rumor has it that Kevin wrote:
> On Tue, Sep 27, 2005 at 08:34:14AM -0700, Curt Raymond wrote:
> > Old style glowplugs so I'll
> > want to convert. How well can one with converted glowplugs be expected to
> > start in the cold? Right now at about 0F I start getting nervous ('83 240D)
> > and at -5F I've gotta put the block heater on which is a project because I
> > live in a 3rd floor walkup with nowhere to plugin the car. I've got a 110ah
> > marine battery and 400watt inverter that I haul down to the car and 20
> > minutes later it starts with no problems all the way down to -20F which is
> > about as cold as it ever gets here.
>
> After messing with series plugs last night, I think I like messing with
> them better than the parallel ones. SO SIMPLE.
The relay circuit is simpler - but it in not that series is inherently
simpler than parallel.
The two problems I see with the series system Mercedes used:
* About 1/2 of the heat created is in the "toaster" wires - outside
of the engine!!
* Any problem with any connection or heater will affect _all_ the plugs,
not just the one with troubles.
> You know, with some creativity, you could use an RV charging system (allows
> charge but not discharge), and run dual batteries, leaving one for an onboard
> inverter for your block heater. The battery will charge up as you drive, as
> long as you don't do short trips with a 4000 watt ghetto blaster like Spud
> has hooked up in his 300D :)
Hmmm.
That would take a _lot_ of battery.
The block heater is about 750 watts. With an inverter that is 100%
efficient (impossible) that is about 55 amps at 13.6 V !!!
My experience is the block heater is almost useless if it is powered for
less than 1 hour. By 2 hours, it's help is noticable; and 3-4 hours is
long enough for my garage-parked (no wind) cars for any temperatures I
find here in central Missouri.
So, to get 3 hours of full power you should prabably figure on at least
200 amp-hour batter capacity.
Philip, dreaming of some day finding diesel-fire block
heaters - that cost _less_ than the car.
