Battery Protection, Cold Weather Starts

Idle Smart automatic engine start/stop

Idle Smart has recently added two new features to its patented automatic engine start/stop tool, both of them now standard.

Battery Protect continuously monitors battery voltage levels and will start and run a vehicle’s engine to recharge batteries as needed, helping ensure fleet uptime and hassle-free starting.

Cold Weather Guard is similar, a new feature that helps prevent issues with starting a truck after long idle periods in cold temperatures — without the need for fuel line, tank heaters, or a plug-in.

With Battery Protect, the company says, fleets can customize voltage thresholds and recharge run times. Idle Smart constantly monitors truck battery voltage, automatically starts the engine when it drops to a pre-set level, and runs it for a pre-determined amount of time, eliminating the need for shore-power connections or having someone manually start the truck. That’s handy, because battery drain is an issue these days, especially at parking facilities where drivers use hotel loads for comfort and convenience during the 34-hour rest periods required by hours-of-service regulations.

Independent of the temperature monitoring and Cold Weather Guard capabilities of Idle Smart, Battery Protect is pre-programmed to start the truck at a default setting of 12.2 volts and run the engine for a recommended 20 minutes. Using the customizable, password-protected, and menu-driven display, fleets can change voltage and time settings to meet specific preferences.

Cold Weather Guard automatically starts the engine at a pre-set temperature and runs it for a pre-determined amount of time. It means truck operators can virtually eliminate fuel gelling and battery drain, or the cost of a service call, says Idle Smart. Drivers simply use the in-cab display and menu-driven format to program a starting temperature and run interval.

Idle Smart continuously monitors interior and ambient temperatures and starts and stops a vehicle to maintain desired cabin temperature — and realize a reduction in idling of up to 70%, the company says. Including under-dash and display units, the unit can be quickly and easily installed and is transferable between vehicles.


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