Possible APU alternative

You'd need a seperate battery bank. Doable sure enough. Check out the fella who posted a Dometic 12V system install about 3 weeks ago. Good stuff

 

I'm not sure how to figure you wouldn't need extra batteries as you 100% would.. Might work if you add in extra batteries and run that to an inverter and maybe a couple solar panels to help charge it when idle.

 

Amps x volts = watts. Also 8 amps is only the running amps. Unit probably will draw closer to 15 amps starting up. Also batteries have a certain discharge rate. If you discharge them to fast. You can cause a fire.

 

Please post a link to the Samsung unit..

 

I've thought about that using a marine wind generator. The kind live aboard sailboats use.

 

I'm having a difficult time understanding why you would not be saving some fuel by running an APU and not idling the truck. I have spoken to OOs who have installed APUs and they told me the break-even point is between the 3rd and 5th year. Further, I understand a huge amount of the cost to get an APU installed is also Tax deductible. I would highly recommend doing some research on APUs and the final costs before I installed something that may over time become dangerous.

I have not driven a CMV in almost 10 years. When I retired I had been using an APU for a while. I have to have air moving over me to get into a deep sleep. My carrier never wanted us to idle. Back then our trucks used roughly a gallon an hour when idling. The AC system that was part of the APU provided enough air that I slept comfortably. Another plus for the APU is I could leave and go on hometime stay gone for 3 or 4 days and never have to worry about a dead battery. As long as you kept enough fuel in the tank to keep the APU fuel inlet in the fuel you had power. Enough to operate a coffeepot, microwave oven, TV, and games.

I admit APUs are not cheap. I have had this conversation many times over the years. Your comfort on the road is also valuable. Before you deem an APU to not be a wise investment take a look at the whole picture.

TL;DR
I don't work for or have any interest in a business that makes, sells, or installs APUs.

 

Battery powered APUs are available

I’d be careful about building a home made one unless you know exactly what you’re doing .

It’s been a few years since I drove , they didn’t have APUs back then , just generators and rooftop AC units like in a motorhome

but I just left mine idle while I was sleeping to keep cool or warm .

only reason I even considered a genny and rooftop ac was so I could stay at campgrounds,in the summer . If I had a couple of days off , I’d find a place to drop the trailer and bobtail to a state park . I didn’t like idling the engine in a quiet state park campground.

but the best thing about owning the truck was being able to build a shower and chemical toilet in it . No more truck stop showers ! No more trying to figure out where the nearest toilet is .

 

I was planning to keep this to myself. I am still not 100% sure these programs are still in place. I have spoken to several OOs that told me they got government money that paid for a large part of the cost of getting an APU installed. The Federal as well as most of the states are committed to green energy and reducing emissions. It is worth checking out. I have no link, but I am sure these APU makers have this information.

 

well you definatly need extra batteries deep cycle of course, also need a bigger amperage alternator to be able to charge those batteries once drained, should be able to run on it for about 12 hrs start and run truck for an hr or 2 and batteries will recharge beauty of deep cycle batteries. Need an alternator around 225A also need to have all electrical in place to charge all batteries from that alternator. it is doable.