Using an automobile for electrical power
 

My local outdoor track does not have power on practice days.

Is there a way to use my car to provide power for engine heater, battery charger, ect.

Yes, you can get an inverter for your car to convert 12V to 110V output. Just be careful not to run your car battery down too low, or you'll be stuck.

Most chargers are able to be powered by a 12 volt DC battery like in a car. That's why they're called AC/DC.

What's an engine heater?

I assume he's referring to an engine heater for a nitro engine, to make it easier and quicker to start and warm up?

+1 on being careful on how far you run down an auto battery, modern ones don't like it much. May not be that bad if you only run nitro, but if using much power it's better to get a good sized marine/deep discharge battery. (Or go big and get a generator of course).

Maybe he's referring to a glow igniter but 12 volts would fry any glow plug.

We've been using cars to charge our batteries for many, many years. Just start the auto's engine to keep the battery topped off.

you can use big capacity deep cycle battery

I believe the OP just wants to know if he can pop open the hood of his car and connect a charger to the car battery. Yes he can.

I used to carry a deep discharge marine battery to the field back in the 1980s, that thing weighed in at about 50 pounds. Now I just pop the hood, clip onto the battery and charge, I can get two runs off a LiPo so I just run the charger once and it doesn't affect the battery that much.

Yes, i was refering to a nitro engine heater. they are used to get the engine components warm prior trying to start. From what I have been told the greatly increase the reliability of the engine.

anyhow, thanks for the replies. I was hoping to get away without buying a 12v engine heater.

We used to call those "hair dryers". We used them when breaking in a new tight engine. After break in they're not necessary.

some people do use hit air blowers, however resistance heater sleeves are the easier way to go.

i have been told by several experienced racers that it is always a goid idea to get heat in the engine prior to starting, no matter the age.

Resistance heaters draw a lot of juice. Charging off the car battery was normal for many/most of us so only minor caution there. But that heater would kill a battery pretty quick even a second deep cycle. Been there. Inverters as well. Heaters just suck watts.
Edit: Obvious question. How many watts does the heater you want to use draw ?

I don't know. It doesn't say in any of the product literature.