Sleeper power outlets shutting off

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by Disinherited, Dec 14, 2017.

  1. Disinherited

    Disinherited Bobtail Member

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    Nov 25, 2017
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    2014 Freightliner Cascadia.

    I sent the truck to the shop several times on this issue. The power outlets in the sleeper and sometimes also in the front shut off after only a few minutes with the truck turned off. The shop adjusted the low voltage disconnect. They checked the battery. They charged the battery. I get it back from the shop, put the key in the off position, and 30 minutes later my sleeper outlets shut off.

    The shop just told me that I am putting too much stress on the battery because I have a 130 watt inverter plugged in, and I am also charging my cell phone. It’s normal for the outlets to shut off after “a certain amount of time”

    Other truckers tell me these outlets should never turn off no matter what position the key is in.

    Can someone please confirm I am not crazy? How do drivers have refrigerators if this is normal?
     
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  3. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    The Village, Portmeirion
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    Was it the company shop?
     
  4. Steel Dragon

    Steel Dragon Road Train Member

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    Nov 23, 2015
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    Plug in one item at a time,charge items when truck is running and only use what's necessary...mine shuts off if I have my shaver and another item charging.
     
  5. Disinherited

    Disinherited Bobtail Member

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    Nov 25, 2017
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    Yes. Company shop. They told me to use optimized idle. Here’s what the truck is doing so far.

    5 minutes truck turns off.
    10 minutes. Console beeps 20 times.
    23 minutes engine starts.
    1 hour 17 minutes so far since I turned on optimized idle and the engine is still running.

    Power outlets are working.
     
  6. Disinherited

    Disinherited Bobtail Member

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    Nov 25, 2017
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    I really don’t think this is normal. All I have on is the bunk heater and my phone plugged in. The truck idles for hours every night. I’m not using the optimized idle control in the sleeper. I just have idle management turned on. It idles between 900 and 1200 rpm every night for at least 3 hours at a time before shutting off for an hour or two then turning back on for 3 hours.

    It’s hard to imagine I need to burn 6 gallons of diesel every night to keep my phone charged.
     
  7. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    Sep 12, 2017
    Plymouth MI
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    How old are the batteries? My bunk heater and cell phone can drain my batteries pretty fast, especially in the cold. Sounds like what you are experiencing is pretty normal not knowing anything else. Or, you have a parasitic draw somewhere in the electrical system.
     
  8. Disinherited

    Disinherited Bobtail Member

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    Nov 25, 2017
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    Don’t know how old the battery is. It’s my first truck. Company mechanics said they tested the battery and it’s fine. The reason I think it’s not normal is the battery is 5 times bigger than a car battery and there’s no way I’d ever have to idle like this in my car.

    I guess it’s not something I should worry about. Company tells me to use idle management; they pay for the fuel. Who gives a #### right? Lol. Don’t send me to California please.
     
  9. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    Sep 12, 2017
    Plymouth MI
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    Your truck batteries I would guess, are just old school lead acid batteries. They are not meant to run heaters and or other devices in your sleeper. They are large due to the fact that they need to start that big motor under the hood and run the other accessories required to get the truck safely down the road.
     
  10. Kinj50

    Kinj50 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 22, 2022
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    I have the same issues in my truck and that is not normal. My batteries are new and I shouldn't have this problem. Truck shuts off all auxiliary power between 5 and 10 minutes after turning the truck off. I found a video for a little box on the truck called the low voltage disconnect. I'm currently trying to locate it on my truck because the guy in the video was experiencing the same problems I am.
     
  11. zaroba

    zaroba Heavy Load Member

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    1,269
    Aug 28, 2012
    South East PA
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    Had similar issues long ago with a t680 when I worked for a company. Just a few mins after shutting off the truck the low voltage disconnect would beep or the APU would come on to keep the batteries charged. Batteries checked, inverter replaced, techs saying I was just using too much power when nothing was plugged in but my cell phone and GPS.

    I think it was 5 shop visits (unrelated stuff but I'd ask them to check), including 3 to the company shop, over the course of a year before a tech found one of the battery cables was just bad.

    The truck was trying to operate off a single battery.
     
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