Block Heater Transformer Outside USA

Hi Everybody,
Im hoping somebody with better knowledge than me can help. I live in Norway and winters are cold and long. I own a 4th gen 1500 ecodiesel 2015. I have been trying to get the block heater to work, took a while to find the cord. I purchased a 50F extension cord from the USA (EBay) and found somebody on Norweigen EBay (Finn.no) with a transformer which I thought could work. But when I tried for first time, nothing. I left it running for 4 hours still cold. So either the transformer is wrong or the block heater is not working. Have attached pictures of the transformer. Hope somebody can help.

Why not buy a second block heater and wire in series then no transformer needed

Hello, what do you mean

If you have a multimeter you can check the transformer. The block heater will either work or it won’t. Usually they don’t go bad though.

An inexpensive multimeter will verify both that your transformer is working and will test resistance of the block heater to ensure it’s not open circuit or disconnected sonewhere.

I read elsewhere the heater is 400 watt with a resistance of 38 ohms.

Some people use aftermarket oil pan heaters or coolant heaters that insert into a coolant hose. You could perhaps source those locally to 240v spec if you prefer to not deal with the transformer.

Of course the engine designed for global markets, so I would expect there is an existing 240v part to replace the 120.

buy a extension cord with a light on the end or just the light itself then you can verify everything is working.. In Canada allot of the blockheater cords already have lights in them for a quick visual. I would almost bet that transformer does not have the capacity for the block heater.

I have done a bit of reading ....

Adaptors & Converters​

Be sure to take adaptors and a converter
Know what electrical equipment you need before you go.

Europe uses 220 volts (instead of the US 110 volt service) That means if you plug your electrical appliance into a European outlet with an Adaptor without a Converter, the sparks will fly!

Most likely, you will need not these for your computer, camera, or cell phone charger, but you do need them for your hair dryer, curly iron and straightener, shaver and any other electrical appliance brought from the US.

A Converter converts the 220 volts to 110 volts so US appliances will work (without melting). An Adaptor simply adapts the US Plug to match the European outlet. To complicate matters further, not all European outlets are the same.

An outlet in Great Britain is nothing like an outlet in France. For the authors first trip to Europe, he took a converter and an adaptor kit that included adaptors for all Western European countries. He still uses that kit.

zrock said:

I would almost bet that transformer does not have the capacity for the block heater.

Click to expand...

The block heater used in the EcoDiesel engine is a PTC 400W @ 115V, same one is used in all of the EcoD's.
The transformer should be big enough for the load, only discrepancy is it's 50Hz instead of 60Hz. This is a resistance type load the frequency shouldn't make a difference.

@JellyBoy your next step woudle be to test the voltage at the end of the extension cord while plugged into the transformer. Also check if there's resistance between the two flat prongs on the end of the block heater cord.
You'll want to have the winter front on the truck and keep the wind from blowing into the front of truck also while using the block heater. Also check the coolant temperature on the dash before you start it, may only read 37°C (100°F) but will drop considerably once you start the engine.

Thanks for the help all, I will check the resistance from transformer and block heater over the Christmas period,

Happy Christmas to all

crash68 said:

The block heater used in the EcoDiesel engine is a PTC 400W @ 115V, same one is used in all of the EcoD's.
The transformer should be big enough for the load, only discrepancy is it's 50Hz instead of 60Hz. This is a resistance type load the frequency shouldn't make a difference.

@JellyBoy your next step woudle be to test the voltage at the end of the extension cord while plugged into the transformer. Also check if there's resistance between the two flat prongs on the end of the block heater cord.
You'll want to have the winter front on the truck and keep the wind from blowing into the front of truck also while using the block heater. Also check the coolant temperature on the dash before you start it, may only read 37°C (100°F) but will drop considerably once you start the engine.

Click to expand...

true but those values are only for when everything is warm. Initial startup of the block heater could be much higher. tools and anything with a electrical motor the startup is always much higher that the rated capacity on startup.

One thing im wondering is if that truck was sold in a country with a different voltage why was the truck not sold with the proper equipment? A dealer their should have the proper plug so no adapter is needed

zrock said:

true but those values are only for when everything is warm. Initial startup of the block heater could be much higher. tools and anything with a electrical motor the startup is always much higher that the rated capacity on startup.

Click to expand...

As you stated, a higher current can be experienced on start up of a motor load(which can be 5X as much), the block heater is a resistive load. Other than the blip at start up, the current is not much higher than rated. I've never seen mine above 425 watts at a cold start. The block heater is a PTC type which self limits how hot it gets.

As you say, the in-rush current on inductive loads (motors & compressors) is always much higher than a resistive loads (block heaters & incandescent lighting).

Thanks for the replies and help, will test it over the Christmas holidays.

Happy Christmas everyone

zrock said:

true but those values are only for when everything is warm. Initial startup of the block heater could be much higher. tools and anything with a electrical motor the startup is always much higher that the rated capacity on startup.

One thing im wondering is if that truck was sold in a country with a different voltage why was the truck not sold with the proper equipment? A dealer their should have the proper plug so no adapter is needed

Click to expand...

The truck is imported from the USA, it is a used truck.