What is the best way to keep from running my batterys down? If I'm not idling through the night and how can I watch t.v. or use the computor and stay cool trough the night if I don't? How much fuel will I use per hour if I do idle I have a 660 Volvo VED 12. I know about Idle Air but not all the truck stops have it and sometimes there all full. I just don't want to start off my day with a dead battery would put me in a bad mood. :sad:

Thanks

 

Maintain your equipment and you shouldn't have a problem.

A d12 uses about .7-.8 gallons per hour of idling. But that isn't the whole story, you're wearing out the engine and putting a lot of crap into the oil by idling so much.

I regularly use the TV/computer for 2-3 hours before going to bed. Never had a problem. Even in winter.

Make sure you have high quality batteries. High CCA batteries are NOT the answer. These units have thinner plates, and do not like to be cycled. You will have very shortened battery life if you use these units.

I'd suggest using a CAT battery, 800 CCA, both deep cycle and starting battery. Very inexpensive, $80 around here.

Or, if you want to go high end, get an AGM(absorbed glass mat) battery. Optima and Odyssey are the most popular. The odysseys are a little more $, but they have HUGE CCA, lots of reserve capacity, and should last up to 8-10 years. These are $200+ each.

Also, make sure your charging system is in good order. Make sure the voltage delivery to the batteries is very good, and you have clean connections everywhere. You'll save your starter by doing this as well. Low volts are NOT good for starters.

As far as air conditioning goes, I'm in the same boat as you. My dad uses a regular apartment a/c unit running off his inverter, but this can be very hard on batteries. They're not meant to be drained that much, AC's take a lot of power. The best would be a really efficient unit, but that's more $.

 

Rule of thumb seems to be 1 gallon/hr. The other day one of our drivers crashed hard and slept for 12 hours and the fuel bill was approx $40 more than when he doesn't stay over night.

 

Don't forget to turn off your inverter when you park your truck for a while. Even though your not running anything it's still using power. The cheaper the inverter the more power it needs to convert 12v D/C to 110v A/C. That's where the efficiency rating for an inverter comes into play.

 

An off the wall question on about the same subject. If your pulling a reefer, I know you can jump a truck off if the batteries die on you, Had to do that. But if your having to run your reefer anyway cause of the load, couldn't you use it's batteries to run the items he mentioned?

 

The alternator in the refer unit is probably so small it would burn up trying to recharge the batteries while you are drawing current off it.

 

To stay cool through the night in a summer heat w/out idling you have to buy something that costs a lot.

 

A motel room isn't that expensive

 

Hey, you reefer guys that own your own trailer - any of you rigged some way of ducting the cold into your cab from the trailer or cooling unit? I guess that wouldn't do you much good when empty :sad: but could save most of your idling?

 

Engerizer Bunny Arrested, Charged with Battery!

Sorry I couldn't help myself. we were talking about batteries anyways..Yeah good reply's and best of luck =).