A familiar picture in parking areas: truck drivers leaving the engine running for hours to use the air conditioner or to recharge the batteries during their resting periods. This is bad for the environment, and it’s also against the law. Tons of fuel are wasted, and fleet operators pay dearly for it, plus the wear and tear on the engine. A parking cooler keeps operating costs down. Equally important to fleet owners is the fact that it improves work safety and thus ensures that the driver and freight arrive safe and sound.

The air temperature and humidity range perceived as comfortable

CoolAir compressor parking coolers have been around for over ten years to improve working conditions, safety and cost efficiency in the European utility vehicle industry. Powerful and efficient like no other, they offer unique benefits for drivers, installers and fleet operators. Vehicle-specific mounting accessories available for all common truck models make for fast and easy installation with perfect results.

The current Dometic CoolAir range includes three self-contained roof top air conditioners integrating all components in a compact housing and a modular split system for tricky installation conditions, such as cabins with spoilers. This buying guide is meant to help you find the right CoolAir model to suit your truck, your working conditions and your idea of a perfect cabin climate.

Relaxed drivers are safer drivers who are less likely to be involved in accidents. This is one of the reasons why the laws on resting periods for truck drivers are so strict. But what are the conditions drivers need to rest in complete comfort? The temperature range we perceive as comfortable is not really that wide, as the illustration above shows. Temperatures up to 26 °C are only felt as pleasant when humidity is low. When the air is damp, the thermometer should not exceed 20 °C. We feel more comfortable when the room temperature is between 18 °C and 22 °C and the humidity between 40 and 70 %. To create these conditions in a truck cabin the air must be cooled down and dehumidified at the same time. This calls for a compressor powered air conditioner. A/C systems based on direct or indirect evaporation cooling are less effective.

The engines of trucks fitted with a parking cooler require less maintenance. This is simply because drivers are less likely to have them run idle to operate the A/C system in their resting periods. The longer service intervals reduce the maintenance costs for fleet operators. Speaking of maintenance costs ... self-contained CoolAir air conditioners are virtually maintenance-free. All components are integrated in a compact housing. The A/C circuit is closed and hermetically tight. No need to fill up with refrigerant.

Engine is not running during the resting periods

SAMPLE CALCULATION
 
Diesel price - 1.19 €
Truck running idle - Ø 6 h/day
Average usage per year - 100 days
Fuel consumption per hour (when running idle) approx. - 3 – 4 l/h
 
 
FUEL SAVINGS
 
100 days x 6 hours x 3.5 l/h x 1.19 €/l = 2,499.00 €

The Dometic CoolAir RT 780 rooftop parking cooler is designed for day trips and inner-city distribution services. It gives drivers a pleasant climate during shorter stops and unavoidable waiting periods, e.g. when loading and unloading. As a self-contained air conditioner, the CoolAir RT 780 integrates all components in a single housing. Installation is quickly done, and there’s no need for maintenance either. Good to know: the CoolAir RT 780 fits almost every truck. It comes in two versions, with 0° or 12° compressor tilt, to accommodate different roof designs. Tailor-made installation kits are available for all common truck models.

MODULAR SYSTEM CONCEPT

Simply choose which split air conditioner suits you best. The CoolAir assembly kit gives you the option to combine the Dometic CoolAir SP 950C compressor unit with two different evaporator units. For the CoolAir SP 950I the evaporator unit is fitted on the inside of the cabin’s rear wall, for the CoolAir SP 950T it’s inside a super-flat roof unit.