Latest Firefly mod: remote control block heater + cabin warmer

[Tupelo]

Depending on your view of the car from inside, you might be able to get by with a nightlight as an on/off indicator. An LED version wouldn't draw much extra power, and would reduce the hazard (glass, mercury) of an incandescent or CFL in the car.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Oh yeah: rows upon rows of idling SUVs almost give me a migraine, just from the mass stupidity of it all. I think autostarts should be outlawed.

Agreed. I just calculated it today. A coworker of mine has a Jeep Cherokee. If she idles for 14 minutes (not including high idle startup) she uses more gas IDLING than I do GETTING TO WORK! Its very common place for me to pull into work to see her sitting in her SUV, engine idling, doing whatever before she goes inside. I go in, sit down and get settled and a few minutes later she comes in. The idiocy annoys me to no end...

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Tupelo

Depending on your view of the car from inside, you might be able to get by with a nightlight as an on/off indicator. An LED version wouldn't draw much extra power, and would reduce the hazard (glass, mercury) of an incandescent or CFL in the car.

Good idea. I wouldn't be able to see it in the car, but I could put it on the receiver end in the garage.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Daox

Agreed. I just calculated it today. A coworker of mine has a Jeep Cherokee. If she idles for 14 minutes (not including high idle startup) she uses more gas IDLING than I do GETTING TO WORK! Its very common place for me to pull into work to see her sitting in her SUV, engine idling, doing whatever before she goes inside. I go in, sit down and get settled and a few minutes later she comes in. The idiocy annoys me to no end...

YES! And if that wasn't dumb enough, we have those (who definitely weren't in the top halves of their classes) who run out to the parking lot on breaks and lunchbreak to sit in their running vehicles. That's right- not going anywhere, not having just come back from somewhere... just went out there to sit there in their running vehicles (probably the best place to grab a hit of ?). The best part is, this is not just a cold-weather activity! In the summer they must be started so they can sit there in A/C comfort. (Pssst- hey buddy- the BUILDING is heated and cooled! Pass it on.)

As I'm doing my little things about town, it never ceases to amaze me how many people are out there sitting, parked, in their vehicles (oftentimes running). WTF are they doing? I don't get it. When I'm in a vehicle, it's because I'm going somewhere. When I'm there, I don't sit in the vehicle (unless it's the camper). /hijack?

[cosmic_kid]

With a 300W block heater and 800W coolant heater installed, how long do they need to be on before you notice the difference? Does the car need to run more than 30 seconds to warm up after started? Have you calculated electricity costs of this method? How much are these two heaters, and how much to install?

Thanks,
Will

[gone-ot]

Darin, here's a "closed-loop" thought: simply put a remote "wireless" weather temperature sensor on the dash and have *it* transmit back to it's HOME display inside your house what the temperature is doing inside your car.

Just use a "cheap-o" Taylor or Acurite or LaCrosse or similar IN-door/Out-door "wireless" weather unit, typically <$30-50(USD) at most hardware stores (Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, Sears, etc.)

[MetroMPG]

That's a really neat idea!

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by cosmic_kid

With a 300W block heater and 800W coolant heater installed, how long do they need to be on before you notice the difference?

With ambient around freezing, an hour is fine for my little engine.

Follow these 2 links for more detailed info:

• 800w coolant heater
• I even compared their performance

Does the car need to run more than 30 seconds to warm up after started?

Define "warm up" . With 30-60 minutes of heating, I start the car and drive away. See the above links for detailed measurements.

Have you calculated electricity costs of this method? How much are these two heaters, and how much to install?

I didn't calc electricity costs - I'm not doing this to save money. I'm doing it primarily to have a warm car. The increased fuel economy and reduced engine wear are just bonuses. But I've seen other studies that demonstrate cost savings, provided you don't leave the heater plugged in for too long.

I forget what they cost (might be in those links), and I installed them myself.

[MetroMPG]

Problems with this remote setup.

Twice now I have found the remote receiver/block heater "ON" when it shouldn't be.

Either someone else's remote (car security/garage opener?) is triggering it, or it's defective. Investigating...

I believe the remote/receiver have dip switches inside to change their frequencies, so I may have to play with that.

[Varn]

I have a small block heater in my VW diesel. The block heater heats the coolant in the block. I run it for a couple of hours on a timer in the winter. The gauge doesn't show any difference but the engine runs much smoother right from the start. It has to be using less fuel. If the car doesn't start then I have to burn 2x more fuel and get in my minivan making the investment in the heater pay for itself rather quickly.

We pay 15 cents a kwh and the heater probably uses close to a kwh (2 hours) so it is costing me 4-5 dollars a month About a gallon of fuel. You are using 20 cents an hour with both heaters going.

I bet half an hour would be enough using 1100 watts of heaters.

I have thought about mounting a 100 watt lightbulb under the hood near the engine. Kind of a hill billy approach. Of course our government doesn't believe that 100 watt bulbs are a wise use of electricty.

Others have had right about sitting in a running car in a parking lot. They are doing something not acceptable to someone.

Originally Posted by cosmic_kid

With a 300W block heater and 800W coolant heater installed, how long do they need to be on before you notice the difference? Does the car need to run more than 30 seconds to warm up after started? Have you calculated electricity costs of this method? How much are these two heaters, and how much to install?

Thanks,
Will