Bunk Heater

Discussion in 'May Trucking' started by Russjac, Oct 6, 2012.

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  1. Oct 6, 2012 #1
    Russjac

    Russjac Light Load Member

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    I went through training in March, so it never came up, but how do I get my bunk heater to work?
    When I turn it on, the low battery alarm goes off immediately, and it doesn't do anything unless I put the
    key in the ignition position and turn on the rear AC, which i was told will kill my batteries.
    Now that Idle is down to 5%, I cannot run the truck to protect the battery ( My Qualcomm has me at almost 5% for idleing 10 minutes on a
    day I drove 10 hours, I know cause a new cycle just started). I have a 4800 series Peterbuilt (the kind with the DEF tank on the wrong side),
    so is there something wrong with my batteries,
    or am I expected to have to pay for the privilege of not freezing to death in over-idle charges?
    They can't get me to the shop for maintenance they schedule, so I don't know when I can get to a shop to ask them, and from what
    others have told me it is a crapshoot that they know what they are doing anyway.
     
    Russjac, Oct 6, 2012
    Russjac, Oct 6, 2012
    #1
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  3. Oct 6, 2012 #2
    NYROADIE

    NYROADIE Heavy Load Member

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    If the low voltage alarm goes off I'd say you have a battery problem. Does the alarm go off at other times that seem to soon?
    The heater does draw quite a bit of power, 1st it has to purge itself by running the combustion fan then it has to warm up a glow plug and then spray fuel in and run the bunk fan. Weak batterys will show up quickly.
     
    NYROADIE, Oct 6, 2012
    NYROADIE, Oct 6, 2012
    #2
    Russjac Thanks this.
  4. Oct 6, 2012 #3
    Blue02celi

    Blue02celi Road Train Member

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    i also have one of the petes with the def on the right side. your voltage alarm shouldnt be coming on as soon as you turn it on tho... and mine works with the key turned to accessory without the rear ac on. also i think its 10% not 5, i started in February but last winter was kinda mild so i only used it like twice and yeah by morning that sucker was off cause the voltage.
     
    Blue02celi, Oct 6, 2012
    Blue02celi, Oct 6, 2012
    #3
    Russjac Thanks this.
  5. Oct 7, 2012 #4
    NavigatorWife

    NavigatorWife Road Train Member

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    If your batteries start going bad also you might smell a sulphurous rotten egg smell, make sure you get down to where the battery compartment is located to sniff around. Once started they most likely will go one at a time and hopefully not when you really need them.

    Do you also have any other things running too like a refrigerator.
     
    NavigatorWife, Oct 7, 2012
    NavigatorWife, Oct 7, 2012
    #4
  7. Oct 7, 2012 #5
    freightlinerman

    freightlinerman Road Train Member

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    Wait, they charge you for over idle time?!
     
    freightlinerman, Oct 7, 2012
    freightlinerman, Oct 7, 2012
    #5
  8. Oct 7, 2012 #6
    Blue02celi

    Blue02celi Road Train Member

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    oh please dont bring it up, that horse has been beaten to death in this forum lol
     
    Blue02celi, Oct 7, 2012
    Blue02celi, Oct 7, 2012
    #6
    Joker85 Thanks this.
  9. Oct 7, 2012 #7
    bubblehead

    bubblehead Bobtail Member

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    Hey, just wanted to say hi. MT1(SS)Ret. USS Florida and USS Ohio. Navy know-how still working for America!
     
    bubblehead, Oct 7, 2012
    bubblehead, Oct 7, 2012
    #7
  10. Oct 7, 2012 #8
    Russjac

    Russjac Light Load Member

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    Apr 3, 2012
    Las Vegas
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    Thanks for the info, I will try to get the batteries checked out if I can get to a shop.
     
    Russjac, Oct 7, 2012
    Russjac, Oct 7, 2012
    #8
  11. Oct 7, 2012 #9
    Joker85

    Joker85 Road Train Member

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    Hows it going. OS3 (AW) USS RONALD REAGAN.here
     
    Joker85, Oct 7, 2012
    Joker85, Oct 7, 2012
    #9
  12. Oct 8, 2012 #10
    Blue02celi

    Blue02celi Road Train Member

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    oh you were an OS... that explains alot lol jk ;)
    USS Germantown, USNS Kanawha (once you have your own stateroom theres no going back lol), then NRD New York bleh
     
    Blue02celi, Oct 8, 2012
    Blue02celi, Oct 8, 2012
    #10
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