PTC Thermistor heater 12 volt ?

[[email protected]]

I am trying to make a budget heater setup to heat the filter separator
on my old truck and use a diesel + Veg oil mix ( I would like to get
the
temp up to about 140-150 degrees F . I was thinking about using a
PTC heater unit canabalized from one of those portable 12v car heaters
( a 200 watt model)
( see for example -
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36711
-
) and somehow attaching it to the filter housing and covering with the
double face hvac duct wrap . Anyone here build something like this or
have any tips on how the find and adapt the proper PTC ( brands, part#,
and sources ) ? -thanks

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

I am trying to make a budget heater setup to heat the filter separator
on my old truck and use a diesel + Veg oil mix ( I would like to get
the
temp up to about 140-150 degrees F . I was thinking about using a
PTC heater unit canabalized from one of those portable 12v car heaters
( a 200 watt model)
( see for example -
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36711
-
) and somehow attaching it to the filter housing and covering with the
double face hvac duct wrap . Anyone here build something like this or
have any tips on how the find and adapt the proper PTC ( brands, part#,
and sources ) ? -thanks

Reckon I would go for a simple wire heater element you could make yourself.
Like a few turns of resistance wire around the filter with liquid backup
from the engine cooling system.
Put a thermistor in the output to control the 'element'.

 

[Mike]

I would think that heating fuel reduces the efficiency of fuel burn. Of
course, diesel + veg probably be pretty thick, but what about a fuel
additive? Could even mix some parts of kerosene -- same stuff pretty much.

Mike