Start/Stop vs Continuous

Really depends on product and required temps,....but as a general rule(depending on type of reefer unit
You will use less fuel in continuous mode
Especially if you have a hi speed cut off

 

Yes, because if it gets too warm, it takes forever to cool it back down. I tried that with my apt. thermostat. If I let it get too cool, it takes forever, it seems, to get it back warm. Doesn't hurt it to cycle like that, and probably better.

 

If it's a -10 load and it's even 40 or 50 outside cycle should work fine. If it's summer it will spend more time on anyways so continuous at low idle is better then. It depends on the thermal efficiency of the trailer, it reduces with age. Depends also on product, all your leafy greens and berries are more sensitive to smaller swings in temp so they should be on continuous regardless of outside temp. Heartier products, potatos, lemons, oranges, carrots, even apples, etc have a wider acceptable range, you can get away with cycle for the most part.

 

If you have ever been stuck out in no-where with a unit that won't start, you learn once it is running , you leave it running until un-loaded.

 

I don’t do -10, usually either 0 or 15* and leave it on start/stop unless it’s 70+ degrees out

 

Ran reefer for around 3 years in total in all that time I very rarely used auto -start stop, about the only time I'd use auto start was if I was running goods at higher temps, like fruit and veg, one time I hauled a load of pine trees so temps were kept at around 15 c (60f) so the lower the temps the reefer needs to be run at the more often I would use continuous run. Or anything lower than about 38 f.

 

mine may come on once an hour or two for about 5 min at those temps. You got issues with your trailer and/or your product is warmer than -10. Unless you have subpar spec trailer or damage, cycle is always best at fuel unless there is about a 100 degree difference in outside temp and product. I’m not surprised by your story. There is allot of junk on the road as many are trying to get on the reefer bandwagon. Equipment is limited and folks are unwilling to throw money for good kit. Lots of amateurs trying to survive the market these days.

 

The only problem with the stop start is when hauling soft fruit like cherries or asparus when the unit starts it will sometimes freeze the top rear of the load because of the extra cold air at startup to get the trailer temp back down.