mercer transportation

It is not a battery it is an ultracapacitor .... world of difference, and not knowing how to handle one can get you killed. I'm not joking.

 

mine is seven years old.

Also as the temperature drops below 60 deg the output voltage ramps up and at 30 deg it is at 16.5 volts. Your batteries rely on a chemical reaction which slows down as temperatures decrease resulting in lower voltage and less amperage. A capacitor is just a storage device that can dump all its energy as quickly as the output circuit can absorb it. The larger the cable you have running to the starter the less voltage drop and more power that will get there. I run 4-0 and use a yellow marine grade cable to distinguish it from any other power cables. Also warn any mechanic of your starting system. If they don't understand it then either educate them or don't let them touch it. A shorted capacitor of that capacity can explode and do tremendous damage.

 

Why are you worried about hotel loads if you have an APU ? Dual purpose batteries are designed just for this use, deplete a little and recharge by APU.

 

#### it pete! My truck just barely started right now. Guess i need batteries.

 

You got hit by the TruckerPete curse !

 

Seriously. Not the 1st time either.

 

Yep. Capacitors are very dangerous if not handled correctly. I've never read the specs on this particular type but even the little bitty ones in microwaves can kill you when they blow. They build a ton of kinetic energy. Hook it up wrong and it's the same effect as sticking a stick of dynamite in your truck. It's gonna hurt.

 

A capacitor can cause problem discharging, but also charging. They can charge as quickly as they discharge and are thus capable of demanding far more input current than a circuit can handle. The maxwell starting capacitors are electronically "throttled" so that from a fully discharged state it will take 30 minutes to charge. If run down to where they won't crank the truck at all it will take 15 minutes to completely recharge. They built safety constraints into them. Even a small battery is enough to fully charge these, it does not require even one truck sized battery for their charge. The truck batteries handle the load of the systems when running and as others mentioned, hotel loads without an APU running.

Drivers have told me it was stupid to spend $1k on one of them. Then after several days of sitting snowbound at home, they come out to start their trucks and need to be jumped. I turn the key and it spins like it was already warmed up on a summer day. If your batteries are so depleted that you need a jump, they will never fully charge again, it is not physically (well, chemically) possible. So many times these guys I park by not only pay for someone to come jump them, but then end up getting four batteries. I think the purchase of the Maxwell put me way ahead on that, and my last batteries lasted five full years. So in the long term, at least in my experience, it saves money and peace of mind knowing temperatures won't affect starting unless perhaps you are someplace really ridiculously cold.

 

News Flash : Dana Bibbs a 30 plus year employee of Mercer Transportation was terminated from her employment. Story at 11

 

Because my apu will kick in quite often to charge up. About 4 hours a night..