the cool thing <no pun intended> is...IF youre using a TIMER...you come home
from work in the evening & plug it in...just before you walk into the house...
sometimes you never know how COLD its gonna get over night....30s turn into 20s
or teens...so worst case is the timer only runs the block heater 3 hrs weather (pun)
you need it or not !
I ALWAYS back my truck into the driveway, so I moved my block heater PLUG to the REAR of
the truck...this way i just ran a few feet of extension cord under the garage door
(instead of down the drive way etc)....nice clean install (its an ocd theme w/ me)
i used a marinco outlet mounted under the bumper...and it was a STRAIGHT pull
(if i ever forget to unplug the block heater) so nothing ever got ripped apart
when i pulled outta the driveway (IF i forgot to unplug the cord).
The Marinco Outlet (p/n 200bbi) can be mounted anywhere (front bumper is
a popular spot) and it can be obtain at any boat store or on-line (for less
then 25 bucks).
The outlet is also available in white (200bbiw) if you must
Intermatic makes several different timers (you need one that is rated
for at least 1100w)....i used a 7 day programable 1500w timer...available
at lowes etc for about 29 bucks.
i programmed the timer to come on 3hrs before i TRADITIONALLY left for work
each morning.
the intermatic dt17c 7-day timer provides for 14 ON / 14 OFF programming per
day or 98 ON / 98 OFF programming per week.
you may need an outdoor timer...either way intermatic makes what you need
in the WATTAGE you need and theyre available at most retailers...
http://www.intermatic.com/Default.asp?action=div&did=5
FWIW i did NOT cut the cord/plug at the front of my truck...never know when
you might not be able to BACK INTO a driveway etc....i basically constructed a
HEAVY guage extension cord (4ga wire) and put the plugs on each end...i
used plenty of di-lectric grease on the front/factory plug (to keep moisture/dirt
& corrosion out) and tapped the living HELL outta the two plugs once they were
connected...i then zip tied the cord to the frame in a protective JACKET (split loom)
where the cord contacted anything (frame / tie down points).
in these photos you can see the cord connected to the rear mounted marinco outlet.