Topic: Car Block Heater, winter is coming !

[intuitionpeace]

Does anyone know how to test if the car block heater is working or something can check without taking the car to the garage? 

[Juke1]

Check for continuity across the 2 plug prongs with an ohmeter, same at the pins on the BH itself, if you have an "open" then something is wrong. The cord is often the one being the culprit.  If your not familiar with this, I'm convinced any garage will take a minute of their time for you and free of charge, maybe at the same time you do your next oil change.  You could always plug it in and listen, they all make this trickling/gurgling sound if you put your ear up close to the engine block

[Winklovic]

You could always plug it in and listen, they all make this trickling/gurgling sound if you put your ear up close to the engine block

Make sure the engine is NOT running when you do this!   

[Juke1]

You could always plug it in and listen, they all make this trickling/gurgling sound if you put your ear up close to the engine block

Make sure the engine is NOT running when you do this!   

doh....good point!

[l101010]

Check Canadian Tire product called PLUG ALIVE.  It is a nifty little plug that will check your car block heater and power with a Red and Green LED immediately better than using a Ohm meter. Not many people have one and know how to use it. Cost too much to check each time in auto garages.

[blur911]

Check Canadian Tire product called PLUG ALIVE.  It is a nifty little plug that will check your car block heater and power with a Red and Green LED immediately better than using a Ohm meter. Not many people have one and know how to use it. Cost too much to check each time in auto garages.

$20 for Plug Alive, or you can buy a multimeter on sale for half that.  I can't believe they make a single purpose device for this.   Talk about dumbing it down.

[rrocket]

Check Canadian Tire product called PLUG ALIVE.  It is a nifty little plug that will check your car block heater and power with a Red and Green LED immediately better than using a Ohm meter. Not many people have one and know how to use it. Cost too much to check each time in auto garages.

$20 for Plug Alive, or you can buy a multimeter on sale for half that.  I can't believe they make a single purpose device for this.   Talk about dumbing it down.

But most people don't know how to use a multi-meter.  There are so many settings on a decent multimeter, which one do you use, what do those symbols mean, where do I put the black or red tips, etc..  If you habded a multi-meter to your wife or mom, would they know how to check a plug?  On the other hand, you'd have to be really clueless not to know how to use Plug Alive.

Athough I know how to use one, I'm pretty much an electrical idiot, so I can understand how someone can be clueless of a multi-meter. 

[l101010]

Explain how to use multimeter? I rather have a little plug to show me with a light that is working.  Is it easy to carry this meter ?  This plug is small and stored in car compartment.  

[articsteve]

Disconnect the AC from the plug quickly in the dark.  You will see it arc.

[Juke1]

Check Canadian Tire product called PLUG ALIVE.  It is a nifty little plug that will check your car block heater and power with a Red and Green LED immediately better than using a Ohm meter. Not many people have one and know how to use it. Cost too much to check each time in auto garages.

Cost too much to check each time in auto garages.

A garage that charges for this is one you should not deal with IMO.  Of course going to the dealer would the first mistake, I would go to my independant.

[PJungnitsch]

Check Canadian Tire product called PLUG ALIVE.  It is a nifty little plug that will check your car block heater and power with a Red and Green LED immediately better than using a Ohm meter. Not many people have one and know how to use it. Cost too much to check each time in auto garages.

Thanks for the reminder! Forgot about that 'Plug Alive' gadget. It gets very good reviews. Myself with an old carbureted vehicle, I like to know if the block heater is working each time I plug it in, and hopefully I can just leave it in the outlet. Saves having to put my ear under the car and listening for the crackle of the heater working.

Just picked one up.

[blur911]

Explain how to use multimeter? I rather have a little plug to show me with a light that is working.  Is it easy to carry this meter ?  This plug is small and stored in car compartment.  

Basic use of a multimeter is probably easier than basic use of your cellphone.  It's not exactly hard to learn or that scary.  I always have a tiny one in the glove compartment. 

Can your Plug-Alive check fuses?  Battery charge? If your alternator is charging? Lamps? Wiring? Connectors?
Not a very useful tool to carry around in a car IMHO, but then I grew up driving old British and German cars, a basic understanding of electrical repair came with the territory.

[l101010]

Explain how to use multimeter? I rather have a little plug to show me with a light that is working.  Is it easy to carry this meter ?  This plug is small and stored in car compartment.  

Basic use of a multimeter is probably easier than basic use of your cellphone.  It's not exactly hard to learn or that scary.  I always have a tiny one in the glove compartment. 

Can your Plug-Alive check fuses?  Battery charge? If your alternator is charging? Lamps? Wiring? Connectors?
Not a very useful tool to carry around in a car IMHO, but then I grew up driving old British and German cars, a basic understanding of electrical repair came with the territory.

This Plug Alive not only check my block heater and also check the battery warmer. I left it plugged in the outlet all the time. It is very convenience cause I don't know any fuse, meter or any much about wire. So far it worked really well for what I need.  Thanks for your meter infor.

[l101010]

Check Canadian Tire product called PLUG ALIVE.  It is a nifty little plug that will check your car block heater and power with a Red and Green LED immediately better than using a Ohm meter. Not many people have one and know how to use it. Cost too much to check each time in auto garages.

Thanks for the reminder! Forgot about that 'Plug Alive' gadget. It gets very good reviews. Myself with an old carbureted vehicle, I like to know if the block heater is working each time I plug it in, and hopefully I can just leave it in the outlet. Saves having to put my ear under the car and listening for the crackle of the heater working.

Just picked one up.

Do you know this plug alive will work in -30 degree below outside for many hours?

[PJungnitsch]

Don't know yet myself. It says here it works fine.

http://answers.canadiantire.ca/answers/9045/product/0303201P/questions.htm

Probably don't want to give it a kick at -40, although it seems quite solid.

[blur911]

Do you know this plug alive will work in -30 degree below outside for many hours?

It doesn't actually do anything, so yeah, it'll "work".

[kingeh]

Check Canadian Tire product called PLUG ALIVE.  It is a nifty little plug that will check your car block heater and power with a Red and Green LED immediately better than using a Ohm meter. Not many people have one and know how to use it. Cost too much to check each time in auto garages.

$20 for Plug Alive, or you can buy a multimeter on sale for half that.  I can't believe they make a single purpose device for this.   Talk about dumbing it down.

I know how to use a multimeter but tell you this, I certainly do not want to stand outside in the cold and dark to try to measure if the block heater is working!  Image doing this every day in freeze my finger off.  No thanks, I think I am going to get this Plug Alive from Canadian Tire.  Thanks for the tips. 

[johngenx]

I use a multi-meter at home, but bought a Plug Alive and tossed it in the glove box of my wife's car.  She can test plugs wherever she happens to be in a second, with gloves on, in the dark.

[blur911]

Check Canadian Tire product called PLUG ALIVE.  It is a nifty little plug that will check your car block heater and power with a Red and Green LED immediately better than using a Ohm meter. Not many people have one and know how to use it. Cost too much to check each time in auto garages.

$20 for Plug Alive, or you can buy a multimeter on sale for half that.  I can't believe they make a single purpose device for this.   Talk about dumbing it down.

I know how to use a multimeter but tell you this, I certainly do not want to stand outside in the cold and dark to try to measure if the block heater is working!  Image doing this every day in freeze my finger off.  No thanks, I think I am going to get this Plug Alive from Canadian Tire.  Thanks for the tips. 

I guess another option might be one of the extension cords you can buy at CrappyTire which has a locking receptacle so the block heater plug won't fall out, plus it has a light in the plug end so you know there's power and can find it in the dark.  You usually need to use an extension cord anyhow, one of these seems fit for the bill.
Personally I've never ever had to test my block heater, so I just plug it in. Like ArcticSteve says, you can usually see a spark when you separate them.

[ktm525]

Does anyone know how to test if the car block heater is working or something can check without taking the car to the garage? 

I do it old school. Pop the hood and  plug in your block heater. You should hear some clicking/whoosing noises if the motor is stone cold. The other way is to plug your car in at -30. If she spins normal in the morning tyour block heater is working. If not, call in sick.

I picked up a bunch of those Noma extension cords on sale that light up if a plug is live. Very handy when in parkades etc.