Is this a lot of electrics to draw?

[Jim-Phillips]

I am looking closely at buying an electrical heater for heating veg oil. I have found one that uses 30amp/300watts of power- Is this a lot? Will there be any drawbacks if I take this much current? I will only be used when the engine is running

Does anyone know the electrical output of the alternator?

Thanks, Jim

[Medieval Dave]

Hmmmm...

300 watts is about the same as six spotlights (55 watts each generally)

on most cars thats getting close to worrying about the ratings of the electrical system. but on pickups/ surfs etc I've known several people go for four big 100W spots and a couple of fogs without uprating with no problems.

So I would say you would be OK with a 300 watt load as long as you didn't have a lot of other big loads added on such as a rake of spotlights.

However with 12.5 Amp single loads you need to be carefull how you wire it. not leftover speaker cable and bits from Halfords.

Have a look at Vehicle wiring products

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.c...page/home.html

In a real working vehicle I always reccon on having plenty to spare so I'd go for at least 2.5mm cable for 12A, or 4mm for carrying both, and for 20 amp switches for 12A.

[Jim-Phillips]

Thanks for the input Dave. The only other load would be headlights at night and the cd/radio

I have spoken to Milner and their alternator is rated to 60amp - I guess the Toyota one will bw the same. Sounds a little touch and go if it is - I will be drawing the maximum output of the alternator

[Gizmo]

I am looking closely at buying an electrical heater for heating veg oil. I have found one that uses 30amp/300watts of power- Is this a lot? Will there be any drawbacks if I take this much current? I will only be used when the engine is running

Does anyone know the electrical output of the alternator?

Thanks, Jim

Have you looked at the Fuelcat etc. Some of the guys are using this.
Have a look ere http://fuelcat.co.uk/DieselCombo.html

[jaky cakes]

I am looking closely at buying an electrical heater for heating veg oil. I have found one that uses 30amp/300watts of power- Is this a lot? Will there be any drawbacks if I take this much current? I will only be used when the engine is running

Does anyone know the electrical output of the alternator?

Thanks, Jim

I've toyed with lots of heaters in the past - rangeing from a combi boiler exchanger to a renualt fuel filter with heater built in (heated from engine coolant). In the end I made my own from copper tube (15mm inside 22mm). engine coolant runs through the 15mm and deisel/veg through the 22mm. I fitted a thermocouple and display (from L'DL £1.99). temp gets up to around 45'c in winter months within a couple of minutes. I run 50/50 in winter and around 80/20 in summer with this heater - no probs. I designed it to be vertically mounted to save space and ensure efficiency. - may well save your alternator/wiring loom/batteries. also powering such a device from your alternator will decrease your fuel efficiency - to what extent - i don't know!
Ali

[hawkwind]

In the end I made my own from copper tube (15mm inside 22mm). engine coolant runs through the 15mm and deisel/veg through the 22mm. I fitted a thermocouple and display (from L'DL £1.99). temp gets up to around 45'c in winter months within a couple of minutes. I run 50/50 in winter and around 80/20 in summer with this heater - no probs. I designed it to be vertically mounted to save space and ensure efficiency. - may well save your alternator/wiring loom/batteries. also powering such a device from your alternator will decrease your fuel efficiency - to what extent - i don't know!
Ali

Sounds nice, got any piccies??

One thing i`ve heard though i dont know if its true, is that veg oil reacts with copper.
What this reaction is i haven`t got a clue but it may be worth checking out.

[jaky cakes]

Sounds nice, got any piccies??

One thing i`ve heard though i dont know if its true, is that veg oil reacts with copper.
What this reaction is i haven`t got a clue but it may be worth checking out.

I have not got any pictures - as it's all tucked up in the engine bay - and besides - the photo wont show the internals - but here's a quick drawing to show the genaral idea. all fittings are solder ring (yorkshire fittings) but you could use endex or endfeed fittings. the whole unit is about 300mm high and 100 wide, all wrapped in Wickes 22mm pipe insulation, and fitted inline before fuel filter.
by the way - the gap between the inside of the 22 and outside of the 15 (fuel passage is about 2mm - the area of which works out to be a bigger cross sectional area than the original fuel supply pipes - thus no fuel starvation, and because the gap is so small, the fuel is "spread thinner" around heating medium so heats quicker.
hope this helps.

[TonyN]

Does anyone know the electrical output of the alternator?

Thanks, Jim

3.0 2nd gen is 55 amp.