Good Night From II

If you have a freightliner I had the same problem if I ran my cooler and bunk heater the shop told me it was the way. The computer was set to save the batteries to start the truck not sure how they could change it but any other truck I had never did this.

 

Are they just testing voltage and saying it's good? Because a battery can show 12-14v and still be putting out less than satisfactory amps. I used to run into that problem when I worked on helicopters. I would tell the avionics shop that the battery was bad and they would come out and test for volts call it good then the next day I'd have to start the same old battle with them until I would get them to check the amperage and lo and behold it was a weak battery.

 

Salt Lake checked the voltage, and TA checked the amps. Batteries connected at SL, but separate at TA.
But the voltage drops to below 11.4 very quickly.

With a good set of batteries I've always been able to power the cooler, computer and lunchbox oven for several hours without a problem.
The mechanic at Salt Lake blamed my Coleman cooler. But if it was drawing that much power the plug should be very hot, in my opinion. It's only warm, like always.

I ran the engine last night while I was cooking, then shut it down for the night. It did fine.
I'll do the same tonight, although I may need the bunk heater. It's in the 30's right now.

I've just been wondering if there is something between the batteries and the rest of the cut off system that could be causing this.
Something that might be showing/causing a lower voltage reading than the batteries actually have.

 

Barstow, at the Love's.

I deliver tomorrow @ 4:00 pm in Commerce (east LA). I originally set my PTA for 1800 strictly to look for loads. Yesterday some dim-bulb send me a pre-plan that picked up at the JV terminal and delivered Tuesday morning near Phoenix on 03/24 @ 7:00 am. Even if I was sitting in front of the customer with a fresh 11/14 @ delivery time THAT wasn't gonna work! So I reset my PTA to 03/24 @ 0800 to stop the BS.

About 30 minutes ago I reset my PTA to 03/23 @ 1700 so I could do a Mac 30. Nothing on Mac 30 but within 2 minutes I get another impossible pre-plan, pickup in Oxnard on 03/23 by 1845 and drop in Phoenix by 03/24 by 0430. I reset my PTA back to 03/24 @ 0800 (where it's gonna stay) and said NO!

Lesson learned!

 

I've missed a couple of days due to stops in areas of poor sprint service. Goodness, some rather terse exchanges. Aren't we all "Swifties"??

Saw the result of the lowest, no class, chicken sheet move I've heard about in our industry. Fueled at a Petro off the Jersey turnpike couple of days ago. Reefer driver pulled out and dropped his loaded trailer. Almost certain someone pulled his lever. Two heavy duty tow trucks were out there better than five hours. I'm sure that bill alone was hefty. Not to mention the lost load. If I ever witnessed someone doing that the police and DOT would speak with the offender.

Got to have fun for a day in the snow again. I thought it was spring??

Anywho, dropped a load from Mountain Top PA here in Indy. Came out to exit 59 on I-70 and the TA. Classmate from Millington met me here. He's on his way to drop in Lansing. I have a l/l at 9 am that's tcall for our Kansas terminal. Will probably get stuck at the terminal tomorrow night. Hit 3k miles again this week so I'm happy but the raise in May will be welcomed. Didn't realize so much would be deducted from my checks.

Keep em upright and tween the lines my friends.

 

At a Loves on I-85 south of Charlotte NC.

Had a great ride through the mountains from WV to SC on I-64/77. No traffic and I was the only truck heading south. Was especially nice having less than 20K in the box.

Had been fishing on mac30 for 22 hours before I arrived trying to get something lined up to go west but it stayed empty. Right after final one load popped up..uber heavy, too much time to deliver and going to Baltimore. I really, really don't like running on the East coast so I let that die. An hour later planners sent a "special note" (uh oh!! Gonna get bent) that they needed help. Was a light 2-stop that was a total of 220 miles that didn't pick up for TWO MORE DAYS!! You have to be smokin' crack if you think I'm taking that!! She didn't even offer a "reward" to do it! I refused it with "too much time" on mac9. Load removed a few minutes later.

30 minutes later get a 20K preload with a drop at final. 1200 miles back to Kansas that I can drop late Tuesday if I want. Now THATS more like it!! Jumped on it quick like and left. Sometimes, just sometimes it's better to hold out even for a Company driver.

 

B-service in Troutdale was relatively quick, in and out within six hours from the time I checked with the service desk. No need to wait in a PreQual line just to tell them you need a B-service, just went in and talked to the service desk and they put it in the queue. The only terminal that seems to do this faster is Columbus, with their separate shop that only handles B-service.

Assuming for a moment that the batteries are okay and this problem is a recent development, then it seems a short might be the issue. I'd start with the 12v plug itself. If you take it apart (most unscrew) you might find that the wires inside are frayed. You may need another Coleman 12v plug. If that isn't the problem, then start troubleshooting for other possible shorts. I'm not an electrician, but helping my brother trouble shoot shorts in his truck I know that it can be a tedious process.

 

I have personally had bad experiences with the Coleman plugs. They tend to melt. The Coleman coolers in both my trucks have aftermarket plugs and the one in my truck has lasted me over a year with no problems. The plug in the cooler in my other truck was immediately changed out after purchase just to avoid the inevitable. Maybe it was just coincidence that my Coleman plug melted and then the replacement Coleman plug melted shortly after it was changed, but after that I just use the aftermarket plugs you can pick up at the truck stop.

 

I pull the plug and feel the tip.
It is a little warm, but nothing that suggests a short or drawing too much current.
What I mean by 'a little warm' is just that. I can pull it out and hold the end without it feeling hot.

My lunchbox oven, however, gets rather hot.
The Barton oven I had years ago got very hot.

Not to mention, if a 12V plug was drawing so much power that it could drain 4 batteries in so little time - it would be either melting or blowing a fuse.

 

Post Falls, ID at the Loves. Greeted with the smell of human waste as soon as I opened the door to the truck stop.

I find myself getting short tempered when I stay out longer than two months. I'm at 10 weeks since my last hometime, and the pay has been great. No week less than 3200 miles, and one at 3700. That being said, it's time to take a couple days off, and relax, and get back at it.

I keep on thinking about taking hometime, but then I send a macro 7, and see how much money I'm making, and then I stay out.

Today I sent the hometime request. I'm trying to save up to buy a C10 pickup that has been restored, but what's the point if I go crazy first, lol.

I think a couple days of BBQ, a beer or two, and some time in the mountains is just what the Dr ordered.