24500 Solon Rd.
Bedford Heights, Ohio 44146
(440) 232-5020 ext.223
www.alertstamping.com
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18 Fleet Maintenance | October 2018
Electrical systems: Problem
Increased use of items such as APUs and bunk heaters
to reduce engine idle time helps boost effi ciency
and reduce fuel consumption and wear and tear
on the engine. However, when the engine is not
running, the alternator is not providing power to
the system, nor is it charging the battery.
“In the winter particularly, sleeper cabs supporting
human habitability must oft en operate electronic
equipment without the support of their primary
diesel engines and must use APUs, or dedicated
bunk heaters,” says Brett Johnson, president and
CEO of Optronics International.
Th e result is that operators oft en have to make
decisions as to what equipment can be switched on,
and for how long, in order to make sure that there
will be enough power to start the vehicle’s engine.
Vehicles are more diffi cult
to start in the cold, confi rms
Jeff Barron, engineering
and technical services at
Interstate Batteries. Th is is
partly because oils, antifreeze,
power steering fl uids
and transmission fluids
all have a higher viscosity
than they would in higher
temperatures, making the
engine harder for the starter
to turn. Because of this, the
amount of power required to
start the vehicle is signifi cantly
higher.
And, this comes at a
time when the battery is
not charging at its normal
capacity.
“Batteries are slow to accept
a charge when they are cold,”
Barron says. “Th e alternator
will output higher voltage to
overcome the cold temperatures
and will slowly come
down to normal aft er the
battery starts to warm up.”
Consistently having to
overcome the battery’s low
state of charge while also
managing other loads can cause alternator damage,
Johnson adds.
Additional electronic issues can come from
corroded wiring connections due to moisture and
road salt accumulating on exposed or improperly
maintained wiring harnesses. Th is can lead to failures
in important electrical systems.
Repairing corroded connections or harnesses
will typically consist of replacing at least some
sections, which can be costly and time-consuming
for fl eets looking to maximize uptime, so proper
upkeep to avoid these situations is benefi cial.
Electrical systems: Solution
Along with regular PMs, fl eets should make sure
batteries are in good condition to handle winter
weather by doing a few extra checks prior to the
arrival of the cold. Checking battery cables for signs
of loose or corroded connections is important, but
the state of the battery itself should also be tested
to get an idea of the condition.
“Check the … state of charge using a conductance
tester or a voltmeter to make sure that the
batteries are fully charged,” Barron says. “If possible,
check the specifi c gravities. Th is will give you
an indication as to the true state of charge of the
battery and if it will be able to perform during the
cold temperatures.”
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VehicleServicePros.com/10094365
» Using an air heater instead of idling the
vehicle’s engine can save fleets on fuel
costs and reduce engine wear and tear.
Image courtesy of Webasto
» “Coolant heaters
are integrated with
the vehicle’s coolant
system to provide
heat to the engine
while the engine is
off,” says Webasto’s
Mark Denny.
Image courtesy of Webasto
VehicleServicePros.com/10094009
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