headymamamyrna Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Does anyone know if a block heater in a car uses much energy. Some people tell me oh it doesn't use much and others say oh it uses a lot.I have been plugging my car in for at least 14 hours a day lately hoping it doesnt use too much.I know its worth it but!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Do you have an outdoor timer? You just need to plug it in to an outdoor timer, and set the timer for about an hour before you need to start your car (ish).I wish I knew this at xmas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headymamamyrna Posted January 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 At this temperature I think I need to plug it in more than an hour.After all my car is 13 years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irie Guy Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 I've got my timer set for 2.5 - 3 hours prior to me leaving for work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 After all my car is 13 years old.i'm not sure, but i think it's the age of your battery that would be more important here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishtaper Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 i was just thinking the same thing, AD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headymamamyrna Posted January 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Battery ,MAy2005!It's the energy i am concerned about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irie Guy Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Here's a quote I found"Some math: Climate Change Central, an energy-use watchdog, reports that a block heater uses eight times more energy than a refrigerator. If a block heater uses 450 watts (0.45 kWh) of electricity at an average of $0.09/kWh, then one night equals $0.41 and two hours equals $0.08." Get ready for winter driving... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Huxtable Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Myrna, sounds like you should get a timer. That's a lot of energy consumption. There's no reason at all to have it going for over three hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Um Ms. Hux I think your avatar is broken, I've been clicking it for about 20 minutes now and nothing's happening Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Um Ms. Hux I think your avatar is broken, I've been clicking it for about 20 minutes now and nothing's happeningthat's cause you're 40. they have pills for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headymamamyrna Posted January 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Maybe someone can figure this out for me!If the block heater uses 450W(0.45kwh) and the average cost for a night is $0.41)What about $5.6 kwh?What is the average cost for a night?It doesn't seem like its that much considering we only need to plug a car in a few nights in JAnuary!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishtaper Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Maybe someone can figure this out for me!If the block heater uses 450W(0.45kwh) and the average cost for a night is $0.41)What about $5.6 kwh?What is the average cost for a night?It doesn't seem like its that much considering we only need to plug a car in a few nights in JAnuary!!if you mean, 5.6 kWh consumption (which would be like four hair dryers on full blast), then it would be $5.10 ... (5.6/0.45 x $0.41). there are three things you need to consider. one, the consumption of the heater - here, 0.450 kWh. that means it uses 0.45 kilowatts per hour. two, the rate you pay for electricity - most areas are 10cents to 13cents per kWh. and three, the number of hours you run the heater.so, if your heater uses 0.45 kW (or 450 watts - which is actually typical for a car block heater) and if you run it for two hours, you will consume 0.9 kW. if you pay 10cents for kWh of electricity, this would cost you 9 cents overall.i think also you have to consider the fact that if oyu didnt use the heater at all, or less, then you'd presumably have to run the car a while longer to warm up the engine - which adds a whole other cost into the total energy equation ... although im not so sure we are still talking about cars here, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headymamamyrna Posted January 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 A block heater uses 450KW and the rate I pay is 5.6cents not 10 .I have plugged it in for 12 to 14 hours the past few days so not bad.I just wanted an idea about the energy cost.It's all fine!Thanks anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishtaper Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 30 to 35 cents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry_llama Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 our car is almost 30 and it started without a block heater when it was -20 the other morning! Boy was I proud :-) However your fuel consumption is much better for the first few mins after starting if you use the heater. Plus you get cabin heat a lot quicker.Block heaters are usually a 500w element - that is a relatively large energy draw. I would definitely get a timer if I were you sine the only heat that will help you out is the 2 or 3 hours worth that happen right before you star the car. The whole rest of the night you are essentially heating the outdoors. It's like running a duct from your furnace out into the street... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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