[MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics
I posted in re: repairing vs replacing a rotted out block heater power cord: Boy oh boy, is this bum advice. The cost of that cord is inconsequential. The cost is not huge, no. (Though it is a significant percentage of the cost of that car.) How much can a five foot power cord cost? Is this a $50 car? Maybe I missed that. The block heater cord in my '78 300D was just a plain old cord with perhaps an unique plug at the engine end. And I used it for years. Advice traded here is among competent adults who are assumed capable of evaluating their own abilities and acting accordingly. Not children. I have to think that applying power to a heater that I've never used and then wondering what could be wrong when sparks fly from under the front of the car might reveal that matters electrical are not at the very top of the owner's interest areas. Do you think that I was crazy to have replaced the three stranded 10ga wires in my home furnace that had oxidized, overheated, and burned out. Total cost: nil, I had a roll of suitable wire. Should I have ordered a new furnace instead? How do I know that it won't explode instantly when it's turned on, the old furnace at least has proven itself to be safe and reliable over 30 years.. Of course not and this has no relation to our discussion. I repeat, any risk of applying commercial 120V to an ungrounded sometimes wet metal mass (the car) is an invitation to disaster. RLE
Re: [MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics
I wasn't wondering what could be wrong. I was relating an anecdote. It was immediately obvious that a short-circuit had occurred. But you're right, matters electrical were not on my radar until that very moment. --mf On Dec 12, 2005, at 8:20 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have to think that applying power to a heater that I've never used and then wondering what could be wrong when sparks fly from under the front of the car might reveal that matters electrical are not at the very top of the owner's interest areas. _ L. Mark Finch Indianapolis 1982 300D Turbodiesel
Re: [MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics
How much can a five foot power cord cost? Is this a $50 car? Maybe I missed that. The block heater cord in my '78 300D was just a plain old cord with perhaps an unique plug at the engine end. And I used it for years. IIRC, the cord is about $25, or maybe it was $15. The entire heater (with cord) is $45 or so. The car, unless I misremember, was a $150 special. I have to think that applying power to a heater that I've never used and then wondering what could be wrong when sparks fly from under the front of the car might reveal that matters electrical are not at the very top of the owner's interest areas. People here are generally interested in extending their interest areas. Most of the advice you get here will assume that. But one is free to disregard it if they don't feel competent to make the attempt. Of course not and this has no relation to our discussion. I repeat, any risk of applying commercial 120V to an ungrounded sometimes wet metal mass (the car) is an invitation to disaster. The car _is_ grounded, through the heater's plug. And after a repair cycle this should indeed have been verified before juice was applied. -- Jim
Re: [MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics
If I remember correctly, aren't you an engineer? Wasn't that an electrical engineer? I don't often remember correctly. There are some of us (me included -- even though I don't refer to my 240D as a Chicken Wagon) -- who are seeing what we can drive on the cheap. For the record, my own block heater cord crapped out with a short at the plug. I chopped it off and put on a hardware store special end. But (and this is the important part) I tie-wrapped it to the body in such a way that it wouldn't catch any water drips. And I run an outdoor-rated three foot section of extension cord from that plug to the outside the car part. By the way, I was an avionics electronics technician during my first six years of Coast Guard service. I've been zapped with five digit DC while working on a radar, so have no fear of 120v AC. :-) Please don't assume that we are idiots. Any of us brave enough to start splicing 120v cable (or so I'd hope) know what we are doing. We might be working with duct tape (although I have converted to Gorilla Tape now) but we aren't amateurs. Don't ask me, however, about the time I decided to strip telephone cable with my teeth when I lived in NYC ... and someone called in while my tongue was on the ring piece of copper. THAT left a mark (when I fell off the ladder and hit the floor). On 12/13/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I posted in re: repairing vs replacing a rotted out block heater power cord: Boy oh boy, is this bum advice. The cost of that cord is inconsequential. The cost is not huge, no.� (Though it is a significant percentage of the cost of that car.) How much can a five foot power cord cost? Is this a $50 car? Maybe I missed that. The block heater cord in my '78 300D was just a plain old cord with perhaps an unique plug at the engine end. And I used it for years. Advice traded here is among competent adults who are assumed capable of evaluating their own abilities and acting accordingly. Not children. I have to think that applying power to a heater that I've never used and then wondering what could be wrong when sparks fly from under the front of the car might reveal that matters electrical are not at the very top of the owner's interest areas. Do you think that I was crazy to have replaced the three stranded 10ga wires in my home furnace that had oxidized, overheated, and burned out.� Total cost: nil, I had a roll of suitable wire. Should I have ordered a new furnace instead?� How do I know that it won't explode instantly when it's turned on, the old furnace at least has proven itself to be safe and reliable over 30 years.. Of course not and this has no relation to our discussion. I repeat, any risk of applying commercial 120V to an ungrounded sometimes wet metal mass (the car) is an invitation to disaster. RLE ___ For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- 1977 240D 1972 Honda CB-500K motorcycle http://www.airamericaradio.com/listen
Re: [MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics
Don't ask me, however, about the time I decided to strip telephone cable with my teeth when I lived in NYC ... and someone called in while my tongue was on the ring piece of copper. THAT left a mark (when I fell off the ladder and hit the floor). ROTFLMAO NOW THAT IS SOME FUNNY STUFF RIGHT THERE! Mike(who thinks 70VDC is too much for your tongue)
Re: [MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics
Carefull using duct tape for electrical repairs..Some brands WILL conduct electricity. Electrical tape is cheap enough. Mike - Original Message - From: LT Don [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 12:37 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics If I remember correctly, aren't you an engineer? Wasn't that an electrical engineer? I don't often remember correctly. There are some of us (me included -- even though I don't refer to my 240D as a Chicken Wagon) -- who are seeing what we can drive on the cheap. For the record, my own block heater cord crapped out with a short at the plug. I chopped it off and put on a hardware store special end. But (and this is the important part) I tie-wrapped it to the body in such a way that it wouldn't catch any water drips. And I run an outdoor-rated three foot section of extension cord from that plug to the outside the car part. By the way, I was an avionics electronics technician during my first six years of Coast Guard service. I've been zapped with five digit DC while working on a radar, so have no fear of 120v AC. :-) Please don't assume that we are idiots. Any of us brave enough to start splicing 120v cable (or so I'd hope) know what we are doing. We might be working with duct tape (although I have converted to Gorilla Tape now) but we aren't amateurs. Don't ask me, however, about the time I decided to strip telephone cable with my teeth when I lived in NYC ... and someone called in while my tongue was on the ring piece of copper. THAT left a mark (when I fell off the ladder and hit the floor). On 12/13/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I posted in re: repairing vs replacing a rotted out block heater power cord: Boy oh boy, is this bum advice. The cost of that cord is inconsequential. The cost is not huge, no.� (Though it is a significant percentage of the cost of that car.) How much can a five foot power cord cost? Is this a $50 car? Maybe I missed that. The block heater cord in my '78 300D was just a plain old cord with perhaps an unique plug at the engine end. And I used it for years. Advice traded here is among competent adults who are assumed capable of evaluating their own abilities and acting accordingly. Not children. I have to think that applying power to a heater that I've never used and then wondering what could be wrong when sparks fly from under the front of the car might reveal that matters electrical are not at the very top of the owner's interest areas. Do you think that I was crazy to have replaced the three stranded 10ga wires in my home furnace that had oxidized, overheated, and burned out.� Total cost: nil, I had a roll of suitable wire. Should I have ordered a new furnace instead?� How do I know that it won't explode instantly when it's turned on, the old furnace at least has proven itself to be safe and reliable over 30 years.. Of course not and this has no relation to our discussion. I repeat, any risk of applying commercial 120V to an ungrounded sometimes wet metal mass (the car) is an invitation to disaster. RLE ___ For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- 1977 240D 1972 Honda CB-500K motorcycle http://www.airamericaradio.com/listen ___ For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net
Re: [MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics
Don, that is a good story! Glad you survived! At 07:24 AM 12/13/2005, you wrote: Don't ask me, however, about the time I decided to strip telephone cable with my teeth when I lived in NYC ... and someone called in while my tongue was on the ring piece of copper. THAT left a mark (when I fell off the ladder and hit the floor). ROTFLMAO NOW THAT IS SOME FUNNY STUFF RIGHT THERE! Mike(who thinks 70VDC is too much for your tongue) ___ For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net
Re: [MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics
did you change your underwear also? Probably permanently stained. -Original Message- From: LT Don [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Dec 13, 2005 12:37 AM To: Mercedes mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics Don't ask me, however, about the time I decided to strip telephone cable with my teeth when I lived in NYC ... and someone called in while my tongue was on the ring piece of copper. THAT left a mark (when I fell off the ladder and hit the floor). Luther KB5QHU Alma, Ark '83 300SD (happily running diesel/WVO mix) '82 300CD slate grey, black interior, 152,xxx mi
Re: [MBZ] More block heater pyrotechnics
But (and this is theimportant part) I tie-wrapped it to the body in such a way that it wouldn't catch any water drips. I would submit that a nasty pieced-together old cord could well be _safer_ than a brand spanking new one installed by somebody without a clue. And I run an outdoor-rated three foot section ofextension cord from that plug to the outside the car part. The Frankenheap has one of those, ending in three sockets under the hood. One for the block heater, one for the cabin preheater, and one for the battery charger. All run during the preheat cycle. The end was carefully routed so that it could be reached without popping the hood. This because the doors are so often frozen shut in the morning. -- Jim
