Block Heater - Crazy Question

[boukaal]

This may be completely ridiculous, but...

I'm heading to the mountains in Colorado right after Christmas and will be there for about a week. I don't expect there will be a place to plug in the block heater where I'm staying. So, would I drain the batteries if I plugged the block heater into the inverter already in the truck? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

In another post, it was stated that it draws 9 amps but I don't remember enough from high school physics to figure out how fast it will draw down the battery (not to mention I have no idea the actual battery capacity (x2 of course)).

I'm assuming I would put a timer on so that it only draws for the last 2-3 hours each night and then would drive enough to recharge the batteries.

Am I crazy?

Alem

[SteveIn29]

You will draw the batteries down VERY quick. That 9A draw is at 110V so when using an invertor you will be pulling 90A (at a minimum) from your batteries. You might consider getting a small portable generator to plug into.

[DENNY]

If the batterys are good the truck should start to -30 without being pluged in. It won't like it but if you cycle the glowplugs twice for 2 min each time it should start. More important is the fuel!! add antigel when you leave texas.
DENNY

[MikeTEC]

Portable generator recommendation by Steve seems like a good idea. Check out the little Honda EU2000i.

A lot of folks in our travel trailer club use it. Quiet, lightweight, and well made. Do a Google search for some suppliers close to you.

[Bumpy]

The Honda is a great little generator and damn quiet. As far as starting, don't wory about it. Cycle the glow plugs a few times and fire her up. I come from cold winter climate and harly ever plug my truck in. Now a bunch of people here will freak out because I said that, but your only doing it for a week....NO worries. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]