Dometic showcases latest CARB-compliant anti-idle products

The Trucker News Services

6/30/2009

LAS VEGAS — Dometic Automotive is featuring its latest CARB-compliant air-conditioning products at the Great West Truck Show, which opens this week. Products on display include Dometic’s patented air-conditioning systems for day cabs and sleepers, as well as a new line of prewired battery boxes.

“Our line of CARB-compliant air-conditioning systems includes units specific to any size cab for maximum efficiency,” said Lou Siegel, senior vice president of Dometic Automotive. “Large and small trucks are equally subject to clean-air laws, which place severe restrictions on idling the truck’s engine to keep the cab comfortable when stopped. Fleet operators are looking for ways to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution without sacrificing driver comfort. Since the Dometic battery-powered systems emit no exhaust, they fully comply with the most stringent clean-air regulations, including those in California.”

The patented Dometic day-cab air-conditioning system consists of a compressor/evaporator/blower unit that fits between the seats, and a ruggedized external condensing unit that mounts on the back of the cab or under the truck. The inside unit has a molded composite cover to protect the unit from spills and to provide noise abatement. The turnkey package requires no special tools for installation. It includes a 2,000-watt inverter, which converts 12-volt battery output to 115-volt AC power to run the air conditioner, and a powerful 270-amp alternator/regulator that charges the batteries quickly and keeps them fully charged when the engine is running and the truck is moving from terminal to terminal. The system uses a bank of Group 31 absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries, which replaces the truck’s existing batteries.

“These turnkey integrated HVAC packages are derived from our proven, road-tested systems for larger sleepers,” noted Siegel. “We have established a strong track record of reliable performance and service support throughout the trucking industry, and we are now bringing that expertise into the lighter truck market.”

Available for larger sleeper cabs, Dometic’s patented split-system HVAC technology consists of a redesigned compressor/heater/evaporator/blower (CHEB) unit, which mounts inside the truck, and an external condenser/fan (CF) unit. The split systems run on 115-volt AC power, which can be supplied by a bank of batteries, an onboard auxiliary power unit (APU) or shorepower.

Dometic’s expanded line of power-supply boxes for its battery-powered auxiliary air conditioning and heating systems will also be on display. These prewired boxes are available in three sizes to meet the power requirements for day cabs, mid-size sleepers and full-size sleepers. The box contains the correct number of AGM batteries and a power inverter, with all components fully wired for easy plug-and-play installation. The rugged battery boxes, constructed of a corrosion-resistant aluminum, are the same size or smaller than a typical diesel-powered APU and mount directly on the side of the truck frame. Dometic estimates that the standard battery boxes can save more than three hours in installation time for a typical battery-powered HVAC system. The prewired boxes also ensure a sound and safe installation with properly sized cables and connections.

Dometic has more than 45 years of experience designing and manufacturing rugged and reliable air-conditioning products for the toughest environments. Like all of the company’s products, the HVAC systems have been thoroughly engineered and road tested. Dometic backs its products with the industry’s best factory support and service.

Dometic is also showing its full line of refrigerators and freezers at the Las Vegas show.

Dometic Corporation’s Automotive business group is a leading international supplier of mobile refrigeration, power supply systems, electronics, automotive comfort systems and air conditioning for OEM and aftermarket customers. It includes the extensive WAECO product lines, acquired by Dometic in 2007. In the U.S., Dometic is a major supplier of air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers for the trucking industry, with headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Richmond, Va.

Dometic Group is a customer-driven, world-leading provider of leisure products for the RV, automotive, truck and marine markets. We supply the industry and aftermarket with a complete range of air conditioners, refrigerators, awnings, cookers, sanitation systems, lighting, mobile power equipment, comfort and safety solutions, windows, doors and other equipment that make life more comfortable away from home.

Dometic Group supplies a wide range of workshop equipment for service and maintenance of built-in air conditioners. Dometic Group also provides specially designed refrigerators for hotel rooms, offices, wine storage and transport and storage of medical products.

Our products are sold in almost 100 countries and are produced mainly in wholly owned production facilities around the world.

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