IDLE FREE APU, ANYONE TRIED IT?

Most electric apu have the same problems. I had Nite System when it first come out. The first problem is they can't make them big enough to produce cold air when the truck is sitting in sunlight all day. You need like 12,000 BTU to cool sleeper in day time. The other problem is they can't run more then 10 hour before the batteries run out of power. That when the batteries are new. Batteries don't like going below 12v it kills the batteries and they won't hold a charge as long.

So my battery system was good for 10 hour with new batteries but they would only last 2 years and at that point they would only last 3 hours.

So most electric apu are only good for sleeping at night. My nite system just had 4 extra batteries. I had a Prostate truck with their system I believe it had 8 batteries plus a 350 amp alternator. If you ok with replacing batteries every 1 or so and only need a/c at night they are pretty ok.
I had a Thermo King apu also and. Was not so cheap with repairs but it could keep sleeper cool at 100F and it like a 13,000-13,000 BTU system. Most electric are like 6,000 BTU I think. Kind give you ida how under powered they are. If you plan on needing it during the day time summer heat or for 34 hour restart at truck stop or weekend.

 

Something i would add is that battery selection is CRITICAL with a battery APU.
I am a test truck for Dometic Corp and they changed battery style after i had great success with mine using Odyssey Extreme 2150s

Regular or cheaper AGM batteries don't give anywhere near the run time and capacity that's usually needed. Thus the cause of many battery APU complaints.

The Odyssey (qty X8), give a 14-16 hr run time on average in summer. They also charge in half (or less) the time of the old design batteries. Often after driving only 2-4 hours they're full again. This is with a Leece Neville 350A Alt.

The Thermo King diesel APU is very popular but i can't stand the obnoxious nose the TK makes. I think in a diesel APU the carrier brand "comfort pro" is much more pleasant noise wise....
Neither are nearly as quiet and smooth as they should be!!

I had a Onan quiet diesel 7.5k generator years ago and that is what the truck APU industry should use as a benchmark for noise level, vibration and reliability!! That Onan was one awesome unit !!!!

 

I'm thinking to buy one of this on batteries , European design good reviews,widely used on trucks in EU ,they opened a store in Toronto.

Viesa Truck Cab Coolers

 

Well I just got a 2013 cascadia with this idle free electric unit , the shop put new batteries in before I left the other day .
I got 2 nights out if it before quit working and now its back in the shop .
I will say it worked well in the time that it ran and whisper quiet.
Wel see what it does next week and if I have the time ill try out the reefer link .

 

Well the problem last week was just a blown fuse .
Now that I've had a chance to put some hours on it I can say the a.c. side works pretty well , its quite and cycles on and off with the window curtains closed .
Used the reefer link on 2 nights while parked 14 to 15 hours and the batteries stayed charged .

 

Anyone heard of the HP2000 by Parks Ind. out of Marion, IL?
$8,950 installed at their shop.

 

Heard of that one but don't know anything about it really.. sorry Baker

 

Long term I can't say one way or the other on the idle free product but so far I'm impressed and it works as good or better than any diesel fired unit I've used .
I'm happy that idle free mounts the evaporater up high understanding that cold air sinks and vents the heat thru the trucks hvac vents .
Love the reefer link ...so far so good .

 

A few months into the idle free system now mostly in a.c. mode will say it works as good as any diesel fired apu I've had but as with all its lack luster in high heat with the sun beating on the truck ...you will idle until the sun goes down even with the curtains closed.
It's ok but no better than anything else .
Reefer link is great but won't work well for lazy drivers that won't hook it up .
Has its good points but I'd give it a C+ because it isn't idle free .