This may sound crazy but I'll ask anyway. Is it possible to combine an apu with a reefer unit? Pros? Cons?

Yes
I remember reading about a OO of the month who was going for a patent for a battery charger that got its energy off the reefer.

Goggle it

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I'm sure that eventually someone will figure out how to pipe refrigerant through quick-connect hoses to the tractor. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of anyone that does it yet. You can, of course, easily get 12V electricity, though. If you want a nice good looking system, you just have a shop add a second pigtail to your tractor and trailer. I recommend the liftgate style (a single large pin in the middle, not the 7 individual pins like a normal trailer cord) plugs and cord. It just joins the reefer battery to the tractor batteries. Now the reefer alternator charges the truck batteries when it's running. For a sloppier job, you can just use jumper cables to a jumper post on the back of the tractor. One night my alternator went out and I was able to use plastic cable ties to secure a set of jumper cables between the tractor and trailer. It held me over until I could get a new alternator the next evening.

Quick disconnect for refrigeration would be hard to do. Since the high side can get upwards around 500 psi. It would be hard insure a proper seal with a quick disconnect. Also the high side runs very hot. It would have to be insulated as well. To keep someone from burning themselves. But like you said the electrical portion of the show is a differant story should be able to be done..

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Look out I drive like you do!!

The California Air Resources Board continues to set the standards and trends regarding APUs. Trucks with sleeper cabs will lose their exemption from California's idling restrictions after Dec. 31, 2007. That means they, too, will have to shut down after five minutes of idling. CARB has not approved any APU designs for use with 2007 trucks. They prefer truckers use shore power, thermal storage devices, or have units powered with fuel other than diesel. Truckers will face fines for operating units without soot filters. Those are the trends. Some states still do not recognize the federal law giving trucks a 400-pound weight exemption if they are equipped with an APU.

I dont think you will ever see a quick coupled disconnect sytem in this application, there is to much risk for contamination and ilegal refrigearnt leaks.

I know some APU providers supply 120 vac or will support a 12 volt refrigerator, depending on the manufacturer.

Tri-Pac made by Thermo King is currently engineering a DPF system for california emmisions, along with older tru equipment that does not meet california air board.

Regards Shawn

If California wants to keep passing all of the "progressive green" laws that screw over truckers...... every truck should stop at the California border, dump their load on the roadside, and yell OK folks, you want toilet paper, green beans and dog food, gasoline, then come get it. Until you folks become a little more accomidating to the people who bring you your stuff, you can get it yourself. That would be nice. All of this is starting to get a little bit ridiculous.

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That would be an extreme approach, but if it works, why not do it. I think its going to get harder though, ANy time california air resource board makes an enviro law other staes then adopt, mainly the new england states.

I think it is a good idae to save the environment and all, especially with my kids and then there kids and so have to live with it 50 years from now.

But i also think they need to be more reasonable, and make a slow evolving approach. It just seems no one dishes out teaspoons of sh#t any more they serve up you the whole sandwich, with nothing to wash it down with.


Again this is just my opinion on the subject.

Regards R-T