Idle or Not to Idle?

most motels have 2 beds in them,should be a website to save money and share a room

 

You can buy small portable diesel gensets http://us.yanmar.com/products/generators-pumps/epa-certified/ for those of you wanting to roll your own APU, no dealing with gas, BUT I don't know the cost.

TS

 

We have a surplus house about 40 miles from us that has a couple of small 2 cyl Yanmars on the floor. I may consider picking one up. They want $3300 for each one. Alot will depend on what model the engine is compared to my Tripac.

 

Heat is either through the rooftop ac unit which has a heat strip, or a portable small heater that works great and takes up no room. Battery charging is via an auto battery charger that is mounted inside, and comes on when the generator is running. Charger output is to the power wires for the power inverter, which go straight to the batteries. Works perfectly. I have a GFI socket permanently mounted inside, on a cabinet, so everything is super easy to switch on etc.

The diesel generators, especially the portable ones, are both super noisy and heavy to boot. Listen to some on Youtube etc, or ask for a seller to start one up for you. Remember that sound doubles for every 3 decibels (IIRC). So the difference between my EU3000is and a portable diesel generator is massive. The EU3000is is rated at 58 decibels at maximum load. An example of a portable diesel from Northern Tool, which weighs 287lbs vs the Hondas 134lbs, the noise level is 65 db at HALF load. So at full RPM's, it would be over 70db's I would imagine.

Martin

 

You are right on the noise, BUT just throwing another option out there for guys that don't want to mess with gas, probably more noise and more expense,, BUT you could plumb it to the truck for fuel.

TS

 

not all apu's run constantly . i have a dynasys, i set the temp i wont to maintain and the unit cuts on and runs cools or heats as needed and shuts off. the alternator charges the batteries, cuts on at a preset level when the batteries drop to that( can change it yourself to whatever level you like.

mine also is hooked to the block heater( does have to run continuous for that , and has 110v volt outlets in the bunk. it has a seperate heat/ cool unit , i had mine mounted in the side box. the fuel supply is drawn out of passenger side diesel tank. it isnt plumbed into the coolant of the truck.


i also have the shore power option on mine also, the shorepower will charge batts and heat and cool . i have had excellent service out of mine, had if over a year now. there is a valve to release the oil with a tube attached , just open the valve and insert tube into a vessel and drain away, uses a spin on oil filter. it has the same engine as a thermoking. and at boomer diesel you can get a pulley kit than enables the rpm to be cut in half, the pulleys keep the alternator and genset turning at same rpm while lowering the engine rpm.

at constant operation i will use about 1/4 gal and hour, and if auto mode maybe 1/2 gallon all night. the unit with shorpower and all was 8500 installed. i have a 2 year lease at 425.00 a month at the end i have a 700 dollar buyout. my mpg went up 1 mpg after i got it from idle elimination. my quality of life on the road went up 1000 per cent. i have saved enough that the unit has paid for itself in a year.

i used to think i couldnt justify the expense of an apu, but in fact not having cost me money.

no matter how you do it, gas generator or whatever, not having some form of idle reduction machinery costs you money long term in several ways.

as i used to be one of them, i thinnk the only people who dont think genrators or apus save money, are the people who dont have one.

 

Something I've noticed and haven't seen addressed here is WHAT truck is idleing? It seems to me that on nice nights (say 50-70 degree) most trucks I see idleing are hoods not aero style. Any comments?

 

I Idle because it's my home. I get A/C Heat, and other things a Home has. If they don't like it, please add $300.00 a night for a motel room, and a local guard to watch my truck.

 

Guessing Dynasys sorted out their "Stop, dont use it" issues then?
I looked at them too, but didnt want to lose any room under the bunk, as they all need you to do.
I still have every inch of under bunk room with my deal, although I know installing rooftop ac isnt for everyone! I used a protable ac unit for a while, and it also worked great and fit right behind where the passenger seat would be (I remove mine, never use them).

Martin

 

I idle when I feel like it. Too hot (usually 75 and up) or too cold (15 & below). If my truck starts beeping that the automatic kill will activate, I'll idle for a little bit. Last year, I did buy a generator and strap it to my truck and have an air conditioner in the back. Cut down on idling in the summer. The generator is shot, now, so it'll be another $300 for a new one sometime this spring.

Right now I'm in southern Mississippi and although it's a little muggy, it's decent weather to just roll the windows down while you're sitting. I'll probably never buy an APU. The cost and upkeep are just not feasible. My $100 A/C and $300 generator is a good setup. Add in the gas (about 4 gallons for 17 hours), and it's worth while. Even if I replace the generator every year for 10 years, it's still a better deal. And the gas is cheaper than diesel, as well.