How to cope with no APU

I just don't see how your truck batteries could handle that.

 

In california you can't idle even if you have a pet onboard.

 

No it won't work. A/C's remove heat, not cool air. The heat removed is exausted outside. It would have to be in the window or the heat removed would be exausted in cab cancelling the effect.

More considerations. A 2000W inverter draws 167 Amps at 12 VDC. This is almost as much as a starter. Have you seen the size of a starter cable, it is the size of a battery cable. It provides 16.7 Amps at 120 VAC. That should be more than enough capacity for a window unit.

Big problem, no company will allow an inverter of that size. In the hands of an average person, they start fires and ruin batteries. I doubt most truck altenators produce 167 Amps running at capacity. This means you can burn up altenators as well as batteries. Most people running the A/C's you see have a portable generator to do it. Even if you cut everything in half, it would still be a bad idea and require running the truck more than half of the A/C time.

 

The company provides the 2000 watt inverters and will not let anyone but thier mechanics install. They use some pretty hefty cables.

I could probably come up with a tube of some kind to exhaust the hot air out the window.

I guess the question if the batteries will handle the ac is still a concern. I know the inverter will shut down If too much power is drained to allow the truck to start.

 

With all that in mind, you might have some options. Search Google for portable air conditioners. You will find a good selection. The key to run time will be a low amp draw. This will limit engine run time charging batteries and potential damage. It will also limit cooling capacity. Still a compromise could yield a workable solution.

I don't have first hand experience but have looked at this. My gut says a current draw of 3 Amps or less could work (the lower the better). Another reason for chosing portable is the drain. An A/C will produce quite a bit of condensation which drains out the back, another reason for having it in a window. It will flood the truck in high humidity. A portable has a means of dealing with condensation too. My other career is in HVAC, BTW.

 

There are no pet exemptions for idling... never have been.

 

It generates too much heat, it will cancel out the cold. You need to stick the backside out the window so the heat that is generated is dissipated outside.

 

It's simple if no apu then move on. i idle frig em unless they want a sweet ### lawsuit on there hands for something happening to me and then i tell the revenue rangers what costs the company more a few gallans of gas or me and the truck in the ditch!! yes i'm all for being green but they should have made apu's mandatory. hmmm lets see mandatory apu's in trucks creates jobs wich in turn = revenue but thats the us goverment for ya with there heads stuck up there ##### so far they can't see 2 seconds in front of em.

 

I have seen some AC units that do not need a window, and as far as I know of all you have to do is be able to empty the water from it. I am sure Lowes and Sears have them.