No-idle system adds AC, shore power

Fleets looking to reduce engine idling can now offer engine-off AC power to run “hotel loads” for drivers with a new inverter option for the Nite no-idle system. Manufactured by Bergstrom Inc., the Nite system incorporates an independent battery power source to provide electric service for climate control and other electric appliances used by off-duty or resting drivers.

The company has also added a shore-power feature that allows a parked truck to be connected to grid electricity when available. The new feature includes an extension cord and a switching box that automatically detects 110V AC power, providing the vehicle with both AC and 12V DC power.

Low-voltage protection for the truck’s battery system is standard on all Nite no-idle systems, according to Bergstrom. Four different models are offered, including one with a 12V air-conditioning unit providing up to 3,500 BTU’s of cooling and another with an Espar Airtronic 2 diesel-fired hot-air auxiliary heater.

The system can be spec’d with two or four 6V deep-cycle batteries using absorbed glass mat technology. The two-battery version can operate the AC unit for up to eight hours between charges, and can be recharged by a heavy-duty truck alternator in four to six hours, according to the manufacturer. The four-battery option offers similar cooling capacity in hotter conditions.