How can you tell if engine heater is working

[rream]

Can not figure out if the heater is working when running the generator in a Journey 2012 36M

[ahicks]

What heater? You mean the furnace?

[rgvtexan]

The engine and the gen have seperate cooling systems. Or do you mean the engine block heater? Measure the voltage at the outlet with the gen running.

[palehorse89]

Originally Posted by rream

Can not figure out if the heater is working when running the generator in a Journey 2012 36M

Start up your generator and and warm it up a bit and it should idle down, then flip your switch for the block heater and see if the genset speeds up, if it does it is working ok. If not troubleshooting is needed.

[FIRE UP]

Well Sir,
I'm assuming you mean the block heater. If so, than, a simply way I check mine is, after it's been on for a while, say, an hour or so, turn the key on. If the block heater is working, the engine temp guage will rise slightly more than it would if there was no block heater in operation. Done it a few times that way and it always works.
Scott

[rream]

Originally Posted by palehorse89

Start up your generator and and warm it up a bit and it should idle down, then flip your switch for the block heater and see if the genset speeds up, if it does it is working ok. If not troubleshooting is needed.

I will try this when I go over later

[rream]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Well Sir,
I'm assuming you mean the block heater. If so, than, a simply way I check mine is, after it's been on for a while, say, an hour or so, turn the key on. If the block heater is working, the engine temp guage will rise slightly more than it would if there was no block heater in operation. Done it a few times that way and it always works.
Scott

I tried this last week and the temp did not show a diff after 40 min running the generator with the block heater on.

[ernieh]

40 mins is probably not long enough if you really need the block heater.

IMHO the easiest way is like someone already stated, "start the generator and if it speeds up when you flip the switch, it's working".

[FIRE UP]

rream,
Roger that Sir. I don't use it all that much because of two things. One, we don't live in that cold of an area and two, those block heaters draw quite a bit of juice so, it's a bit costly to use them. Now, I should use it once in a while just to "exersize" it and, make sure it does work, just in case I ever really need it.
Scott

[wa8yxm]

How to tell if the block heater is working on generator two methods. (you can even daisy chane the two)

TURN block heater OFF (It should always be off when starting the generator anyway) Start generator

Wait ONE MINUTE or however long it takes the transfer switch to .. Transfer. At this point lights inside the coach normally brighten.


Listen to the generator as you turn on the block heater, Within a few seonds you should hear the thing change sound a bit. This indiates a major load just cut in (the heater)
Come back in 1-2 hours.

Turn key on main engine to ON, read temp. Needle at bottom of arc (Low temp) Heater not working.. Needle middle to top, Working.

Another method... Clamp on ammeter, Clamp it over the black wire in the breaker box that goes to the block heater outlet.. Current = working 10=12 amsp on a guess.

[rream]

Thanks all - I just went to the storage lot and ran the generator then cut on the block heater. You could definitely hear the generator noise increase - looks like it is working.

[poppopc]

Also when you plug it in when it is cold
It will " Sizzle"!

[AFChap]

Listening for the change in gen rpm when you turn it on is quickest/easiest. I do not believe I would see/have ever seen a difference in the engine temp gauge (never looked, didn't notice?), but I definitely know that after the block heater has been on awhile the liquid level in the coolant overflow bottle easily seen through the engine access grill will be higher than "cold normal."

[rream]

Thanks for the tip on the bottle

[DancinCampers]

You should also see an increase amp load on L1 or L2 when block heater kicks in.

[motohomer]

DancinCampers got it!

You should see about 10 Amps of draw.
And an iron block filled with several gallons of oil & coolant can take a while to heat up. The intake air heaters generally run/cycle until it reaches the mid 70 degrees mark. But all you really need to worry about is getting the block above the min temp range of your oil & antifreeze. Once you get it started, the engine can warm it self up a lot more efficiently than the generator/block heater combo.
But if shore power is available, run the block heater overnight.

[Triker56]

After you run the generator for 3-4 hours. Put your hand on the radiator tank.
Should be warmer then the outside air.