That is what they make timers for.  The heater only needs to run for 1 -2 hours right before you start the vehicle, the rest of the time you would just be lining the pockets of your local electric utility.

Mark in AK

----- Original Message -----
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009 3:58 pm
Subject: Re: Takes a darn long time for the heater to come up to speed
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> Anyway, chimeras aside, what hose would be good to cut to insert this
> tank-type coolant heater:
>
> http://www.jcwhitney.com/ZEROSTART-TANK-TYPE-ENGINE-
> HEATERS/GP_2000837_N_111+10201+600001648_10101.jcw
>
> It wants to go into the heater hose loop somewhere -- would it matter
> whether it goes into the heater send or return hose? Possibly not.
> Anyway,if someone has a good idea, the Bentley page and hose callout
> would be cool.
>
> Even the little one sucks 750W, so leaving it on overnight would be
> noticed on the ol' electric bill. Like 12 hours would be 9kwh.
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR
>