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[kev]

OK, so I live in a quiet area, and I like to take the 2A to work.

I leave around 07:20, I start it up and quickly drive away as to not disturb the neighbours.
I’ll soon be starting to use my heated screens, but don’t really want to have the engine running while the screens do their magic.

Question is, how long can I leave the screens on without the engine running before they eat away too much battery? Is 5-10 mins going to drain the battery too much?

Got to keep the neighbours happy you know.🇬🇧

[genocache]

I wish my neighbor was as considerate. he leaves his van idling anywhere from 5 to 15 min every morning. 40' from my bedroom.

[Wittsend]

2 heated screens draw around 17 amps.
That's almost the same as all the lights on.

Are you running with a dynamo or alternator

With a dynamo it will take longer for the battery to charge up and if you don't have a good (big) battery and it's a diesel with heater plugs you might struggle in the depths of winter. With an alternator you should just about be OK.

It also depends just how much frost and snow you have on the glass, inside & out.
While having the screen on you could "speed" things up by going round with a window squeegee and manually shift the worst of it.

Where I am we only get a few days of ice and snow.
The screens are used more to get rid of inside condensation.

 

[kev]

200TDI with the 200 alternator.

In the Midlands, not much snow but loads of frosty mornings.

I’ll give it a go, and if it goes badly....




...I’ll take the car instead.😁

[Wittsend]

As an aside ...

I once looked after a Mike Hailwood Ducati 900 replica for friend whilst he was on holiday.
What a noise that made - rattled every window in the street 


 

[TimV]

You were supposed to be looking after it, not playing with it!

[Alan Drover]

I haven't needed to do so yet as I rely on nature's de icer but if I did I'd run the engine using the third notch on the hand throttle on my Series 3 petrol.

[GlenAnderson]

I use my 109” for a short commute most days. I simply give the screens a wipe/scrape to clear them initially, then start the engine, turn the screens and lights on, then drive to work. There might be a bit of re-misting, but the screens pretty much stop it after a minute or so and keep it as clear as a bell for the rest of the trip.

[PetrolFour]

I use my 109” for a short commute most days. I simply give the screens a wipe/scrape to clear them initially, then start the engine, turn the screens and lights on, then drive to work. There might be a bit of re-misting, but the screens pretty much stop it after a minute or so and keep it as clear as a bell for the rest of the trip.

Me too, same story. Mine's wired such that they won't run without the engine running. Run screens every morning for last few weeks to demist. A quick initial wipe, and that's about it.  No skimping the heavy cable runs, a 65Amp alternator, with  the biggest battery Halfords can muster. As Glen, under 1-2 mins, it's sorted.
Heavy cable is as much the trick as the alternator.

See attached: Fired by oil-pressure, my notes on 'engine on' power circuit. Fan and a few other bits come off the same circuit.

[Ian59]

In regard to the original question, so much depends on the size and condition of your battery but if its a decent size and in good health I don't see it being a problem for the few minutes it would take to de-ice a screen.

On the subject of start-up noise, I have a Jaguar F-type SVR that on start up, (especially in dynamic mode) sounds absolutely wonderful, and very loud!

My solution? no neighbours!

[PetrolFour]

I don't see it being a problem for the few minutes it would take to de-ice a screen.

Really? Take your point, only that's it right there. When you're wanting your battery the most.. on a cold morning, and you've to work it harder than usual, surely, priority is engine running. 15-20A @ 12.7 (at best - more like 12.3) from a cold battery for longer than required running, as against 13.9 and 14.8V if we wait to start. Basic school-boy Ohm's law- roughly...

12.3 x 0.6Ohms = 246W
14.4 x0.6Ohms = 341W

No contest - The numbers don't stack. Running it'll be a quicker warm-up and more chance of starting in the first. You're better to spend the time running it at 14.4, and...  not annoy the neighbours.

[Craig T]

Friend of mine used to have a Kenlowe pre-heater in his 110 V8
You plug it into the mains and set the timer so it comes on 30 minutes before your expected departure time in the morning. When you get to the vehicle you find you engine coolant is already up to temperature giving instant heating and an easier starting engine.

It worked great until he forgot to unplug it one day and drove away leaving a sparking cable on the ground behind him!

Craig.

[oilstain]

It worked great until he forgot to unplug it one day and drove leaving a sparking cable on the ground behind him!

Craig.

easy to do, I did it with a caravan mains lead as I was trying to top up the motor mover battery till the last minuite