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Let Hybrid Technology Operate your Power Tools
For over 10 years, Mobile Power Solutions Inc. has been fully dedicated to providing municipal, utility, fire and emergency fleets with the right solutions for their vehicles. The principle of the power inverter is to transform the direct current (DC) coming from the vehicle’s charging system and batteries into alternating current (AC) that can then be used by tools, computers and other onboard equipment mounted in the vehicle. Battery charging is done by the alternator, driven as usual by the vehicle’s engine. The main advantage of using a power inverter is to eliminate the need for an auxiliary generator. Inverters are available in a wide range of out wattage to meet your needs. Most of the time, even well trained operators let their engine idle longer than is really necessary. Their main reason to justify this is: fear of depleting the batteries. This behavior is not only bad for the environment but also brings many other inconveniences such as increased wear and tear on the engine and added fuel consumption.
We all know the damages caused by long idling periods. Now many engine manufacturers are taking that into account by installing engine hour meters and warranties limited not only by time and distance but also in working hours. To better answer the need for a more efficient and eco-responsible operation, Mobile Power Solutions had the idea of “Alternative Hybrid Energy Production”. With all the current talk about lower carbon footprint, noise and pollution, you can bet that this innovation will get the attention of those in search of a way to reduce the environmental impact of their day to day operations. IdleWatch™ insures that the vehicle’s engine, when parked, will only run when the state of the batteries requires recharging. All this being controlled without any intervention from the operator, except for activating the system when on-site. In fact the operator must first take his key out of the ignition switch, to turn the hybrid system on. This is a prerequisite to access power to run the tools on either 12 or 120 V. In these conditions, the IdleWatch™ is active. The engine will start automatically and its idle speed will be determined by the state of discharge of the batteries and their capacity to absorb current. When the state of charge of the batteries reaches a predetermined selected level of charge, the engine then will automatically stop.
In most cases, on a well designed application, idling is virtually eliminated. Technicians from Mobile Power Solutions are able to help you determine if the system is right for your application depending on your operation cycles. As a rule of thumb, the return on the investment of this hybrid system should be under 12 months, if the vehicle is idling excessively, already equipped with a power inverter and an automatic accelerator. Vidéotron, an integrated communications company engaged in cable broadcasting, interactive multimedia development, Internet access services, cable telephony and wireless telephone services, has been involved since the beginning of the project. After using a prototype version of the IdleWatch™ for over a year, they are very satisfied with this new state-of-the-art technology. So much so that from now on, all their new service trucks will be equipped with the hybrid system. This is fundamental, and merits to be explained. Most battery charging systems work by measuring the voltage. This method is simple but imprecise and can lead to overcharge and undercharge situations which reduce the life expectancy of the batteries.
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We have all witnessed situations where a 500 hp engine idles for hours just to drive a portable computer.
As soon as the operator introduces his key in the ignition, the IdleWatch™ turns itself off and the vehicle is ready to start. Battery charging is then done by the vehicle’s alternator while driving.
