Plug-in car heater for cold winter days?

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich) 10/09/2014 at 23:39 • Filed to: None

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I vaguely remember something that my dad had rigged up one winter. It was a car heater that ran on a timer, and plugged into an electrical outlet. It headed up the interior of the car in winter so that my mom (or whoever it was that was driving that day) wouldn't have to leave the car running that long.

Does this sound familiar to anyone else? I'm thinking with baby on the way soon, it can take quite a while to warm up the interior of either of our cars. Something like this might save a bit of gas, as we wouldn't have to leave the car running for 20 minutes just so the inside gets warm.

JasonStern911 > BaconSandwich is tasty. 10/10/2014 at 00:12

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my parents have a 1977 Chevy pickup that they'd plug in during the winter. I honestly don't remember whether or not it heated up the interior, but I do know it kept the block warm so that the carbureted truck started easily in freezing weather.

when the heater control dial went out in my former RX-8, I got a 12V space heater. it was fairly ineffective, but better than nothing.

deekster_caddy > BaconSandwich is tasty. 10/10/2014 at 00:37

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Just search for "block heater" and you might want a drilled thermostat so it can flow the coolqnt around.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > BaconSandwich is tasty. 10/10/2014 at 01:42

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All I'm aware of is a block heater, not so much a interior heater.

cabarne4 > BaconSandwich is tasty. 10/10/2014 at 03:06

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We sell them at O'Reilly's. Look up 12V ceramic heaters.

Captain of the Enterprise > JasonStern911 10/10/2014 at 09:33

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Also incredibly dangerous

BaconSandwich is tasty. > JasonStern911 10/10/2014 at 09:44

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Sounds like a block heater. I've already got one of those - they are a necessity up here, unless you want your car to not start for two weeks of the year. I've considered a battery blanket as well, but at this point I could probably just use a new battery.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > deekster_caddy 10/10/2014 at 09:45

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I've already got one. I'm looking for something that will heat up the interior - not just the block.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > cabarne4 10/10/2014 at 09:46

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Interesting! I'll have to take a look.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > BaconSandwich is tasty. 10/10/2014 at 11:17

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If you've already got a block heater that you use things should be well on their way to warming up. You really don't need to get the car that warm to keep the kid warm. Put a blanket on them and use a car seat cover over that and they will be plenty cozy. This is what we do and they stay warm just fine.

deekster_caddy > BaconSandwich is tasty. 10/10/2014 at 20:11

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Oh. I guess you could use a ceramic space heater with an extension cord and timer from the outside, but it would have to be done carefully. I know of people who have done this. I can't say I recommend it at all.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > deekster_caddy 10/10/2014 at 20:47

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Good to know.