Apu run on home time?

I can't imagine that your employer would endorse this practice, assuming it's a company truck.

 

The APU will keep the batteries charged if left on the auto on selection. I think they might very support this action.

 

Does the OP have a battery disconnect switch? And what's the duration of this hometime?

 

Def turn it on in the winter, otherwise you might come to a truck filled with delicious gello

 

I’m an O/O and if I leave it at my lot. It runs. No heat I’m in the south but it keeps everything charged up

If I bobtail it home which is a mile I will kick it on around 10-11am and off around 5-6 so neighbors although not close have to hear it
These use very little fuel so I would be concerned with a company truck
If they don’t like it. Then might be a penny pinching place anyway

 

I have a carrier so I can set the run time. Usually if I’m staying home 3-4 days I’ll have the apu run for 2 hours daily to keep the batteries charged(usually before 4pm cause these things are LOUD). Also need to run the apu every now and then seems like they lock up or get a trouble code when they don’t get used for awhile. Not sure your company’s policy but mine wants me to use the APU whenever possible over idling.

 

I don't see any reason to run APU if at home. The truck batteries should be good. If it's freightliner turn the power cut off switch on the floor to cut all the power. Freightliner has like 5 computers and they say even with the key off, their is always one computer running and that computer is used to see when the key is turned on and that turin on the other computer to run the truck. That's what the power cut off switch is for. It cuts off that last computer, so the batteries don't have slow drain on them.

No reason to heat the cab unless someone wants to keep it warm to stop stuff from freezing. If you have water or food that can't freeze or a fridge full of food draining the batteries.

I might keep APU running in extreme cold so even good batteries and cad and sleeper stay warm. If it's company truck they probably don't want it left running. You can set the APU keep batteries charged. I guess it just depends if you want pay to run the APU of it your truck. Any truck should be able to start easy to about 15F. They can start even colder but depending on how good batteries are and the engine oil get thick as it gets colder. Some people run synthetic. Oil

 

Company or not why run it on bome time...
If your worried abkut batterys chances are they are on the way out already,get fresh ones and chk your charge system...Most trucks today have a low voltage cut off and shuts down un nessary stuff....
Do you leave your personal car running while your on the road in the truck....
If you wanna warm it cool it in extreme weather then run the apu an hr or two before you leave..
No need for all the un nessary fuel burn or apu run time..
If your home a cpl days chances are your not far from tje truck,leave an hr earlier and go spark up the apu to do what ever,go take off to grocery store and get your grub for the fridge or coffee shop for a coffee n donut n chat ect....
If you need an apu running to solve a symptom of low batterys n such then find the problem and solve it..Food in the truck when you get bome,take it with you...
The problem you hide from when home can haunt you on the road WHILE your trying to make some $$..

 

I leave everything in my truck. Have a stocked fridge and small freezer
My Apu uses very little fuel and will only run when it calls for it

In my case. The low voltage would kick those items off and spoil food etc

Have done this for years with zero issues
Cheap insurance for me anyways