Designing a Temperature-Based Heating System for an Automotive Engine Preheater
Designing a Temperature-Based Heating System for an Automotive Engine Preheater

Description
Overview
Winter can be very cold in Nordic countries; it is fairly normal to have temperatures below -20°C. Not everyone has a warm garage for their vehicles, so many people use an engine preheater, like the one shown in Figure 1.
The engine preheater is mounted into the vehicle (Figure 2) and typically heats the water inside the engine.
Starting a vehicle in a cold environment will put an engine under heavy stress. Starting an engine at -30°C puts the same wear on the engine as driving 600km (373 miles). Gasoline consumption during a cold start is much higher than the start of a preheated engine. Preheating the engine results in energy and cost savings, and creates less pollution.
There are two types of preheaters: one uses gasoline as energy and the other uses electricity. This article describes how to design a temperature-based heating system for an electrical engine preheater. Regardless of whether one uses an engine block heater, hose heater, oil heater, or contact heater—this temperature-based heating system described in this article will function correctly.
Designed, Built, Tested
Board pictured here has been fully assembled and tested. Not available for sale.
Maxim Devices (4)
Part Number
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Name
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Product Family
|
Order
|
Design kits and evaluation modules |
---|---|---|---|---|
MAX16910 | 200mA, Automotive, Ultra-Low Quiescent Current, Linear Regulator | Linear Regulators (LDOs) | Buy Now | Design Kits |
MAX6605 | Low-Power Analog Temperature Sensor in SC70 Package | Sensors | Buy Now | Not Available |
MAX7375 | 3-Pin Silicon Oscillator | Silicon and Crystal Oscillators | Buy Now | Not Available |
DS3232 | Extremely Accurate I²C RTC with Integrated Crystal and SRAM | Real-Time Clocks | Buy Now | Not Available |
Maxim Devices (4)
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