| Owner-Operators: Don’t Burn Yourself Choosing an APU for Cooling Capacity
Two hours ago, you lay down to get some much-needed sleep. But the temperature in your sleeper climbed from 72 to 91 degrees. And moisture from your breath and sweat pushed the humidity nearly as high.
You need rest. You have a long day of driving ahead. But you can’t fall asleep since your sleeper feels more like a steam room than a truck. So, you can continue driving and look forward to more hot, rest-free sleep periods or you can idle your truck engine so you can run the air conditioning, and count on your luck not to get caught.
A recent survey conducted by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Foundation found that 76 percent of responders don’t use an alternative to idling their truck engines even though more than 30 states and countless counties and municipalities have adopted anti-idling regulations. Many of those regulations exact heavy fines against drivers and their companies for violations.
“As more jurisdictions consider and approve anti-idling measures in an effort to reduce air pollution, more owner-operators are faced with this impossible dilemma,” said Will Watson vice president of sales and marketing for Auxiliary Power Dynamics. “Some choose to suffer. Many don’t. And when they idle their truck engines, that can place them and the companies they drive for squarely in the sights and fine books of state highway patrol and DOT compliance officers.”
With hot summer days and nights just around the corner, adding auxiliary power units to your trucks now offers a good way to ensure that you won’t be forced to idle your truck engine later, Watson said. Plus, NASA has predicted record high temperatures this summer, particularly in the Northeast. And with average diesel fuel prices likely to rise as high as $3 per gallon or more, and more jurisdictions set to pass anti-idling restrictions with hefty fines, now is the time to get your trucks equipped.
But with so many different choices in APUs, how do you know which model will do the job? Watson offers these eight tips when choosing an APU to provide you the cooling comfort during engine-off periods you deserve:
Tip No. 1: Understand your true needs
First and foremost, think about your needs and the conditions under which you operate. Determine when, where, why, and for how long you idle your truck engine by looking carefully at maintenance receipts and engine logs. This may seem like a lot of added work, but it’s critical to knowing what kind of equipment will best address your needs. You may be surprised by what you find. Plus, time spent doing some research means you won’t choose the wrong equipment.
Tip No. 2: Determine the APU’s cooling capacity
Keep in mind that cooling capacity on APUs can vary substantially among different units. Some APUs offer cooling capacity that can keep you cool even when the sun beats down. For example, the Willis APU, with the highest cooling capacity in the APU industry, can deliver the same amount of cooling as the truck’s air conditioning.
In order for an APU to offer that kind of cooling capacity it must have two things: a powerful engine and the ability to distribute air evenly. An APU can be set up to use the trucks ductwork (integrated) or its own (non-integrated).
APU manufacturers usually measure capacity in terms of the number of British thermal units or BTUs their devices deliver. If you find that you routinely idle your trucks to stay cool during rest periods or during loading or unloading, you should pay close attention to BTUs. An APU that delivers 12,000 BTUs or less, properly configured and installed, may offer adequate capacity to cool a single bunk or small sleeper, but it will not cool the cab. Such an APU won’t overcome the effects of solar heat, which can heat up a truck cab and sleeper quickly. Nor will the APU provide enough airflow to cool the larger sleeper that’s now more common on long-distance trucks. Since a truck’s HVAC system generally delivers 30,000 BTUs or more of cooling capacity, you should find an APU that offers similar capacity.
Tip No. 3: Know the difference between integrated and non-integrated
When some APUs are installed, they’re integrated into the truck’s existing HVAC system. Integrated units can cool the cab and sleeper more efficiently since you can use the truck’s HVAC system controls and vents to direct airflow. Integrated units are especially desirable for larger cabs and sleepers or for sleepers with dual bunks. The disadvantage to an integrated unit is that it takes a properly trained technician with the right technology to install it since it’s being tied to the truck’s HVAC system. But established manufacturers, like Auxiliary Power Dynamics, offer convenient locations to get that installation work done.
Other units are not integrated into the truck’s HVAC system, so, they use their own vents to provide heating and cooling. The disadvantage to such units is that they don’t have the proper vent locations to heat or cool more than the sleeper berth.
Tip No. 4: Guard against losing valuable real estate in the sleeper
You use your refrigerator and microwave to save money on meals. You had a portable toilet installed so you don’t have to stop at those creepy rest area bathrooms late at night. And storage space for your personal belongings, logbook, papers and other equipment? Well, that’s almost as important to you as a good company dispatcher. So why give up any of these things just to make room for an APU? It’s important to consider what space in your sleeper and cab, if any, the APU will take up or what components must go in order to get the unit to fit. Many APUs, particularly non-integrated units, require space inside the sleeper in order to fit their ductwork, AC systems or other components. However, integrated APUs often use the truck’s existing ductwork and HVAC systems and they are usually mounted outside the sleeper. So you won’t have to give up valuable storage space, a refrigerator or other appliances in order to accommodate the APU. And that means a happier and more productive you.
Tip No. 5: Choose an APU with a heavy-duty alternator
An APU with a heavy-duty alternator can better handle that load plus the higher hotel loads associated with personal devices, refrigerators, and other appliances common in a larger sleeper. With a heavy-duty alternator, the APU will be less likely to fail. Plus, it will recharge the truck batteries faster, extending their lives, and protect the truck’s electrical components. Should the truck’s alternator ever fail, you can count on the APU’s heavy-duty alternator to serve as a back-up avoiding you costly towing and service fees and the heartburn of dealing with a late delivery.
Tip No. 6: Stop, Look, Listen to the APU’s engine
You can choose APU engines with one-, two- or three-cylinders. Typically, the more cylinders the engine has, the better it will perform and the longer it will run without major issues. That’s because the cylinders fire more evenly and the APU engine operates at a lower RPM. More cylinders also means the APU runs quieter and that’s a major advantage when you must stop at crowded rest stops or other locations where a noisy APU would be too disruptive to operate.
Tip No. 7: Investigate electrical loads…invest in an inverter
Before you choose an APU, investigate how many potentially battery-draining devices with which your truck is equipped. Then determine how many and how frequently you use them. You should also understand the cumulative effect of all those devices drawing power from the APU. This is particularly important to know if you’re considering an APU that uses a deep-cycle battery to power the truck’s HVAC system and hotel loads.
If you’re accustomed to operating electrical devices such as televisions, DVDs, stereos and laptop computers, plus the truck’s HVAC system, during rest periods, you should consider two things:
- Electrical systems that use deep-cycle batteries may not offer enough electricity to power their cooling systems plus hotel loads during an entire rest period. The systems may also offer insufficient BTUs to actually cool your sleeper, (see Tip No. 2 for more details).
- Some diesel-powered APUs can be integrated with optional 110-volt AC inverters and deep-cycle batteries to help you better manage electrical loads.
For example, the Willis APU, with a 110-volt, AC inverter and a deep-cycle battery, allows you to run hotel loads and the truck’s HVAC system for short periods of time off the battery. Later, when the Willis APU’s engine engages to power the truck for longer periods of time, it can also recharge the batteries. This feature extends the operating life of your APU and lowers its operating costs. The optional inverter also allows you to run standard, small household appliances that are widely available and much less expensive than appliances designed to operate on 12-volt DC current. Plus, appliances, especially motor-driven ones, operate more efficiently taking less current and using smaller cords. This means less strain on the APU, which also contributes to a longer operating life.
Tip No. 8: Clear the air about new air quality standards and APUs
Lately much attention has been drawn on the new air quality standards adopted by the state of California and its possible effects on APUs. If you’re considering getting a diesel-powered APU and are worried whether you will be able to use it, know that the new air quality standards adopted by California establish restrictions for trucks that are 2007 models or newer. The new standards don’t establish restrictions on using diesel engine-powered APUs on later model trucks. If you want to equip 2007 model or newer trucks with APUs, optional diesel particulate filters can be added to the APUs so that they can meet the new California Air Resources Board standards.
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