TC29D, Block Heater, Garage Door Opener

thcri · Jan 10, 2016

My TC29D always been in the garage and no need to use the block heater. This is a Factory Block Heater. Well this yeah the tractor has to sit outside. I have a couple of cords to put together, plug into the hot outlet, open garage door and string it the cords to the tractor. About 50 feet in all. As soon as I plug into the block eater my garage door starts going down. Quick thinking I run to stop the door or I am locked out. I don't even think of it being the heater but start looking around to see if some one is playing a joke on me. No one is home so I go and unplug the heater and try and duplicate it again. No way. I use the tractor later on that day. The next day a snow storm is on the way so I go out and plug the tractor in and the door starts going down. It only does this if and only if I plug it in hot at the tractor and only less the door is open until today. My wife bought me a new 50 foot all weather 12 gauge cord that will open or close the door like 5 minutes after plugged it in. Makes no difference if I plu it in from in the garage first or last.

The tractor is parked about 30 feet from the opener.

Has anyone ran into this before. I have not really used the heater much in the past.

CDennyRun · Jan 12, 2016

I've never heard of that happening. I've had similar things happen on machinery, which turned out to be electrical noise causing the problem. This was due to having three phase ran in the same conduit as 24V (never a good idea).

Have you tried using a different outlet? If you plug it in through your kitchen window, will it turn on your coffee pot? :laughing:

Chris

ruffdog · Jan 12, 2016

Be sure to wear you tin foil hat just in case...

joefromga · Jan 12, 2016

Unless the button is in your pocket it's probably the amperage draw on heater startup causing the garage door to respond like a reset or power failure and default to whatever is opposite if the open/close position.

TO_Bud · Jan 19, 2016

Anything else plugged into this circuit like a refrigerator. I'm thinking like joe that something is temporarily pulling a heavy load. Is the outlet in good shape. Is the garage attached. Maybe plug into another circuit in the house to see if problem persists.

thcri · Jan 20, 2016

I had my wife pick up a ne heavier duty ford. Made it worse. But I am not blaming it on the tractor or block heater any more. The other morning I woke up and the garage door was open. Block heater was not plugged in. Based on temperature in the garage I suspect it was open about an hour. Wife says she was starting and stopping the clothes dryer about then taking one shirt out at a time.

Door opener company thinks it may be in the opener. There is a history button I am to try clearing out so will do that when I get home later this week

joefromga · Jan 20, 2016

thcri said:
I had my wife pick up a ne heavier duty ford. Made it worse. But I am not blaming it on the tractor or block heater any more. The other morning I woke up and the garage door was open. Block heater was not plugged in. Based on temperature in the garage I suspect it was open about an hour. Wife says she was starting and stopping the clothes dryer about then taking one shirt out at a time.

Door opener company thinks it may be in the opener. There is a history button I am to try clearing out so will do that when I get home later this week

Not sure how a heavy duty Ford will affect the garage opener but it will probably tow the tractor better.