Portable generator for block heater

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by TGUNKEL, Jan 10, 2024.

  1. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    Have you seen any of the diesel fired coolant heaters up there?

    Theyre basically bunk heaters with a coolant loop and pump. (See above pic)

    paired with an arctic fox coolant loop in a fuel tank, i would think that would probably be about as good as you need even up north, or does the addition of the coolant pump draw down the batteries too fast? If battery temp is important, could probably even add in a small radiator above batteries?

    Genuinely curious, i have one, but havent installed just yet, main use case for me is hoping to be able to park truck over cold snap weekends without idiling. Current Truck sounds extremely rough under about 28 f, and at 0 for a weekend i imagine gelling would be an issue i dont want to fight
     
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  3. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Rigged up plenty of Proheats, Webastos and Espar heaters. Mostly on equipment. We actually did a couple where we installed the Arctic Fox into the hydraulic tanks so that the hydraulic oil would be warm and not need to spend half an hour cycling hydraulics to warm the system up.
     
  4. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    If you want you could also plug in a 10 or 20 amp battery charger at the same time as the block heater to top up the batteries before starting.
    The act of charging also helps to warm up the batteries.
     
  5. LameMule

    LameMule Road Train Member

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    What size generator do I need to heat my 3500w generator before i then use the 3500 to preheat the truck? I'm thinking something big enough to run the wife's blowdryer for an hour or so...
     
  6. OLDSKOOLERnWV

    OLDSKOOLERnWV Captain Redbeard

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    This Ingersoll Rand T-4 drill had a 600hp Cummins up on the deck. It had a similar setup but it used gasoline to fire it. Basically a steam Jenny setup that circulated the coolant as it heated it. Below freezing it would warm the block in about 30 minutes….

    IMG_3714.jpeg
     
  7. Studebaker Hawk

    Studebaker Hawk Road Train Member

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    Probably a small nuclear power plant would do the job. I hear you can get them cheap since the green types don't like them anymore.
    Don't forget the draw of a coffee pot, you know how she is before she has had her coffee.
     
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  8. LameMule

    LameMule Road Train Member

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    My old neighbor setup his log truck with quick connects on the coolant lines and did the same with his idi Ford pickup so he could heat up either one with the other. Pretty crafty and probably less complicated when coolant was green.
     
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  9. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    I love Arctic fox products, but some owners just don't get to leave a good thing alone.

    My old beater truck (Dodge 1998 12v 6spd) would start when it was <-10ºf or as Western Canadians say 'mild weather'.

    The previous owner (traveling mining engineer) rebuilt the entire fuel system from the tank to the IP, he took out the crappy fuel heater and put in 5/8" fuel line from the tank to the lift pump because he used the hose heater from Arctic Fox. He made tank heaters for the two tanks based on the tank Artic Fox tank heaters and they were temp-controlled using parts from Arctic Fox. He installed a large Espar water heater to heat things and it did. When he took the truck to Alaska for a few years, he added battery heaters, an oil pan heater, and another Espar air heater for the cab. He went all out on making sure he could burn anything from Bio-diesel to #2 without worrying about gelling. I never had an issue with that truck, it was solid when it came to fuel.

    Now contrast this with a Mack I bought about ten years ago, it had everything there but the owner disconnected all the coolant lines to the tank heaters because as he said "I ain't going north of Mason-Dixon for any reason". Well, he did and he got stuck in Wisconsin with gelled fuel and a load of wrapping material for Kraft, they were pissed because this was a JIT load and it shut down production. He was so mad about the fuel situation he sold the truck for cheap.
     
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  10. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    Thought about that too, but im thinking self contained to the truck makes more sense if i go to south dakota during a cold snap.
     
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  11. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    Well if 30 minutes is all it takes. Hope the little system i pop on does the same trick. Would certainly aleviate worries of no/cold starts
     
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