When to plug it in?

[Austin]

Looks like a few nights in the 20's this week. Should I be plugging in the heater?

 

[DNFXDLI]

When my 350 sat outside, if it was below 40 I plugged it in. Needed to?...no....but my vehicles get babied and it was much easier on it to start..also had battery blankets. Electricity cost?...didn't care.

 

[flareside_thunder]

I was gonna say man unless it gets real cold the IDI Kanucks don't bother plugging it in....if anything a double cycle of the GP's

 

[Austin]

Well, one battery is new, the other ready to be retired. I had about a 20 second cold start a few hours ago at 33*. Just thinking of speeding up the process without killing the battery.

Also, is there a length I should look at when having it plugged in? Over night too long?

 

[DNFXDLI]

4 hours is enough, I left mine plugged in for days sometimes.

 

[Austin]

4 hours is enough, I left mine plugged in for days sometimes.

Okay. So I'd imagine 7-8 hours isn't going to hurt anything?

Or, on the flip side, is half an hour too little?

 

[flareside_thunder]

I think a half hour would be too little yes....Don't you have an owner's manual?

 

[DNFXDLI]

Okay. So I'd imagine 7-8 hours isn't going to hurt anything?

Or, on the flip side, is half an hour too little?

No...just cost more...and 1/2 hour isn't going to do much..it will help a little. You would also be better off making sure both batteries were good.

 

[Austin]

I think a half hour would be too little yes....Don't you have an owner's manual?

That's what I thought. I'm digging through my papers to find the manual. (Literally a pile of books and papers )

 

[Austin]

No...just cost more...and 1/2 hour isn't going to do much..it will help a little. You would also be better off making sure both batteries were good.

I don't pay the electric bill, so I guess it'll be okay!

I've got a new battery on the list after the first of the year.

 

[flareside_thunder]

You should upgrade to group 31 batteries lol..... I've got two in the shed waiting to go into my 89 IDI...at 925CCA a piece, I think it'll start.

 

[Fellro]

I generally don't worry about plugging in until under 20. 2-4 hours is typically plenty, longer is just the electric cost.

 

[nobodyspecial]

My truck laughs at 20 degrees. Put a "-" before and we will talk. Its been 15 below here, sometimes more so it gets plugged in. It starts fine without it (Optima Red Top) but its just easier on things to plug it in.

 

[Austin]

I generally don't worry about plugging in until under 20. 2-4 hours is typically plenty, longer is just the electric cost.

I guess I should set a timer to switch the power on an hour or so before I get up.

My trucks laugh at 20 degrees. Its been 20 below here, so it gets plugged in. It starts fine without it (Optima Red Top) but its just easier on things to plug it in.

I don't like -'s in front of my temperatures!

 

[Fellro]

I know what you mean, most times I actually don't get to plugging anything in until closer to 0, the tractor are old, although 2 of them now have fresh internals... They smoke and complain though if not plugged in, the smoke stops much sooner if plugged in, and they don't groan and grumble as much...

 

[Austin]

The manual says that the heater should not be used in temps above 0*f.

It also says to FULLY depress the accelerator on a cold start under 32* and half way above 32*.

 

[flareside_thunder]

Hm, thanks for the info.

 

[Austin]

Hm, thanks for the info.

No problemo. Plenty of knowledge in the books I've got.

Ford makes a really big deal about water in these booklets. "Don't get water in the engine. Don't even wash the block."

 

[flareside_thunder]

LOL...Oven cleaner FTW! Think of it this way.....anti-rust agent.

 

[Austin]

LOL...Oven cleaner FTW! Think of it this way.....anti-rust agent.

Must clean! Sooooo dirty!