Re: Dipstick heater or magnetic oil pan heater poll
What do you want to use those type of heaters on? Is it for your car, truck or boat?
I have been driving diesel powered vehicles for many years and all have had standard 115v AC block heaters installed.
In the winter time I use a small space heater inside on the drivers side. I connect everything to a standard timer and set it for about 3 hrs before I want to go somewhere.
When I'm ready to go the inside is warm, all the snow & ice is melted off the glass and the engine is warm....the heater works right away.....(you don't have to let them run all night, although you could I guess....they're designed for continuous operation.)
Dipstick heaters (cartridge heaters) work......sort of. but they don't heat very fast. If they did the oil would probably burn right onto the probe so they can't get very hot.
The magnetic type are ok I guess.
Here's a stick-on sump heater. It also includes a thermostat.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/fbpages/FBsumpheaters.php
If you wanted to use it on a boat you'd want to take all the precautions for ignition prevention.
You wouldn't want it to go boom when the thermostat switched it on and off!!
If I was going to do this I would probably get a Boatsafe heater
http://www.boatsafeheaters.com/Default.aspx
They're ignition protected and they're about
$250 on ebay....
You still are not protected if the power goes out though............
