Apr 1, 2006 12:00 PM

Dometic Environmental Corp has a new auxiliary air-conditioning system designed to reduce engine idling for day-cab and small-sleeper trucks at shipping terminals and loading docks.

The air-conditioner operates from the truck's batteries and does not require an onboard diesel auxiliary power unit (APU). It uses common trucking industry components and installs in four to six hours. The installed cost of the entire system is less than half that of a genset-based APU system, and requires virtually no regular maintenance.

This package consists of an air-conditioning system, a DC-AC inverter, an upsized high-capacity alternator, thermostat control, and optional shorepower plug. Air-conditioners are offered in two configurations: a 7,000-Btu self-contained unit and a 10,000-Btu split system. With the split system, the condensing unit is mounted outside the truck, and the compressor/evaporator/blower goes inside the cab. Either way, the compact inside units can fit between or behind the seats, or in lieu of the passenger-side seat.

The inverter converts the 12-volt battery output into 115-volt power to drive the air-conditioner. The high-capacity alternator, which replaces the existing engine-mounted alternator, keeps batteries fully charged whenever the truck is running. An optional shorepower connection can recharge the batteries and run the air-conditioner when an outside AC power source is available.

For more details, e-mail lou.siegel@dometicusa.com.