I found that using an appliance timer works great with my engine block heater. I set the on and off time to my usage. I keeps the engine warm without it being on all the time. I think a regular light timer would be a little to light duty.

so post a pic and so info about it.

Great for people with a fixed schedule that leave for work at a exact time and etc... When I worked the fire dept I had to keep it plugged in all the time to keep the truck ready to roll. But now that I'm no longer doing that as much I don't even worry about plugging in... I just set the high idle allow it to come up to 100*F before I roll... Even if I'm in a hurry I'd just start and roll but drive nice and easy till the coolant reaches the 160 (lower limit)...

lowes, home depot, hardware stores all sell many kinds of timers. simple ones set the same time for everyday and the fancy ones you can set on a day to day schedule. just depends on what you want ot spend.

Make sure you get a timer that has a three wire connection, not a two wire. The heater plug is a three wire (with ground). I use one that is rated at 1800 watts resistive that works great.

Yep bought mine last year from Lowe's and it works great. It's rated at like 15 amps and I have a nice 12 gauge extension cord so everything should be safe. That away in the morning it will come on for a couple of hours before I leave for school. My batteries are old enough that if it isn't plugged in and got too cold that night, I won't get it started b/c the grid heaters will pull them down too much! They are next on my list of things to buy, just hope they hold out for a while.

My truck is parked in the garage at night. It usually doesn't get below 50 in there. Even so, with it plugged in for two hours before I leave, I get heat much faster than waiting for the truck to warm up from 50 degrees. Plugged in it usually is about 110 when I start the truck.

  Old_Sparky said:

My truck is parked in the garage at night. It usually doesn't get below 50 in there. Even so, with it plugged in for two hours before I leave, I get heat much faster than waiting for the truck to warm up from 50 degrees. Plugged in it usually is about 110 when I start the truck.

So I still park outside, but usually plug it in between about 42 and lower. I know it is easier on the engine, but it is also nice to get heat faster. I only drive about four miles to work in the morning, so I easily make it to 190.

  Rhagfo said:

So I still park outside, but usually plug it in between about 42 and lower. I know it is easier on the engine, but it is also nice to get heat faster. I only drive about four miles to work in the morning, so I easily make it to 190.

Well that is a important factor to make sure you reach operation temp before you get to your destination... Yea if I was only ot drive you distance I would for sure keep it plugged in too.

I have a "HD" timer... I've had it a long time. It has 3 prong plugs in & out. If it's really cold, I'll set the timer for 2-3 hours ahead. I made an extra winter with the OEM batteries that way! It's nice to preheat... saves a lot of wear I figure.

Here is a picture I found of mine:

Since my timer is in the garage, I plugged it into an extension cord, then plug the block heater into the timer. That way I can keep the timer plugged in all the time.

  Old_Sparky said:

Since my timer is in the garage, I plugged it into an extension cord, then plug the block heater into the timer. That way I can keep the timer plugged in all the time.

Yeah mine is plugged in inside the garage then the cord runs out to the driveway to the truck.