dec 17, 2011

I ran an underground wire to an outlet in the barn that is controled be a switch in the house. When it starts getting cold, in the 20's or so, I start to plug it in everytime I park it. If I need it to blow snow or use it in the morning, I flip the switch, have breakfast, take a shower and have another cup of coffee. When I go out, in an hour or so, it starts easy and I have heat.

Wyld Bill · Dec 17, 2011

Never mind. I guess those GE remote switches are junk too.

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: GE 51136 Outdoor Outlet Receiver with Keychain Remote

me0418840987 · Dec 17, 2011

I plug in my Ford 850 (gas) for about an hour any time it is below 30deg. 6 volt doesn't like the cold. It'll start once or twice when it is really cold, but if you stall it, she wont start the 3rd time unless the engine was warmed up first. Below 20deg, If I don't plug it in, I can't even let the clutch out in neutral for the first 2 minutes of running, or operate the hydros. Not bad, my PLOW tractor is Warm Blooded. Neither of us like the cold too much.

crazyal · Dec 18, 2011

I had a block heater installed in case I ever had to leave the tractor outside in the dead of winter. Hitting -40 is not unheard of around here at night. I have yet to use it though. After owning both gas and diesels in Vermont I have never had any problems with engine wear. I can't even think of anyone I know who can say they spun a bearing or anything else oil related due to cold weather starting. If anything I'm usually more concerned with the hydro tranny.

lhfarm · Dec 18, 2011

Wyobuckaroo said:
...The other thing is to tangle the drop cord into the steering wheel.........
Don't ask.....................

Good luck

Funny, I just started doing that this weekend. I had jerked one heater cord off and was about to do it again when I saw it at the last second. From now on, the drop cord goes over the steering wheel.

I've posted here and on other forums about using X-10 home automation hardware/software to turn things on/off in my barn, which is 450' from the house. I could, but haven't even tie running the heater when the temperature drops below freezing.

John_Mc · Dec 18, 2011

Has anyone found a remote controlled outlet that works reliably outdoors in cold weather?

The one I was using only had a range of about 30 ft. I bought two, and only one worked at all (unfortunately, I can't find it now to check the brand).

John Mc

bky · Dec 18, 2011

This got me thinking............... Is there such a thing as this or could one of you electrical savvy people invent a remote switch to turn on the block heater and automatically turn off after say an hour ? You could activate it with a garage door opener............ If you make many millions $ on this idea said:
well you could use "THE CLAPPER"

90cummins · Jan 19, 2012

bky said:
well you could use "THE CLAPPER"

Howbout a CLAPPER!!
Clap on Clap off!

Dr_Zinj · Jan 19, 2012

I plug mine in when I get up at 6 AM if the temperature is in the 20s or lower, and I need to move snow.
It's warmed up by the time I've done my business in the bathroom, had breakfast and my coffee.

Gary Beaulieu · Jan 19, 2012

Buy a block heater cord with a built timer. They exist.

IXLR8 · Jan 19, 2012

Even though I have a radiator hose style heater in my tractor, I have never used it as I don't have power in the building I keep the tractor in, nor is it heated. I have started the tractor in temps as low as -22dF, just cycled the glow plugs several times and it started right up. I let it idle for a minute before I moved anywhere, then worked gently until temp meter moved.

MHarryE · Jan 19, 2012

I have a heavy duty timer rated in excess of the wattage of my block heater. Used it often when I had 2 daughters driving to college, cars for both my wife and me to drive to work, and only a 2 car garage. Now they have long since graduated, its just my wfie and me, and a 5 car heated garage. That HD timer is somewhere around - most of the timers I see now will handle Christmas lights and that's about it.

John_Mc · Jan 20, 2012

MHarryE said:
most of the timers I see now will handle Christmas lights and that's about it.

MY block heater doesn't draw a whole lot of amps. The problem I ran into (heating my tractor as well as a small plane) was that a number of the cheaper timers won't work when the temps really get cold.

SPYDERLK · Jan 20, 2012

IXLR8 said:
Even though I have a radiator hose style heater in my tractor, I have never used it as I don't have power in the building I keep the tractor in, nor is it heated. I have started the tractor in temps as low as -22dF, just cycled the glow plugs several times and it started right up. I let it idle for a minute before I moved anywhere, then worked gently until temp meter moved.

Thats impressive. What oil do you use?
larry

D7E · Jan 20, 2012

The 2 tractors that load hay and grain are plugged in for several days even weeks at a time as you never know when trucks will turn up for a load .
The rest sit in a shop without power till spring .

tractchores · Jan 20, 2012

For reliable remote switches I use a Z wave switch. Range seems to be around 100', but if you have multiple devices they will relay the signal, so you can chain them and get a longer range. I use one to control switches in my garage and workshop, which is detached from the house. I just use it for lighting and to turn on an electric heater before I go out to work in the winter, but it would be easy enough to wire it up to an outlet for a tractor heater. There's a wide variety of controllers and switches that use the Z wave standard and they're not too bad to setup.