Engine Block Heater Cable

L

Louis Garceau

Guest

• Dec 13, 2003

• #1

Hey guys. I dont know if I am in the right group, because my question
may be more electrical related. Anyways, here it is.

The electric plug in the wall of my house building is about 125 feet
away from me truck. Me and my friend both have a 4X4 and the winter up
here are VERY cold. I wonder what type of cable should I get to run
around the house for 125 feet, and then keep both of our truck warm.

Any suggestion/specification/places to buy?
I'm from Canada.

Thank you.

 

M

Mike Hall

Guest

• Dec 13, 2003

• #2

Canadian Tire sell 'polar' cable but it is not cheap at that kind of
length.. is there no way that you could park closer?..

--
History is only the past if we choose to do nothing about it..

"Louis Garceau" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hey guys. I dont know if I am in the right group, because my question
> may be more electrical related. Anyways, here it is.
>
> The electric plug in the wall of my house building is about 125 feet
> away from me truck. Me and my friend both have a 4X4 and the winter up
> here are VERY cold. I wonder what type of cable should I get to run
> around the house for 125 feet, and then keep both of our truck warm.
>
> Any suggestion/specification/places to buy?
> I'm from Canada.
>
> Thank you.

 

W

Will Honea

Guest

• Dec 13, 2003

• #3

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 02:40:07 UTC [email protected] (Louis
Garceau) wrote:

> Hey guys. I dont know if I am in the right group, because my question
> may be more electrical related. Anyways, here it is.
>
> The electric plug in the wall of my house building is about 125 feet
> away from me truck. Me and my friend both have a 4X4 and the winter up
> here are VERY cold. I wonder what type of cable should I get to run
> around the house for 125 feet, and then keep both of our truck warm.
>
> Any suggestion/specification/places to buy?
> I'm from Canada.

First, find the current requirements for each vehicle. With that
information in hand, visit you local auto parts storeand check their
extension cables. Look at the wire size (there should be a current
rating on the label) and see if it will handle your requirements. I
doubt that the auto store will have an extension cord that long so now
go to a builders supply and check. You will probably need at least a
16ga. wire for that length although the heavier guage is more to
insure proper voltage at the end to protect power tools tha nfro
current carrying capacity. I won't be especially cheap, especially
for exterior rated all weather extensions.

--
Will Honea <[email protected]>

 

B

Bret Chase

Guest

• Dec 13, 2003

• #4

On 13 Dec 2003 09:48:57 GMT, "Will Honea" <[email protected]> wrote:

>:|On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 02:40:07 UTC [email protected] (Louis
>:|Garceau) wrote:
>:|
>:|> Hey guys. I dont know if I am in the right group, because my question
>:|> may be more electrical related. Anyways, here it is.
>:|>
>:|> The electric plug in the wall of my house building is about 125 feet
>:|> away from me truck. Me and my friend both have a 4X4 and the winter up
>:|> here are VERY cold. I wonder what type of cable should I get to run
>:|> around the house for 125 feet, and then keep both of our truck warm.
>:|>
>:|> Any suggestion/specification/places to buy?
>:|> I'm from Canada.
>:|
>:|First, find the current requirements for each vehicle. With that
>:|information in hand, visit you local auto parts storeand check their
>:|extension cables. Look at the wire size (there should be a current
>:|rating on the label) and see if it will handle your requirements. I
>:|doubt that the auto store will have an extension cord that long so now
>:|go to a builders supply and check. You will probably need at least a
>:|16ga. wire for that length although the heavier guage is more to
>:|insure proper voltage at the end to protect power tools tha nfro
>:|current carrying capacity. I won't be especially cheap, especially
>:|for exterior rated all weather extensions.

to run *2* block heaters (figuring 1500W a piece) he'll need at least
a 10 ga cord, an 8ga being better for a 125ft run. for that size
wire, you're going to have to go to a local electrical supply house.
figure this cord will cost you around $200 bucks (US) rubber jacketed
8/3 wire isn't cheap. if you're asking these questions, you might
also want to call a local electrician to have them make the cord up.

-Bret

 

W

Will Honea

Guest

• Dec 13, 2003

• #5

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 12:16:40 UTC Bret Chase <[email protected]>
wrote:

> On 13 Dec 2003 09:48:57 GMT, "Will Honea" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >:|On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 02:40:07 UTC [email protected] (Louis
> >:|Garceau) wrote:
> >:|
> >:|> Hey guys. I dont know if I am in the right group, because my question
> >:|> may be more electrical related. Anyways, here it is.
> >:|>
> >:|> The electric plug in the wall of my house building is about 125 feet
> >:|> away from me truck. Me and my friend both have a 4X4 and the winter up
> >:|> here are VERY cold. I wonder what type of cable should I get to run
> >:|> around the house for 125 feet, and then keep both of our truck warm.
> >:|>
> >:|> Any suggestion/specification/places to buy?
> >:|> I'm from Canada.
> >:|
> >:|First, find the current requirements for each vehicle. With that
> >:|information in hand, visit you local auto parts storeand check their
> >:|extension cables. Look at the wire size (there should be a current
> >:|rating on the label) and see if it will handle your requirements. I
> >:|doubt that the auto store will have an extension cord that long so now
> >:|go to a builders supply and check. You will probably need at least a
> >:|16ga. wire for that length although the heavier guage is more to
> >:|insure proper voltage at the end to protect power tools tha nfro
> >:|current carrying capacity. I won't be especially cheap, especially
> >:|for exterior rated all weather extensions.
>
> to run *2* block heaters (figuring 1500W a piece) he'll need at least
> a 10 ga cord, an 8ga being better for a 125ft run. for that size
> wire, you're going to have to go to a local electrical supply house.
> figure this cord will cost you around $200 bucks (US) rubber jacketed
> 8/3 wire isn't cheap. if you're asking these questions, you might
> also want to call a local electrician to have them make the cord up.

Good points - I hadn't considered 10A draws for each. That would take
at least 10ga as you say for that length. Ouch! Time to re-consider
Mike Romain's charcoal grill method...

--
Will Honea <[email protected]>

 

L

Louis Garceau

Guest

• Dec 13, 2003

• #6

Mike: Yes I went to Canadian Tire, but couldnt find anything suitable
for winter for that long... And no I have no choice to park there,
this building is a piece of **** anyways... They changed the parking
from one side to the other, but the electrical outlet remain at same
place... anyways.

Will, I will check what you said. I also heard to check with WESCO
DISTRIBUTION, they are good in building wiring, maybe they have
something.

If anyone comes out with something new, I'm still waiting.

Thanks guys.

 

T

The Ancient One

Guest

• Dec 13, 2003

• #7

"Bret Chase" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 13 Dec 2003 09:48:57 GMT, "Will Honea" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >:|On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 02:40:07 UTC [email protected] (Louis
> >:|Garceau) wrote:
> >:|
> >:|> Hey guys. I dont know if I am in the right group, because my question
> >:|> may be more electrical related. Anyways, here it is.
> >:|>
> >:|> The electric plug in the wall of my house building is about 125 feet
> >:|> away from me truck. Me and my friend both have a 4X4 and the winter
up
> >:|> here are VERY cold. I wonder what type of cable should I get to run
> >:|> around the house for 125 feet, and then keep both of our truck warm.
> >:|>
> >:|> Any suggestion/specification/places to buy?
> >:|> I'm from Canada.
> >:|
> >:|First, find the current requirements for each vehicle. With that
> >:|information in hand, visit you local auto parts storeand check their
> >:|extension cables. Look at the wire size (there should be a current
> >:|rating on the label) and see if it will handle your requirements. I
> >:|doubt that the auto store will have an extension cord that long so now
> >:|go to a builders supply and check. You will probably need at least a
> >:|16ga. wire for that length although the heavier guage is more to
> >:|insure proper voltage at the end to protect power tools tha nfro
> >:|current carrying capacity. I won't be especially cheap, especially
> >:|for exterior rated all weather extensions.
>
> to run *2* block heaters (figuring 1500W a piece) he'll need at least
> a 10 ga cord, an 8ga being better for a 125ft run. for that size
> wire, you're going to have to go to a local electrical supply house.
> figure this cord will cost you around $200 bucks (US) rubber jacketed
> 8/3 wire isn't cheap. if you're asking these questions, you might
> also want to call a local electrician to have them make the cord up.
>
> -Bret

Not to mention the outlet will only be wired with 12, and possibly 14 gauge
wire, so will only handle one vehicle.

>

 

L

Lon Stowell

Guest

• Dec 13, 2003

• #8

Roughly 12/12/03 18:40, Louis Garceau's monkeys randomly typed:

> Hey guys. I dont know if I am in the right group, because my question
> may be more electrical related. Anyways, here it is.
>
> The electric plug in the wall of my house building is about 125 feet
> away from me truck. Me and my friend both have a 4X4 and the winter up
> here are VERY cold. I wonder what type of cable should I get to run
> around the house for 125 feet, and then keep both of our truck warm.
>
> Any suggestion/specification/places to buy?
> I'm from Canada.

It might be cheaper to put a small pole with junction box on
it out at the parking location, then run locally legal outdoor
grade electrical wiring to that. Then you could use a small
heavyweight extension cord [available everywhere] if needed
to get to the block heater. Or get trewly kewl and just
run the wiring right to a small weather sealed junction box
right in front of the parking spot for each truck...like the
parking meter style ones in northwestern cities.


--
Fan of the dumbest team in America.

 

L

Lon Stowell

Guest

• Dec 13, 2003

• #9

Roughly 12/13/03 07:01, Will Honea's monkeys randomly typed:


> Good points - I hadn't considered 10A draws for each. That would take
> at least 10ga as you say for that length. Ouch! Time to re-consider
> Mike Romain's charcoal grill method...

Those little catalyst heaters work great [as long as your vehicle
has no flammable fluid leaks] and have the advantage you can toss
them in the vehicle and take them with you as long as you have a
place to keep the propane away from the passenger compartment.

--
Fan of the dumbest team in America.

 

W

Will Honea

Guest

• Dec 13, 2003

• #10

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 15:19:22 UTC [email protected] (Louis
Garceau) wrote:

> Mike: Yes I went to Canadian Tire, but couldnt find anything suitable
> for winter for that long... And no I have no choice to park there,
> this building is a piece of **** anyways... They changed the parking
> from one side to the other, but the electrical outlet remain at same
> place... anyways.
>
> Will, I will check what you said. I also heard to check with WESCO
> DISTRIBUTION, they are good in building wiring, maybe they have
> something.
>
> If anyone comes out with something new, I'm still waiting.

That puts the problem in a different light - you need to work on the
building manager/owner to get a proper outlet in a usable location.
Where does HE park?

--
Will Honea <[email protected]>

 

L

Louis Garceau

Guest

• Dec 14, 2003

• #11

Hey guys, just to let you know what I did. I got a proper cable suited
for that, and I droped it out of my window (wich is just over the
parking lot) instead or running it all the way outside.

I just hope I have the right kind of cable, because the cable I have
is near 100feet long, but the guy told me it is made for that.

I have no idea what kind of cable it is, but I'll let you know how it
works.

Louis