Hi guys, I got my 72 Riviera GS that I bought from an add someone posted on "cars for sale" on this forum. Its completely original and runs real fast. But then there was this plug sticking out of the grill :laugh: I have the dealer invoice of this car so I knew it had the engine block heater, but here in Holland we have 220 volts and you US guys 110. Can I try this funny device on 220? I love the 3.42 Posi! :TU: Got the heads redone as I had to remove them cause many exhaustmanifold bolts broke, those stage1 valves look great!! Thanks!!! Menno
I would not under any circumstances plug a 110 volt appliance into a 220 volt outlet. That is just asking for serious trouble. :shock: :eek2: Can you get a voltage reducer to provide for 110 volts? Unless you see temps of -15 Celsius or lower, you shouldn't require using the engine block heater, provided the battery is fully charged. Here in Canada, I seldom use the engine heater unless the temp falls to -30 C (-22 F) or lower.
Thanks! I can get a voltage regulator. Maybe I'll just try it once to see if it still works. It doesnt get too cold here, mostly when it freezes temps drop to about minus 5-10 degrees celcius. It might go lower but I won't have my baby to operate at those temps :beer Just something I have to tell; both tires squick when going from first to second gear at full throttle, what a beast! thanks, Menno
You're welcome. :beer I have my Buicks parked for winter too, and was refering to my winter driver. :TU:
Two times the voltage is four times the wattage (heat). Probably start melting stuff (including wiring), and blowing fuses. Bad plan. Some electronics stores sell small transformers to convert 110>220 here (for things like cell phones), and I imagine those are available in Holland. However they probably aren't designed for the type of current you will need for the block heater- you will probably need about 7 or 8 amps (@ 220V) and those small transformers are probably only rated for 1/2 amp or so. I guess that you would need to go to an industrial electrical store to find a 220>110V transformer to handle the current you need. I would try to look for a block heater designed for 220V. They must exist in Europe. Or, just put a light bulb on the floor under your motor and let that keep the oil pan warm... -Bob Cunningham
Yup, I wouldn't plug that into 220, even for a second. It'll probably burn out the wiring. Are you sure it's 110V? If your car was originally sold there, I'd think it'd be 220V, but then o No: Tom, you don't use one unless it hits -22 :shock: ??? Gee whiz, do you turn on the heater when it's above freezing? :eek2: :laugh: :laugh: Man, I'm glad I'm down here south of the border (that's the TX-OK border, btw :Brow: )
Yup, but I do have a remote start in my winter driver. :laugh: :bglasses: Just push the button, truck starts, and warms up while I finish my cup of tea. :TU: If we see the other side of -30 F, then I cave in and plug the block heater in. Gee, haven't tested it yet this winter. :shock: I've also been in Texas when it gets cold and snowy too, funniest was in Jan. 2000 when I was in Laredo, temp went down to about 35 F. All the locals were wearing stuff I'd wear at -25 F. Myself, a sweatshirt and shorts were just perfect. :TU:
Yup...I've got a good friend living in Fairbanks, I just want to poke him in the eye when it's 0 degrees and he's walking around in a t-shirt making smart-aleky comments. Of course, he did spent a summer here, and I did get my share of snarky comments in... :Brow: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: But hey - it's a 'dry heat'...like inside your oven... :grin: Cheers! :beer
When I was in high school, I used to drive a 1979 Dodge truck. Any time the temp dipped below freezing, I would plug it in. That thing was harder to get started than a frigid girlfriend... absolutely no pun intended.
Menno i agree with all previous statements to the effect that you should not ever plug a 110v device of any kind into a power source which you know to be 220v. this is almost certain to result in immediate smoke loss from your circuitry. and a block heater will be left plugged in for extended periods of time. your block heater's chance of survival would be less than 0% the first time you did this. your chances of starting a fire, however, would be fairly positive. you'll want to go to an electrical supply store there in holland and look for a 'Step Down Transformer'. any 2:1 transformer of sufficient current/power capacity will work and you could ( if you have basic wiring/electrical skills ) wire an american style outlet for it yourself. a block heater is simply a resistor so the freq difference in the power line (US is 60Hz, i think Euro is 50Hz?) won't make a bit of difference. do you have any idea what the power dissipation on your heater is? i'm not sure about bobc's 7-8 amp comment. even for 110vAC, 1.5 amps would get you a ~40watt heating element and the 220v side of a 2:1 stepdown transformer would be half the current ( .75amps ) of the 110v side (current changes inverse to voltage on a transformer coil). we also use 220v and 440v here in the States but it's for large appliances / shop equipment / industrial equipment and has special outlets.
Thanks to all of you guys for giving me all this info. I will leave the block heater untouched for the time being. It doesnt get too cold here so I really dont have to use it but still like the idea of this option! Cheers, Menno
