Electric heat in a car?

[doogievlg]

This question has been bugging me a few days now and I figured someone here could answer it. Why don't cars use electric heat instead of a heater core? It seems like it wouldn't be to hard to install a heating element where the heater core is. I'm tired of sitting in my car when it's 10 degrees waiting for it to warm up!

 

[Bad Sport]

You would need a reeeeaaaally loooonnnng extension cord.

 

[trapster]

You could, but it would cost you a lot in gas to recharge your battery.

Although I have been thinking about adding heated seats to my 64 dart.

It gets cold down here in Florida and the heater in my convertible just isn't enough to keep up when the top is down

 

[inkjunkie]

You ever think about a block heater? My diesel pickemuptruck has one. Had it plugged in when we were below 0 a few times. Engine coolant is at 115* as soon as the truck starts. It does drop a bit when the coolant from the radiator replaces the stuff in the block but it still stays in the 90* area, which in my truck is warm enough to get heat...

 

[bcschief]

I seem to remember an article I read that Ford was doing this on some vehicles.

Brian

 

[doogievlg]

You ever think about a block heater? My diesel pickemuptruck has one. Had it plugged in when we were below 0 a few times. Engine coolant is at 115* as soon as the truck starts. It does drop a bit when the coolant from the radiator replaces the stuff in the block but it still stays in the 90* area, which in my truck is warm enough to get heat...

Yea but it isn't super cold that often up here. Plus it's not so bad that I would spend money to fix it. I was just curious why it hasn't been done. I understand it would take a lot of power to run it constantly but what about something just to kick on until the motor warms up?

 

[WildCat]

This question has been bugging me a few days now and I figured someone here could answer it. Why don't cars use electric heat instead of a heater core? It seems like it wouldn't be to hard to install a heating element where the heater core is. I'm tired of sitting in my car when it's 10 degrees waiting for it to warm up!

A block heater or lower radiator hose in line heater would be your best bet. Plug it in when it is going to be below (you set the number) and not instant heat but will be warm and have heat much sooner.

In one of my cars I did put an electric heater inside and had on a timer when it got really cold and the car was outside.

My truck has a block heater, you just have to. Remember to plug it in, but more importantly UNPLUG IT before you drive off. I leave my hood open part of the way when plugged in so I will remember to walk around the front and unplug it.

As far as a totally electric 12 volt heater, doubt you could get a big enough altenator to give you that much heat. I did hear Ford was using an electric heater in the diesel trucks for start up heat till the cooling system could start producing heat.

 

[DDodger]

typical portable heater is 1000---1500 watts. your alternator would have to be 'least 100A and working at full steam at all times, not including "the rest of" the car. hope you like buying belts

 

[H20loo]

Vw tdi have electric heaters in the defroster vents

 

[AJ/FormS]

Not to mention the fire hazzards
What I occasionally wonder is; why no electric heated windshields. Of course I know the answer, but that would be hot.

 

[Darter6]

Prius and Tesla have electric heat I believe.

 

[cannucky]

Volkswagon offered it as an option for air cooled beetles back in the day , Toyota also did it for their Land Cruisers I believe but both caused a lot of fires .

 

[95teetee]

What I occasionally wonder is; why no electric heated windshields.

like these ones?
http://www.myfordmag.com/news/transit-connect-windshield-defroster

 

[Woodys cudas]

Volkswagen beetles used gasoline heaters not electric.. It used 1 gallon of gasoline per hour to heat but it had instant heat! It worked great.... the stock heater started to work just before frostbite set in. Lol
I had one

 

[zigs]

Seems to me ford pickups in late 30's ran electric heaters. I can remember the heat coil rapped around ceramic insulator.

 

[WildCat]

Not to mention the fire hazzards
What I occasionally wonder is; why no electric heated windshields. Of course I know the answer, but that would be hot.

Chrysler had to start using electric heated windshield with the mini van a few models back due to the defrost vent not heating the bottom of the windshield.

The new 2016 escape and MKC will have optional heated windshield, but again only in the bottom wiper area. My guess same as the chrysler mini van a problem with the location of the defrost vent and the area the wipers are at do not get enough heat.

There use to be lots of VW bugs with add on electric heated grid made for the rear windows installed on the windshield in the indianapolis area back in the day

 

[doogievlg]

What would make it such a fire hazard? Something some how falling down the vents somehow?

 

[70aarcuda]

http://www.harborfreight.com/12v-auto-heater-defroster-with-light-61598.html

 

[Leadfoot]

A two slice toaster is about 1200 watts. That's 100 amps from your car battery. Not including any parasitic loss.

 

[sireland67]

Buy a block heater or a Katts heater that goes in the lower radiator hose.
Still need to plug them in, but they will help it warm up and start easier.

Katts also makes a nice magnetic heater that you can stick on the oil pan, I used one a couple of days this winter to help my old truck start when it was around 0 deg f outside in the mornings.
You have to remove the magnetic one before driving the vehicle kind of a pain but at least the old 4x4 started every morning.

 

[H20loo]

This question has been bugging me a few days now and I figured someone here could answer it. Why don't cars use electric heat instead of a heater core? It seems like it wouldn't be to hard to install a heating element where the heater core is. I'm tired of sitting in my car when it's 10 degrees waiting for it to warm up!

...or install a remote starter. The new Jetta TDI defroster is electric and throws heat immediately. Combined with heated seats it makes Canadian mornings tolerable.
Cars use heater cores because it is free energy, or heat that needs to be expelled somewhere. Electric heat would require a big alternator and the horsepower draw to run it.

 

[6pkScamp]

http://www.harborfreight.com/12v-auto-heater-defroster-with-light-61598.html

Don't waste your money. I got one and it only last a minute or so before it blows the fuse.

 

[doogievlg]

Like I said, I'm not going to actually spend money on something to warm it up. I was just thinking to myself.

 

[krazykuda]

You also have to be careful with block heaters.

I used the lower radiator block heater in my daily driver many years back. I would plug it in at night, and then in the morning if it snowed, I would start my car and by the time I had cleared all of the snow off of it, you could start feeling the heat coming out of the vents. It was nice, and helped minimize wear on the cylinders also.


HOWEVER, I go about paying my utility bills every month. (we're talking about Feb here.) Then come April/May, I get an electric bill for $1500.... WTF??? I was furious, how could I owe that much after paying my bill every month?

I call the electric co, and they inform me that the last three months they sent me an ESTIMATED bill. This is where they don't read your meter, but just bill you on your "average" rate of consumption....

Well, they finally came in April/May to read the meter and then sent me an ACTUAL bill for $1500....


Leaving my 750 watt block heater plugged in overnight ran up my electric bill....

So I put it on a timer after that where I would set it to turn the block heater on an hour to an hour and a half before I had to leave for work. Same end result for the heater output, but much less electric bill.....


FYI.....

 

[krazykuda]

How about installing a wood burning stove????