Community Forums

jelag · 10-30-2019, 01:00 PM

So my Freightliner Chassis motorhome has a CAT engine.... its now 20* outside and I'll need to get this huge block of steel warmed up....

I've not used the block heater before on this Motorhome and know on my smaller engines I just plug it in the night before and find that by early the next morning the engine is warm.... and in most cases the temperature gauge moves off the bottom of the gauge before start up...

Would you share your experience... I assume that the size of the cal-rod in each engine is about the same size, it just needs to run longer to heat more mass.....

TonyMac · 10-30-2019, 01:06 PM

I plug mine in after dinner and the CAT C7 is ready to go after breakfast. Don't forget to unpower it and stow the cord so it doesn't blow around. Mine is aft of the radiator and it could damage the radiator if it flailed around.

jelag · 10-30-2019, 01:10 PM

Thanks... mine is wired in with an outlet/plug in one of my bays with a switch on the dash.... but during the time I've owned this.. I've had it unplugged for no other reason than accidentally turning it on...

bgholson · 10-30-2019, 01:32 PM

At 25 degrees I turn mine on when I get up in the morning. 3-4 hours later I start it up and it turns over easily. Never been in temps below 25

Rook · 10-30-2019, 01:39 PM

FL XC chassis, Cat 3126B. My engine heater plugs into a switched AC outlet in the AC Power Bay, 2nd bay from rear, drivers side. On/off by SW left of driver's seat. I've never used it. If the need arises, I will leave it on overnight. Rook

Milford 47 · 10-30-2019, 03:00 PM

The Tuscany have a pilot light switch by the rear bath/closet wall. It is a shared circuit so the energy management system is going to take charge as it is designed and wired. Many times the fireplace or dryer might share the same breaker so know your rig to be sure you will get power when desired.

Over night is certainly fine for the 900-1000 watt heater and if only in the 20's then 4 hours will be fine.

Cat320 · 11-04-2019, 08:59 AM

Find out from Cat what the temperature should be in order to turn on the block heater. My DD manual says 50 or lower, my last Cummins said 40 or lower. I put a timer on the plug so it comes on about five hours before departure time.

FIRE UP · 11-04-2019, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelag

So my Freightliner Chassis motorhome has a CAT engine.... its now 20* outside and I'll need to get this huge block of steel warmed up....

I've not used the block heater before on this Motorhome and know on my smaller engines I just plug it in the night before and find that by early the next morning the engine is warm.... and in most cases the temperature gauge moves off the bottom of the gauge before start up...

Would you share your experience... I assume that the size of the cal-rod in each engine is about the same size, it just needs to run longer to heat more mass.....

Jelag,
Our coach is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP. I've never checked on what the requirements are pertaining to the use of the block heater. If it's cold enough outside and, we're gonna head out in the morning, I'll flip that switch, which incidentally, is like your coach, plugged in all the time. I couldn't accidentally flip that switch if I wanted to. It's the highest switch/toggle/button on that One Place panel. I have to REACH for it, to turn it on. But, the point is, if it's gonna be around say, oh, maybe 30-50 degrees during the night, I'll flip the switch in the evening sometime, maybe a bit prior do dinner.

By the time I actually turn the key, to fire up that C-7 in the morning, which could be anywhere from 06:00 to 09:00 A.M., the needle on the heat gauge indicates around maybe 100 degrees or so. I really haven't used either the Trip-Tek system or, the Medallion Information Center to see just what the actual degrees are. I just know that engine is warm enough that, even in cold weather, (around 40-50 degrees at the time of startup), that I don't have to "wait to start" due to the block heater doing its job.
Scott

imnprsd · 11-20-2019, 12:45 AM

In my 2004 Itasca Horizon 40AD my ISC-350 Engine Block Heater power cord is plugged into that the AC plug in my electrical bay. (Far back.. Top-Right.)

This Block Heater cord looks like as standard extension cord plug, but it's not. And the outlet is switched by the "brown-looking" "large-light switch" on your inside power panel.

One night I found this switch "on," but I don't know how long it was "on?"

So now... I unplug the extension cord in the power bay (SOP) and only plug it back in when I know I will be in cold weather.

And the rest of time I plug in one of those electric get-rid-of-bug devices all throughout the year.

...And now you know you have a switched 120V outlet on the driver's side... should you ever need one!

DanielStarne · 11-20-2019, 05:58 AM

If you have any problems related to the heater, then call heating repair service NJ for the services like repair or the maintenance. My uncle also took help from this company at the best prices.