Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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34 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | APRIL 2015 in focus: INVERTERS I nverter sales continue to rise as more fleets choose to allow drivers to provide in-cab electrical 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 efficient, says Mary Wauls, digital marketing project specialist for DAS Companies. Cooking and heating are much faster than with 12-volt appli- ances, Wauls says. Other benefits of inverters 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-fired auxiliary power unit without shore power compatibility, reducing maintenance 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 configurations. Proper power consumption management lowers the risk to the truck's batteries, starter and alterna- tor, says Oliver Lafarge, sales director for inverter provider Tundra International. Going shopping Inverter sizes range from 300-watt ciga- rette lighter plug-in devices for occasional users to 5,000-watt units for RVs. Other options for select units include remote control, a USB power port and a graphic display that shows the batteries' state, pow- er consumption and alarm codes. Carlson says fleets should look for an inverter that's compliant with UL (Underwriters Laborato- ries) standard 458. Such products have high safety standards and are designed to withstand the rigors of demanding in-vehicle applications, he says. Many power products in the aftermarket don't carry the UL listing. Most inverters sold in travel centers are modified sine wave inverters, Wauls says. They pro- duce a rough approximation of the smooth AC waveform of a more expensive pure sine wave inverter. Different inverters also provide a variety of power outputs, so the unit should be designed to safely handle all the conveniences used most often, she says. To determine adequate power out- put, add the rated wattage of the in-cab appliances to find the continuous power needed, and add 20 percent more to account for variances. Then round up to the next-highest wattage provided by an inverter. A microwave rated at 1,000 watts, a TV at 250 watts and a laptop at 95 watts would need about 1,600 watts after 20 percent is added; an 1,800-watt inverter would handle the load safely. Another consideration is surge power – the initial load when a device is powered up, which sometimes is double the con- tinuous power requirement. The inverter's surge rating should be about double its continuous power rating, so a 1,800-watt inverter would need to handle a short 3,600-watt surge. The unit's output efficiency and ade- quate battery protection also are critical factors. Some 2,000-watt inverters provide more usable watts than some featuring 2,500 watts, Lafarge says. A severe battery discharge likely will result in added main- tenance and downtime. Choosing the correct appliances also is important, Wauls says. Some electric Inverters provide in-cab electrical loads BY DEAN SMALLWOOD More power? No problem DAS PowerDrive inverters are available in eight models offering up to three grounded AC outlets and range from 100 to 2,000 watts. The PowerDrive 300 offers 300 watts of continuous AC power output and 600 watts of available surge power. The Bergstrom Tundra inverter and shore power kit for Nite no-idle systems allows drivers to connect to grid electricity. The kit includes an extension cord and a switching box that automatically detects 110- volt AC power.