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Topic: Block Heater (Read 830 times) previous topic - next topic

Block Heater

I think we just dodged a bullet.
It has been up in the high 80s the last 2-3 days.
Our coach faces south. I was walking by the back end of the coach and thought I felt some heat.
About a half hour ago the DW said the same thing. I opened the rear grill and oh boy, was the radiator ever hot!!
Went in to the coach and could see the block heater switch glowing red from its internal light.
Toggled it off. Seems "somebody" must have "foot-tripped" the switch last week.
Tomorrow I will put a conduit pipe clip on the switch so it can't be tripped accidentally.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Block Heater

Reply #1 –
Look for a "Light Switch Guard" in the electrical section of Home Depot/Lowes/Hardware store.
I have one on mine for that very reason.  It's a little harder to flip it but I guess that's the point!
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: Block Heater

Reply #2 –
Blame Rocket!!!!!!!!!!
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Block Heater

Reply #4 –
Poor Rocket. He gets blamed for lots of stuff---like gas.. :))
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Block Heater

Reply #5 –
Quote from: JohnFitz –
Look for a "Light Switch Guard" in the electrical section of Home Depot/Lowes/Hardware store.
I have one on mine for that very reason.  It's a little harder to flip it but I guess that's the point!
This, similar, or find clear one.
YBM Home Magnetic Switch and Outlet Cover | Wayfair
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Block Heater

Reply #6 –
I noticed that my switch has duct tape over it so I presume at some point a previous owner did the same thing. (or at least heard about someone else doing it)
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Block Heater

Reply #7 –
They do make switch Guards for just about any kind of switch.
Future Foretravel Owners
2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
Retired USAF, Retired DOD Civ's
FAA A&P, Indust. Eng., Acft Depot Lvl. Maint.
Larry and Becky Rountree

Re: Block Heater

Reply #8 –
For now I did like T-man suggested.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Block Heater

Reply #9 –
I think mines unplugged in the engine bay
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Block Heater

Reply #10 –
Block heaters come in several wattages. In other words, when a 500 or 1000 watt heater burns out, it's possible to replace with a 1500 watt unit. Ours had partially melted the plastic outlet box and both the plug and receptacle were oxidized. I changed to a metal box with 20 amp plugs. Does not get warm any longer.

Pierce

Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)
 

Re: Block Heater

Reply #12 –
Easy fix.
John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."