I use a block heater and battery warmer.
There was some controversy over whether the oil pan heater would burn the oil on the bottom of the pan if left on too long.
I repaired a hole in a BX tank with this several years ago, no problem.
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1.6 amps is next to nothing, check the polarity and make sure the two hot leads line up and that you aren't connecting positive to negative.
Sometimes things are wired ass backwards, you might have to open up the fan or the plug to trace the wiring.
When my bx did this it was a blockage at the tank outlet.
The fuel is drained from the filter and can't refill quick enough causing fuel starvation.
I discovered this by pulling the fuel line at the filter to check the flow and discovered the blockage.
Blew compressed air back towards the tank...
My bx2370 is the same.
When I replaced the coolant there must have been air in the system because the temperature reading bumped way up.
Added the required coolant and it's reading low temperature again.
I think it's normal.
Mine works fine on a BX, specially in the city where I wouldn't want it moving any faster.
Out in the country with a larger tractor it could be different.