Engine Block Heater Charger

[way0utwest]

I have a Branson, 42hp diesel tractor with an engine block heater. However in the place where I'd like to store the tractor, there isn't power available. I was thinking that perhaps I could use a few solar power panels to provide enough power to heat the engine block in the morning/early afternoon. My wife tends to need the tractor after 1, so in the Denver area, most days we would get enough sun to provide power.

My question is if anyone knows how much power (VA) I might need to provide for an engine block heater to work effectively over 3-4 hours?

 

[CobyRupert]

I once wonder this too:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/300126-typical-block-heater-wattage-amps.html?highlight=

 

[BigBoyToys]

I have the Kubota block heater in my tractor and believe it rated at around 400W.
Cheaper to get a little generator like this...900 Peak/700 Running Watts, 2 HP (63cc) 2 Cycle Gas Generator EPA/CARB . With a 20% coupon you're only talking a $100. There's no sensitive electronics involved so the output should be clean enough for the heater.

Don't need a lot of run time as the heater only needs to be plugged in for 30-60 minutes depending on the temps.

 

[George2615]

You would need something like this set up to use solar power and an inverter to plug your block heater into.

Complete Grid Tie Solar System 300W 400W 500W 600W 1kW Solar Panel w Inverter | eBay

A 12V solar panel alone would work to keep the battery topped off.

 

[CobyRupert]

Deleted

 

[BigBoyToys]

Bottom line is how much do you want to invest in this adventure???

 

[MFWD]

Hello,
Can you run an extension cord out to the place you want to store the tractor ????


MFWD

 

[Egon]

As stated, how much do you want to spend for solar as it will be expensive. Again, as mentioned, a small generator would be much much cheaper.

A solar battery charger would/should maintain the battery.

Consider parking near a power supply and put a tarp over the tractor if you are worried about protection.

 

[Ford850]

Do you really need the heater to start it? I agree a heater helps when it's below 10 degrees, but a fully charged battery would probably be enough. If it were me, I would get a good solar battery tender/charger and leave that attached. It would keep the battery in peak condition and give quick starts all the time. And would be much less involved than trying to heat the block with solar.

 

[PILOON]

Most block heaters are in the 200-400 watt category.
Block heaters only come in AC 110 v so an inverter plus batteries and solar panels would be needed.
Then you'd need a timer as well and no snow to obstruct the panels from sunlight.

Denver I believe gets lots of snow and enjoys rather cold conditions.

That kind of wattage would want a solar installation that would cost more that running buried wire to the location.

I think your best choice is parking closer to electric power and or long extension cords.
Sure, anything is possible but not always practical.

How about 1KW generator, electric start on a timer or remote. (but then in cold spells it also won't start unless heated)
Sorry, no easy solution. Garaged or extension cords are about the only reliable dependable and practical solutions.

One contractor chap I know would actually tote a portable genset in his pickup in order to start his 12wheel dump truck when he needed it last winter.
He would sit in the PU with coffee and newspaper while the the dumper preheated.

In my case I use extensions and a remote wireless switch to preheat about 1-2 hrs B4 tractoring.

 

[Fallon]

Ya, I'd look at keeping the battery maintained with a solar panel. Block heaters usually run on 120v AC. Solar generally puts out 12-20v DC. I'm sure a block heater would run fine on DC, but you are still going to need to daisy chain a lot of panels to get decent heat. Running 12v DC through the heater won't hurt anything, so might be interesting to see how much heat that would generate if you have a spare panel. Otherwise I'd look at other stuff first.

Sincerely, Your neighbor in Parker, who has Namaste Solar putting a 9.8kw system on his shop this week.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The last thing you want to do is try and make heat electrically with PVPs. Unless you have a lot of surplus money. Remember, batteries are also at a serious disadvantage when the temperature drops. How about a very small generator?

Just as a side note. I bought a gizmo for my air cooled deutz 911 engine. The engine is air cooled so no possibility of a coolant heater. This device makes a fire in your intake manifold with fuel oil. I have not installed it but am curious how well this might work.

BTW, A simple block heater is just a resistor and could care less about AC or DC. I just did a quick calculation but a 120v (800 watt) heater running on 12 volts might give you 20 Watts of heat in the brightest sunlight. lol

 

[D2Cat]

Here's a simple, inexpensive solution. Set it under your oil pan for 20-30 minutes. I've got two of them in my shop. Pretty handy at times!

Coleman Catalytic Heater 5000 8000 BTU | eBay

 

[Dave M7040]

Go to a serious big rig, 18 wheeler, repair shop and ask them about a truck coolant engine heater.
Not cheap unless you can find a used one.
They run on diesel fuel and heat the engine coolant in minutes permitting easy starts in cold weather.
Output is about 17,000 BTU which is about 5 KW i.e. much larger than any plug in block heater.
Webasto:Â*Thermo Top C
It could be attached to your tractor or connected when needed with quick connects.
Dave M7040

 

[Egon]

How big a battery is required?

 

[Aquamoose]

If you're concerned with dependability in starting the tractor via means of ample glow-plug heating, have you considered a jumper cable quick-disconnect so your wife can simply plug in the extra battery, start it, then later hook the battery to a trickle charger back at the house afterwards for the next go-round?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I used to see a system where you could plug the coolant lines from your p/u into parked construction equipment on a job site. Seems like a slick idea, providing coolant is the same.

In general though. This question demonstrates how feeble solar PVPs really are for real life use. I need to heat my house, cook my food, take a shower and dry my clothes. All massive energy requirments! Running a few CFLs or LEDs are not my biggest concern.

 

[FatTire]

We live off-grid (along with all our "neighbors") so I spend a lot of time dealing with situations like this. As several people have posted, this is not a good application for a stand-alone PV system. I recommend that you get a 1KW or larger generator. The Honda generators are nice, but Northern Tool has one for less than $600 that would work. With that size generator you could power a block heater, and if really cold, a 2nd heater like a fuel filter blanket.

 

[FatTire]

I used to see a system where you could plug the coolant lines from your p/u into parked construction equipment on a job site. Seems like a slick idea, providing coolant is the same.

In general though. This question demonstrates how feeble solar PVPs really are for real life use. I need to heat my house, cook my food, take a shower and dry my clothes. All massive energy requirments! Running a few CFLs or LEDs are not my biggest concern.

I don't think "feeble" is quite the right word. Our place is modern, if you walked in you might not notice we make all our own power, and in 9 years we've never had an outage and never used a backup generator. BUT, we think very carefully about how we use power at night or during storms, we have energy efficient appliances, we dry our clothes on lines (indoor and outdoor) and we live in a place that has a ton of sunny days. (Blockheaters get 1 hour max unless I can wait for sun.) We have to be mindful in the winter, but we LIKE not being tied into a corporate energy grid. So no its not the same as how most people live, but I think "feeble" makes one think "fragile" and that's certainly not the case.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It just frustrates me that some people don't understand the units of energy. They think, you get some panels, buy some LEDs and your off the grid! I have seen people pay huge bucks for a solar PV installation and then within a year get twice as many panels. Others have their wife cookig on the BBQ and if they need the clothes dryer, start a generator. No thanks, I would rather have hydro.

Not to mention pumps, compressor, plasma cutters, machine tools, hoists and a bunch of other stuff.

Sorry, not to offend, but I still think the term "feeble" is well used, especially if you are an energy pig like me with a carbon footprint bigger then Godzilla. Also, yes, those systems in my opinion are "fragile". I have a friend that sells and installs probably a thousand, high dollar inverters a year, and I personally have zero faith in their reliability or longevity. Making power by switching semiconductors has not been perfected. IMO.