APUs- Electric vs. diesel

I'm at the crossroad at very moment. Weather to have one or not. Truck I'm purchasing uses .6 to .8 gph idleing. TK Tripac Evolution .2 gpa. Now the truck comes with a great bunk heater so I'll only need to be using CPU for a/c. I plan on staying out long periods of time. Full time practically living on road. Can we all come to an average on how many total hours per year y'all think I'll use it? Or better yet how many hours y'all average per year just for a/c . TK Evolution 10k installed, TK APU with DPF is 15k installed.

 

Not so fast, our electric APU' s also have a diesel fired heater that circulates warm water through the engine, our trucks have never failed to fire, in temps every bit as cold as you have been.

 

Get one if you can,

that said ... there really isn't a true electric APU because they need to be recharged and I don't think there is one that recharges within 10 minutes or 30 minutes

My trucks all have apus, they run when air is needed or the batteries are low. They rarely run in the winter time because the trucks have espars in them. I can't see a system that needs to have only a 10 hour capacity when there is a 34 hour reset time needed for some drivers. One reason why I won't put an electric system on my trucks.

 

you apparently don't understand the unit doesn't have to run constantly to maintain temperature, I live in the deep south 100 degrees isn't uncommon, even in phoenix my unit would not run constantly for 8 hours.

I also am speaking from a standpoint of having one installed on my truck , then seeing how it actually saved in the time it has been on my truck, in 2 years and 6 months , it has 3300 hours on it.

and tell me where in the name of god are you going to invest 15 grand at 8 per cent right now without a risk of losing it???

and my unit installed was 8500 bucks, no where near 15 grand

 

I presently dealing with dealer in Tampa. He quoted me other day the Cali Carb Compliant one with dpf is 15 k installed. The TK evolution newest one just reg. diesel 10 k installed. I been watching here to see if anyone makes one as good and cheaper and maybe 1 or 2 people liked anything other than TK. I'll also say he at TK totally against his on battery operated one and refused to sell me one. Well at least stressed not to as I was looking into that. Not now tho.

 

I've been disappointed too with the reports about the electric APUs. I had a TK diesel APU on my 2006 Volvo VNL 780 with the Artic Package, and I would use the APU motor to keep the big engine warmer in winter and cooler in summer when shut down, due to the coolant circulation and mini-radiator/fan system on APU. The diesel fuel circulation system is also useful in preparation for running the big motor on a cold morning. I also liked the battery charging system, although it didn't really seem to have enough power if I had a lot going on the in cab. Part of this problem might have been the Volvo voltage detection system which is very sensitive. But, I tried to boil water, run the microwave, and watch TV all at the same time, the system would go crazy and the cab lights might go out. I'm hoping that with my 2015 I can improve upon the electrical system with the TK Evolution model, and this time I want my fuel circulation done on the same tank as my bunk warmer. One other point, I had to install a flex hose extension for my bunk warmer and APU units after I decided my headaches were related to sleeping with diesel exhausted wafting into the cab. So, if anyone is doing an install, make sure the exhaust pipe is higher than the bottom of the cab. The truck isn't moving when the APU is used, so those low exhaust that blow just outside the bottom of the faring aren't safe enough.

 

My Vnl780 includes webasto bunk heater. I was just getting one for a/c but at those prices I'm having second thoughts. Considering a TK Refirbished. The TK forever carb compliant one is 15k and you have to get a 300 amp Altinator to have enough to burn heating elements on regin.

 

I see a lot of people mention the need for a 34hr restart. Time management skills will solve that problem. Which ever you choose either Diesel or electric you will be much more comfortable and save money on fuel and maintenance on the main engine.

 

I've run four trucks with APU, two diesel and two electric. Both diesels were tripac and both electric were internationals with autostart. That being said, I would take the electric over the diesel anyday. I could run the a/c, fridge, tv and such with the electric apu 10 to 12 hours without a problem before the truck would fire up and then run an hour to an hour and a half to recharge the batteries. The downside to the elelctric is the cost of the batteries when they need replacement, I have heard they are glass mat batteries and very expensive, but I do not know if that is true.

 

Don't quote me but I believe to replace our battery pack was right at 600.00

To solve that issue ( if you can't plan for it) we have always told our people that if you are on a 34 to try and park somewhere near a motel, and stay in the truck at the end of your last day, and get the motel for your full day/night off and we will pick up the tab.