design contest automatic plug in for engine heater.

ed hess

ed hess

race or get outta the way
I got this idea to put a engine heater in.

only thing is i want to come up with a way to just pull into the same parking spot and have the connection be made without me physically doing anything to plug it in. (hows that for being lazy). kinda like a sci fi ship thing docking or a refuel in the air connection.

then i can put a timer on it to warm it up before i go home.

I allready have remote start but i want to warm it up without running the motor as when the temps drop into the 30's the short skirts on my pistons make a bit of noise those 1st few 2nds till it changes temp.

any ideas?

comments can be fun to :D

this thread should end up being a lot of fun (i'm gonna really get hammered this time)

ed
 
J

jetdrvr

New member
remote heater

remote heater

If you can have a "wired" box at your parking spot, it would be easy.Box would contain set of shrouded contacts, and a interlock switch (so there would be no current until docked with vehicle. You could also contain your timing circuit within the box, coupled to a theromostat (lazy remember?) that will turn the unit on/off by oat (outside air temp).
The vehicle would have a set of contacts mounted to allow docking with fixed base unit.
I am assuming you are planning to use a ac heater, and have a assigned parking space.
proper alignment and positive contact could be via a small indicator light mounted on/under dash.
if you want to get really tricky, then you could use a small transmitter/receiver, to emit a descreet code to activate current via a relay to prevent anyone from coming in contact with live ac current.
 
BigBadSmoosh

BigBadSmoosh

Picking fights on I-65 since 2013
dig up pavement, lay down wire.. put voltage to wire.. heated parking spot.. itll melt the snow for you.
 
ed hess

ed hess

race or get outta the way
smaug

my parents had a house with that !

but the old man was to cheap to run it. :D

ed
 
jwaller

jwaller

Evil Genius/SyTy Guru
the standard gm block heater uses 110 house current.

I don't see how u could do this without having some type of contraption hanging or sticking out of the truck.

FWIW I ran a block heater in my truck for several yr's and I loved having it for those cold days..

I had mine where the power cord was under the front bumper, just reach under and plug it in.
 
ed hess

ed hess

race or get outta the way
jwaller said:
the standard gm block heater uses 110 house current.

I don't see how u could do this without having some type of contraption hanging or sticking out of the truck.

FWIW I ran a block heater in my truck for several yr's and I loved having it for those cold days..

I had mine where the power cord was under the front bumper, just reach under and plug it in.
Click to expand...

john

You missed my point. Ya see i just want to park the truck and not have to do anyting like plug it in. I literally mean. pull up, park, and walk away and its all automatic.

ed
 
jwaller

jwaller

Evil Genius/SyTy Guru
I got your point. the only thing I could think of would be something like what the old subways used but mount it underneath. have say 3 copper/metallic strips. one for each wire.

and mount them under the truck and have a pad that u drive onto that has 3 matching copper/metalic strips. just be careful not to let ppl/pets wander on the strips. unless you could put that on a wall switch.
 
canadian

canadian

sy in progress
you sure you want exposed contacts and such when dealing with house current? just worried an errant spark would either start a fire or get you electrocuted.
 
E

E-Rue

New member
ed hess said:
john

You missed my point. Ya see i just want to park the truck and not have to do anyting like plug it in. I literally mean. pull up, park, and walk away and its all automatic.

ed
Click to expand...

[hank hill]ed, you must think your a level 29 wizzard. i dont want you hangin out with my son bobby anymore![/hank hill]

e
 
jwaller

jwaller

Evil Genius/SyTy Guru
E-RUE said:
ed hess said:
john

You missed my point. Ya see i just want to park the truck and not have to do anyting like plug it in. I literally mean. pull up, park, and walk away and its all automatic.

ed
Click to expand...

[hank hill]ed, you must think your a level 29 wizzard. i dont want you hangin out with my son bobby anymore![/hank hill]

e
Click to expand...


hahah ya...I just saw the one where he digs the tunnel under the house...thats dave material there...
 
B

BillC

New member
Ed -- you may want to take a look at the connection the Honda Insight (all-electric vehicle) used for charging. It has an inductive-transmission paddle that fits into a slot in the front of the car. The benefit of the inductive paddle is no exposed contacts. The drawback is that you need to be very close (essentially as close as you would with contacts) for decent power transmission.

You could probably rig up a spring-loaded mount for the paddle and put a funnel around the socket on the truck.

If people ask about the funnel, just tell them its for your electric intercooler! :p

Another option would be to look at inductive-heating stoves. Similar principle to the Insight's paddle, but uses magnetic fields to directly heat the bottom of the pan (rather than transmit electricity). Since all you want to do is warm the block, maybe you can put a couple of those inductive stove "burner"s on your parking spot under the engine. However, they require close proximity, too, for best efficiency. Also, if I remember correctly, those stoves are $$$$.
 
myclone

myclone

Donating Member
Other than the inductive heating that Bill mentioned there is no real easy way to do what you want to do cheaply.

You are either gonna have to plug something in, have a heated parking spot, or use the vehicles battery to power the heater which IMO would be impractical due to running battery down in a short time. A warm engine doesnt do you any good if the battery is dead IMO.

The only other thing I can come up with off the top of my head that you wouldnt have to plug in would be a heater powered by the battery but controlled by a timer or TC so it is only on for short periods. Just enough to put a little heat in the engine but not enough to drain the battery. It could be done kinda easy but it'd be too much of a PIA to set up/maintain for what youd get IMO.

Heres a thought... How bout building a garage?
 
ed hess

ed hess

race or get outta the way
myclone

actually i thought about just putting an electric opener with remote on one of the shop doors. :)

i thought for sure you would come up with some good ideas for 'docking while parking"


ed
 
ed hess

ed hess

race or get outta the way
biggtime said:
Heated garage at home/heated garage at work.
Or just get yourself a BEATER!
Click to expand...

hmm ya know as much time as i have the sy in the 1st bay at work maybe i just set it up so i have an employee that brings it inside everymorning and puts it back out everynite before i leave.

SIR YOUR TRUCK IS READY!

ed
 
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