EQUIPMENT SPOTLIGHT INVERTERS
44 |
Overdrive
| January 2015
More in-cab power? No problem
I
nverter sales continue to rise
as more truck owners choose
to provide in-cab electri-
cal loads for AC-powered TVs,
microwaves and laptops without
running the engine. Not only is
it convenient to use a device that
converts a battery's 12-volt DC
power to AC household power,
but it's increasingly necessary as
more communities adopt strict
no-idle regulations.
Using inverter power and 110-
volt AC appliances also is more
effi cient, says Mary Wauls, digital
marketing project specialist for
DAS Companies. Cooking and
heating are much faster than with
12-volt appliances, Wauls says.
Other benefi ts of invert-
ers include fuel cost savings
and reduced engine wear and
tear, says Steve Carlson, OEM
sales manager for Xantrex. An
inverter also can reduce hours
of use for a diesel-fi red auxiliary
power unit without shore power
compatibility, reducing main-
tenance costs and increasing
APU life, Carlson says. Installing
an inverter also will enhance a
truck's resale value, he says.
Most driver comfort features
work well with inverters feeding
power to them in typical truck
confi gurations. Proper power
consumption management
lowers the risk to the truck's
batteries, starter and alternator,
says Oliver Lafarge, sales direc-
tor for inverter provider Tundra
International.
By Dean Smallwood
Untitled-3 1 12/10/14 9:18 AM
How do you spec an
inverter to suit your
power needs? Visit the
30-second Trucker Tips playlist at
youtube.com/OverdriveMag.