Question About Sitting With Power On

So I am going to be waiting in my new truck most of the day today for this trailer to come in. The truck will only idle for about 5 minutes before it will auto shut off. It’s rather cold here in Nashville so I have the heater on and the key in the “run” position. I have the power on so I can also see when I get a message on my Qualcomm. When starting the truck, the voltage in the battery hits about 14. But with the truck off it will sit around 12-11.9. I want to make sure I don’t kill the battery sitting here. Should the battery be fine with me sitting here eating up power?

Turn it backwards to "accessory ". It should be okay. After a couple hours run for a bit to charge it if you are worried.

I could bypass that 5 min idle in my truck, but haven't had my coffee yet (actually having a brain fart ;-) ) and I'm drawing a blank how I did that. Not sure my new truck will do that. Going to get it now and I will see.

Laura

Turn it backwards to "accessory ". It should be okay. After a couple hours run for a bit to charge it if you are worried.

I could bypass that 5 min idle in my truck, but haven't had my coffee yet (actually having a brain fart ;-) ) and I'm drawing a blank how I did that. Not sure my new truck will do that. Going to get it now and I will see.

Laura

Turn it backwards to "accessory ". It should be okay. After a couple hours run for a bit to charge it if you are worried.

I could bypass that 5 min idle in my truck, but haven't had my coffee yet (actually having a brain fart ;-) ) and I'm drawing a blank how I did that. Not sure my new truck will do that. Going to get it now and I will see.

Laura

Omigosh, how exciting, Laura~! Are you going to start a thread, with pictures?!?!? (Please say YES!)

P.S.: I've heard about that 'cheat' maneuver myself. Something about a stick or a gatorade bottle ?!? Don't recall, either.

BEST WISHES, to you both; WAITING for replies!!

Annie :)

Ways to bypass:

If you have a trailer, both brake air knobs out. Then, push the yellow knob (tractor) in.

If you don't have a trailer, use a set of chocks on the drive wheels, or back up to a curb. Push the yellow knob in. Engine will idle, but make positively 100% sure it is not going to roll off while you're asleep. If you leave the truck, turn it off.

You can also try engaging the cruise control. Once set, try the switch to increase speed. See if this increases your RPMs. This one usually does not work, but it's company-specific in how they have their trucks set up.

Your truck will not allow the battery to go dead, because the various hotel loads will begin cutting out as the voltage level drops- radio, interior lights, microwave, inverter, etc.

Omigosh, how exciting, Laura~! Are you going to start a thread, with pictures?!?!? (Please say YES!)

P.S.: I've heard about that 'cheat' maneuver myself. Something about a stick or a gatorade bottle ?!? Don't recall, either.

BEST WISHES, to you both; WAITING for replies!!

Annie :)

Annie, Will write more later....since I've been off work 80 days, company's insurance wants a pee test, so I'm headed to Twin Falls.

Laura

Ways to bypass:

If you have a trailer, both brake air knobs out. Then, push the yellow knob (tractor) in.

If you don't have a trailer, use a set of chocks on the drive wheels, or back up to a curb. Push the yellow knob in. Engine will idle, but make positively 100% sure it is not going to roll off while you're asleep. If you leave the truck, turn it off.

You can also try engaging the cruise control. Once set, try the switch to increase speed. See if this increases your RPMs. This one usually does not work, but it's company-specific in how they have their trucks set up.

Your truck will not allow the battery to go dead, because the various hotel loads will begin cutting out as the voltage level drops- radio, interior lights, microwave, inverter, etc.

I may have to try that sometime, all the Prime drivers are so spoiled with there dang APU’s 😭

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APUs are overrated. Not worth the extra $8 - $12,000 dollars initial outlay, plus the cost of maintenance over the life of the unit for what money they do save IMHO.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APUs:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Harvest laments:

I may have to try that sometime, all the Prime drivers are so spoiled with there dang APU’s 😭

Just because things didn't work out for you at Prime, doesn't mean you can't go back. I think that Realdiehl, was rejected and/or sent home from Prime but now he's a happy camper there.

Live for the moment, man. You've got a nice new truck. May not be perfect, but you're way ahead of where you were months ago, right?

And speaking of spoiled Prime drivers. You too can have a luxury bedroom like this:

Wonder how her beau looks all snuggled in that comforter.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Harvest laments:

I may have to try that sometime, all the Prime drivers are so spoiled with there dang APU’s 😭

Just because things didn't work out for you at Prime, doesn't mean you can't go back. I think that Realdiehl, was rejected and/or sent home from Prime but now he's a happy camper there.

Live for the moment, man. You've got a nice new truck. May not be perfect, but you're way ahead of where you were months ago, right?

And speaking of spoiled Prime drivers. You too can have a luxury bedroom like this:

Wonder how her beau looks all snuggled in that comforter.

I was just joking haha, I am incredibly happy where I am right now. That being said I may go to Prime 6 months to a year from now to go tanker. That’s still a far ways off and my mind may change by then. I did love Prime as a company and there entire employee culture.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Depending on year make and model, holding or weighting the fuel pedal down should idle it for about half an hour instead of five minutes. If it's an auto the brake thing won't work on the new ones because you'll be in neutral instead of drive.