Idle Free Reefer Link APU

I made it myself got the parts from autozone. The most expensive part was the wire. I have heard people say it can damage the alternator on the trailer, but I figure I swap out trailers soo much it wont cause too much damage. I do a lot of drop and hook and have a new trailer every day or two.

 

I would think it would be OK if you have a strong enough alternator, i.e. 120 amp.

It'd be nice to devise a birdhouse style plug-in (like the 6 pin kind) for a permanent application. We don't switch trailers so no worries about needing to quickly detatch. I'd like to use another pigtail with 6 pins, multiplex 3 of them for the current to the batteries on the tractor, and the others for controlling a set of backup lights on the trailer. Sounds like a job for the trailer dealer, haha. I'm getting lazy these days.

 

Trailers should have back up lights on them, sounds like a great idea.

 

I think it’s Phillips makes a plug that has one pin. It is the same size and format as a seven pin plug. You put one receptacle under the unit hooked to the battery pole one next to your seven pin plug. And there is a cable that goes between the two that is available wherever you get the receptacles. I’ve had cords like that for 20 years. That’s the first thing I do when I get a new truck or trailer is put one of those on. Then you never are on the side of the road because your alternator failed. Run a minimum of lights and your reefer will get you from Miami to New York.