Anti idiling requirements and equipment

Seven grand...apu's are expensive.

I have an espar heater and I'm going to try a swamp cooler for $500.00

 

That's 7k installed... put it in yourself and save.

 

I have a 2000 watt Honda in the back deck...I floor A/C unit with the hose out the window using an old Idle Air window adapter...Honda was 900 bucks and is CARB approved...A/C was 200 bucks...Freezes my ##### off and uses about a gallon of gas in 10 hours...Works for my and payback is quick....

 

Can you tell me a little more about your a/c unit and how you have it installed. Thanks in advance.

 

We are kindred spirits. I have the same thing. my little 2k honda generator and a floor mount ac (I did take out the pass seat and put a/c in its place) and instead of a Idle air thing I just used a piece of 1x4 and a saw and custom made my window adapter. Plus in the fall, winter and spring I leave the ac at home and just use the gen for power to run the tv, sat receiver, computer etc. I keep mine in my tool box and just take it out and chain it to the frame with a lock at night. (I run tanker and have pump and hose rack on my back deck so there is not any room there). Plus i get a little exercise walking up to the gas pumps to fill my little gas can when i do the set up. Takes a few min to set everything up but, once you get the routine down it goes pretty quick and the cost savings more then makes up for any issues. Plus the maint on the little gen is quick and cheap. replace the spark plug once a year, rinse out the air filter and change the oil every month or so (only takes 3/4 quart and takes about 30 sec to change). Total investment about $1200 or so. A whole lot better then the 7-8K for an "regular" APU.

 

Some states have grants to help defray the cost of installing an apu. I don't know about GA but in TN you can get half of your money back up to a certain amount like $7,000 or $8,000 I think. I'm a little fuzzy on what that $$$ limit is but certain they do give money back. My truck already had one when I bought it or I'd take adavantage of this. You might want to dig around on OOIDA's website for more information about what different incentives states offer to truck owners for installing anti-idling equipment.

 

I'm curious why you would run your generator to run the tv, sat and computer instead of using an inverter? Your batteries should have no problem powering all those items and then having your truck charge the batteries the next day. I can see running the generator for the A/C in the summer.