Turn on engine block heater from inside??

[NITEHAWK]

Boy, talk about old technology here!
Our 32 year old Foretravel coach has a "wall" switch mounted on the foot end of the bed platform, near the floor, that lights up (red) when the block heater is turned on.
The switch is labeled and there is a breaker panel near it that does have a breaker (labeled) for the block heater.
There is an electrical outlet in the engine compartment that the block heater plugs into and that is controlled by the switch and breaker.

Can't get much simpler!!

[brobox]

Originally Posted by NITEHAWK

Boy, talk about old technology here!
Our 32 year old Foretravel coach has a "wall" switch mounted on the foot end of the bed platform, near the floor, that lights up (red) when the block heater is turned on.
The switch is labeled and there is a breaker panel near it that does have a breaker (labeled) for the block heater.
There is an electrical outlet in the engine compartment that the block heater plugs into and that is controlled by the switch and breaker.

Can't get much simpler!!

32 years ago was way before manufactures started cutting corners. Do the current high dollar Foretravels still have that switch?

[Cruzer]

Our 2004 Allegro Bus had that same setup. We did have a problem with it though. Our German Shepherd would lay there and lean against the rocker switch, turning it on all the time during our summer travels.

On our '07 Bus Tiffin had utilized a solenoid that controlled the block heater's outlet in the engine bay. The low voltage switch was in the cockpit area where he couldn't reach it.

Plus you could see if it was left on by the red pilot light when starting the engine.

[brobox]

Originally Posted by Cruzer

Our 2004 Allegro Bus had that same setup. We did have a problem with it though. Our German Shepherd would lay there and lean against the rocker switch, turning it on all the time during our summer travels.

On our '07 Bus Tiffin had utilized a solenoid that controlled the block heater's outlet in the engine bay. The low voltage switch was in the cockpit area where he couldn't reach it.

Plus you could see if it was left on by the red pilot light when starting the engine.

Entegra must have copied Travel Supreme on the engine heat connection. My 02 Travel Supreme was also manual plug in same as the 21 Cornerstone.

[photraveller]

Originally Posted by 777 Driver

Bob,

Is the 85 F a typo? I understood that an expected starting temperature of 32 F (perhaps 35 F) or below was the appropriate temperature to use the Engine Pre-Heat.

Spartan and Cummins still "officially" say 0F and above don't need preheat for the ISL9. I say officially, because, I doubt anyone would argue with preheat anytime when the temperature is below 40F.

Like Mark said, most wear is done at startup, so it makes sense to make startup easier.

That said, with my hate relationship with the rear electric hatch, I usually only preheat when it gets down in the teens or lower. I turn off my common sense voice in my head, and repeat to myself, "Cummins says..."

Steve

[jeff.herren]

Get a wifi enabled plug and plug that inline with your block heater an use the app to turn the plug off/on from anywhere in the world. (or the comfort of you recliner 40 feet in front of it)
If the plug is in the engine bay (mine is not) you may need to track the depth of those two inline to keep them inside the weather proof box.
That setup works very well for me.

[Dr. Mike]

Hello all

How about some background education for those of us that are still new to the RV world?

- At what temperature do you turn on the heater?
- When do you plug in (or turn on) the heater?
- How long does it have to be on before the engine is "ready"?
- If you have access to shore power, would it be better to use a 12 gauge extension cord?

Be safe

Dr. Mike

[NITEHAWK]

Cruzer, do what I do during the times I know I will NOT be using the block heater. I trip the breaker to the "OFF" position.
Do that and your furry companion can lean on the switch all he wants.
Last summer I inadvertently tripped my switch. This was before I started the practice of tripping the breaker. The DW asks me one day why so much heat was coming off the radiator.
You should have seen the increase in our electric bill!!! I don't know how long the heater was on, but the electric company must have been happy.

[wolfe10]

Responses in SOLID LETTER CAPS

Originally Posted by Dr. Mike

Hello all

How about some background education for those of us that are still new to the RV world?

- At what temperature do you turn on the heater?

NO "ABSOLUTE" ANSWER. CERTAINLY IF BELOW FREEZING. BUT THAT IS WHEN YOU REALLY NEED IT. SURE, BELOW 45 DEGREES OR SO, IT IS EASIER ON THE ENGINE TO BE PARTIALLY WARMED UP. MORE "BEST PRACTICES" VS "WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO".

- How long does it have to be on before the engine is "ready"?
DEPENDS ON THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, WATTAGE OF YOUR HEATER AND SIZE OF ENGINE. UNLESS BELOW FREEZING, AN HOUR OR TWO IS GENERALLY ENOUGH. BELOW FREEZING TWO TO THREE HOURS.


- If you have access to shore power, would it be better to use a 12 gauge extension cord? IF ON 15 AMP SHORE POWER, ABSOLUTELY. IF ON 30 AMP-- IF USING OTHER HIGH-AMP APPLIANCES, IF ADDING THE BLOCK HEATER WOULD TAKE YOUR POWER CONSUMPTION CLOSE TO 30 AMPS, YES. IF ON 50 AMP, NO REASON.

[Cruzer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Mike

Hello all

How about some background education for those of us that are still new to the RV world?

- At what temperature do you turn on the heater?
- When do you plug in (or turn on) the heater?
- How long does it have to be on before the engine is "ready"?
- If you have access to shore power, would it be better to use a 12 gauge extension cord?

Be safe

Dr. Mike

Entegra Coaches are equipped with 50 amp service and the block heater is wired into the system so there is nothing you have to do. If all you have is a 20 amp receptacle an adaptor would still let you use your 50 amp cord reel cord, which is a #6 AWG.