How to use a Thermo King APU

How to use a Thermo King APU unit and how to troubleshoot issues with an APU in your truck.
Having an APU in your truck can save you hundreds on fuel, but when they don't work properly it can be extremely frustrating. Learn how to properly troubleshoot your APU in your truck
How to turn on your APU unit.
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888.668.0698
• How to use a Thermo Ki...
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[@xMontorix]

I'm fairly new to trucking and I was out for the first time on my own. I spent an entire week sleeping in the freezing cold because I thought my ThermoKing was broken. Watching this helped me get it on. Thank you so much!

[@lashan4636]

Lol I’m new to apu.i did the samething til I watched this video.I’m literally at loves waiting to be seen.but watching this helped me fix it

[@xMontorix]

@@lashan4636 Best wishes to you out there! Having that APU means the world once you turn the truck off.

[@lashan4636]

@@xMontorix hey does it keep battery on truck charged?

[@xMontorix]

@@lashan4636 I have no idea! I do remember I once accidentally left my APU on over the weekend when I wasn't at my truck and it was still on and the truck started just fine.

[@roadblazerterry]

@@lashan4636 Yes, the APU alternator feeds back to the same batteries for the truck.

[@joshtimmons7332]

Man I've been having bunk heater issues for the last 2 months. Brought it in the shop like 5 times we couldn't figure out why it would work sometimes and shut off. Watched this video this morning and noticed that the little sensor on the bottom of the thermostat was tucked inside and pulled it out. Fired up right away. If I hadn't have watched this video I don't think I ever would have noticed it. Thanks

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

I'm so glad you found the problem.

[@joshtimmons7332]

@Decker Truck Line she's acting up again. I think there's something wrong with the thermostat internal system. I got it pulled off the wall now looking for loose wires

[@fighter4christ7]

First time using one. Thanks for pointing out the switch. It’s always something simple.

[@Riac007]

Having that fan Plus the bunk heater is nice. Those bunk heaters pull pure skin melting heat from the deepest regions of hell and having all the fan vents going is nice to break up and circulate the heat is awesome.

[@crazyseany]

Thanks Decker! the video from TK was useless.... yours was very helpful

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Glad to hear. Also happy you saw it before you get into some cool nights

[@kennethjones6642]

Thanks for the video! My trainer didn't teach me shit about the APU. Got my truck back from APU service and repair and the APU did not start up when I turned on the Air Conditioning. Long story short they didn't turn my switch on inside the APU lol.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Glad you were able to figure it out. It's that time of year, you don't want to be stuck out on the road without any heat. Let us know if the are other Qs out there you might have. Stay safe

[@StephenTatasciore]

Thanks for the great in-service!

[@Mindurz]

Thank you for this very informative video sir.

[@kaggrant2849]

Great video! It helped me figure out my unit.

[@rapnamepercysnow]

Thank you for this, I been idling for nothing, 🤷🏽‍♂️ in a 2019 cascadia...

[@patrickdube2160]

Very helpful. I've been working with some older tripac, with different types of controls so this video gets me up to date. Thank you very much.

[@papadiop7092]

Hi my apu keep on running when I use my a/c . It doesn’t turn on and off . How I do to set up my apu so it can turn on and off by itself

[@rollinwitzig7789]

Damn you just help me now I don't have to freeze to death lol 😅

[@clubbertruck]

Lol yea Matt is pretty good at dumbing it down for us. It comes naturally. Luv ya buddy

[@baclieustud]

I'm new to trucking world and Got a truck with APU , thanks for the video, it helps me out a lot.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Welcome to trucking :) good to hear it was useful. Be safe.

[@bentadele4096]

Thank you. Great video. Thank you for dumbing it down for us.....

[@truckereddie8767]

Really glad I came across this video. Very informative. I have been in 10-20⁰ temps for the past week. The heat would come on for all of 10 minutes, be throwing hot air, then just cut off. For 6 days couldn't figure out why. After seeing you explain the heat is it's own system and you showing where the intake was, I looked and sure enough, there was a jug of coolant blocking the intake. Now my nights are nice and toasty. Thank you so much for this.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Good deal, glad you found it helpful. Ya, those temps are TOO COLD not to have an additional heat source. Stay warm :)

[@joelmcintyre3061]

Stranded in a truck I never used this heater before. It's 20 degrees outside and about to start snowing. Thank you for your video. I was wondering how the night was gonna go. Now I won't freeze

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

I'm so glad you got it going. Too cold to be without heat.

[@yahawah]

Thanks! Very helpful video.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

You are very welcome

[@scottbuchtel4716]

Very informative video. I watched another one first and it didn't tell me how to turn the thing on by pushing the power button. Pretty important stuff I would say! Thank you.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

thankfully, our shop took the time to walk through troubleshooting. Sometimes, it's basic stuff that we just aren't aware of how to do. I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@edrisjohnson3858]

Thanks man. Very helpful.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Glad to hear it.

[@trummellnichols9590]

I learned alot an thank you taking time out🎉👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

[@anwaryare3571]

THANK YOU SIR THAT HELPED ME ALOT

[@lexiehopkins4859]

Thank you for the info

[@erickfeal2446]

Thanks a lot sir. 👍👍

[@maxamillion2207]

Yo you saved my life thank you.

[@suubianthony1105]

Thank you hero

[@rrios283s73]

Those inverters are very durable, im mine the internal fan began to squeal so I opened it up and replaced the two fans and back in business.

[@dieselkenny4568]

Helped me alot. I wasn't leaving on long enough to start up I guess.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

glad it did the trick for ya. Stay safe...and warm

[@wolfgang41]

Thanks

[@johnnyhun1]

I always wondered does the noise by the generator bother other truckers? In europe we dont have these APUs but I hate when a frigo (or fridge) park next to me, i cant sleep, i am used to quiet since I am driving a box trailer.

[@mrtee3477]

HOw can you sleep is so loud.

[@thaiblkman1]

Does the unit have to be on to the on position for to actually start up. I don't hear my unit running just the air coming out inside the cab

[@roadblazerterry]

How do you stop the exhaust from being sucked into the fresh air inlet that allows it to come into the sleeper. It really gets bad at times, where I have to turn off the APU and I have to open the doors to get fresh air. I really like waking up after a 10 hour sleep. Please tell me that there is a fix.

[@caitlin1672]

I’m a mechanic and I work on apus often and they’re so confusing to turn on so thank you for this

[@truckerraven.8906]

How do you control what battery % the APU will turn on to charge the batteries? Mine comes on like 3 times a day, my batteries are new with full power/voltage.

[@lashan4636]

@@truckerraven.8906 did u figure it out

[@truckerraven.8906]

@@lashan4636 No not really, I now have my little refrigerator running so it isn't a fair analysis because the refrigerator consumes power now. But it would come on a lot so what I do now is, I leave the apu off for like almost a week, The batteries will be like at 50% by then with the little refrigerator running. Then I turned the APU charge the battery then shut it off again. that's the best I came up with. But I realize once the voltage hits 12.2 that's when the APU comes on which that part is fine, I just don't understand when I had the refrigerator off and no power consumption why was it coming on 3 times A-day 🤔 If I figure out what happened I'll try to remember to post back here again.👍

[@Imissmusicvideos]

It there any way to run the bunk heater without the apu starting? I can do that on my 2012 tri pac with the older style control panel. Just purchased a newer truck & can't figure out if there is a way to do that on the 2017 evolution model with this newer control panel. Will the apu shut off intermittently during bunk heater use? nice video

[@Imissmusicvideos]

@@Benni711 No complaints so far with my evolution unit. Have used it quite a bit so far this winter. Probably 200 hrs or more on it. Espar heater works great & the apu cycles on/off during the night. I still liked the old control panel better cause u could dial in a specific temp setting & it had a separate apu on/off button. I guess T/K wanted to simplify it and eliminate the lcd display as well as all the buttons.

[@tamutamu1111]

Great Video!!!! Thank you.. But I couldn't use my lights??

[@JAH1817]

My E05 code pops up. Is it due to my APU being off. I pushed the reset and it reads input voltage "the red light" but, 14.1

[@thymorical]

I think he talked me out of buying this type of apu...

[@vashlash6870]

It's a confusing unit. I'm getting very frustrated.

[@truthseeker9598]

APUs should be able to automatically or manually preheat the tractor's engine oil, fuel lines and the anti freeze

[@WarBoy87]

at first I was like "who the fuck is whistling!" but then I realized it's your music.

[@HoodieSource]

Thanks for this video. Can you listen to the radio with this?

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

yes

[@HoodieSource]

@@DeckerTruckLineInc and why do I get a red triangle with exclamation point on the left of controls? This is usually when unit shuts off after only a couple of minutes.

[@Kelly-np2tg]

My heater sometimes turns on sometimes doesn't. I will hear the generator turn on but heater won't turn on. I'm noticing it's under 30° (freezing) it's not turning on even if the display is green, it's cold and I wake up freezing. I end up running to my front and turning on the truck a bit just to not freeze.

[@cookiesmom8398]

Does it come with the heater? I already have an espar bunk heater. Will it use that, or have its own? I also have a xantrex pro 1800w inverter.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

yes, bunk heater and 1800-2000 watt inverter

[@thymorical]

No they will want to remove the heater. You can keep power inverter thou if u got one. Tk told me i can run apu while engine is running. They might have issues with me if this is not true..

[@michaelguzman2778]

How do u keep the ac running ? I got mine working for 10-14 min then it goes off and just blows air

[@ICYPROFITS]

Okay maybe dumb question but is the apu supposed to run constantly when it's on? My panel just flashes and I hear air coming out of the vents but the APU isn't turning on outside

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

not sure why, but if you crank it all the way up when you repower it, let it run and then turn it down, it should work properly.

[@ICYPROFITS]

@@DeckerTruckLineInc ill try that. Thanks

[@carlosberrios1021]

Two types of exhaust can you explain a little more on both please.

[@streetglide_24c62]

Is the power inverter hooked to the trucks batteries or is hooked to APU alone?

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

truck batteries

[@nicksalas420]

Alright we can sleep at work now 😂

[@NoName-wi3kc]

How do you get the control panel off to get access to the ambient air temperature sensor? There aren't any screws inside the cabinet that go to it from the back side.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

one of our shops would be able to assist with repairs needed, or if immediate repairs are needed please reach out to Maintenance support and they will work to get this resolved

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

The shop suggests you don't accessor the sensor on your own

[@NoName-wi3kc]

No. I'm doing it myself. I just need to know how the panel comes off the cabinet. The rest is child's play.

[@truckerraven.8906]

How do you control what battery % the APU will turn on to charge the batteries? Mine comes on like 3 times a day, my batteries are new with full power/voltage.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

That is a setting that the shop has to adjust, but if the unit isn’t coming on all the time that means the batteries are good

[@truckerraven.8906]

@@DeckerTruckLineInc Thanks for your response, Yeah I might have to take it in to the shop, my batteries will be like 12.5V and the APU comes on. It takes like a week for my batteries to go to 12.2V But my APU turns on like 3 sometimes 4 times within a 24 hour. For 30 minutes or so. I'm thinking It's set to charge the batteries at too high of a voltage but thank you for responding back👍

[@lavanbautista7288]

I'm doing what this video is saying about turning on the AC the ac light flashing but it won't stay on steady it just keeps flashing

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

what generation APU is it?

[@craiglloyd1361]

What does it mean when you get the red triangle warning light and can the driver fix it

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Craig, it could be a few different things. I'd start with turning it off and back on to see if that clears the fault. If not,, contact maintenance support if you aren't going to be in a terminal any time soon.

[@Bstonz85]

Red warning alarm could be from a faulty alternator, coolant line valves closed, engine switch off. Those are the common ones. I worked at TK for awhile and worked on a lot of tripacs.

[@daveyjoneslocker4703]

Why when I use AC is the fan mostly blowing out from below my bunk?

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Yes, in a black box with a blue filter on the back side of it

[@eddieweeks7699]

How do I keep my apu on? It keeps shutting off with a red light

[@michaelbruce6190]

You shouldn't have to have a friggen Aeronautical Masters Degree to run an APU in your truck...and the ThermoKing TriPac operation is different in all the different truck makes.

[@swapnildaware8738]

Does anyone know if Thermoking use their own temp sensor in the sleeper area of the OEM temp sensor from the stock vehicle? And where it is located on the Freightliner Cascadia 2021

[@NoName-wi3kc]

He stated that the little nipple thing on the bottom of the control panel inside the sleeper is the temp sensor that tells it when to turn off and on based on the air temp inside the sleeper.

[@Lalo-12696]

If the stand by light is not activating, it means there is something wrong?

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

have you power cycled?

[@mykhailobuniak7783]

How to turn on bunk heater separately of apu?

[@supreme_jeff08z66]

Where is the coolant reservoir for this thing?

[@2mkholley]

Electric APU so much better quiet!

[@billyray3761]

Man those snaps were loud!

[@andresalvarado4969]

The inverter on mine reads the voltage but it blinks for example from 14.1 to 0.00, and it stays like that. If I shut off the truck and start the APU, it'll do the same and whenever it reaches 12.4 I don't hear the APU engine kick in so I panicked and turned it off worrying it would drain my batteries

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Is it working for you properly now? You may need to contact maintenance to troubleshoot additional issues. Try going back to the APU unit outside of the truck to restart it.

[@truckomize9326]

Where is the reset button for that type APU

[@drewmurphy2796]

Do apus have a dpf? Do they do regens?

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Drew Murphy, neither, just standard diesel motor.

[@Bstonz85]

Decker Truck Line, Inc. wrong. Some of them do have dpf systems.

[@Bstonz85]

Drew Murphy if you have a Tripac with a dpf, you have to press the DPF button on your dash for 5 seconds (at highway speeds) in order to conduct a regen. Takes about an hour.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

@@Bstonz85 thanks Aaron for sharing

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

@@Bstonz85 sorry for the confusion. I was referring to ours

[@gamerjockeyletsplay7451]

Ty sir woke up to my kenworth death after watching I went to the thermal king and boom it was off smh

[@MrJonesproduction]

This is very bad. I don’t know who find this system like this. I try to sleep, heater is on, warm air coming from the bottom and from the top I get blowing air strait to my bold head. Yes, i close the opening but still the air is pushing through. This is in a peterbilt, so i am not wondering nothing is normal...

[@Zack-ei5kb]

I'm not feeling any air or heat coming from the bottom of the bunker. Only air I feel comes from the cabin vents

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Do you have a dog? On the backside of the APU there is a blue filter that may get dirty or get hair blocking the passage. The shop does maintain those, but it's worth looking. It is washable. There is also a reset button on the power invertor. Also worth checking. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2mWfH95gqeZsLc this might help

[@CelestineKimarolelo]

Hi! I can’t feel heat on mine! What might be wrong!!

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

is it clear of debris?

[@CelestineKimarolelo]

Thanks for the reply.. You mean the filters ? I changed all of em. All new.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

@@CelestineKimarolelo no, I mean that it has a good airflow and nothing (clothing, boxes etc) is blocking the air intake. Do you go out to the unit outside the truck and reset it?

[@CelestineKimarolelo]

Yes I tried to reset it There’s no anything blocking. But I’ll keep trying. Thanks so much

[@bigshepp10]

👍

[@FranklinSaint485]

Tried this , my heat keep cutting off with 10 mins and saying low voltage

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Romario Richards can you tell me if the APU is running or turning on when it notifies you of low voltage or will it not turn on at all?

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Low voltage - is the switch on the on position on the apu. If so and the controller is on and the unit runs but is still getting low voltage you may have an alternator that is acting up. Now for the bunk heater - is anything blocking the intake, is the fuel treated and topped off keeping in mind the apu and bunk heater pull fuel higher in the tank and thick fuel doesn’t pull well through the tiny bunk heater lines. Without the apu charging the batteries the bunk heater can run the batteries down. For our Decker drivers, we ask that you call into Maintenance support for repairs and an hotel room as we don’t want you freezing.

[@davidmiles1055]

I still am unable to get the standby mode

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Does this help? kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2mWfH95gqeZsLc

[@rjd8434]

Those inverters are junk. You need a pure sine wave inverter to avoid damaging your appliances and our devices that you plug into that inverter.

[@ravshanormsby]

I just got my APU. I can't set to a stand by mode just like he shows. Someone help me please 😢.

[@kentayduhart785]

You have to have your apu unit on then start your truck! It will always stay on stand by! Soon as you start your truck apu will turn off and go into stand by mode!

[@ravshanormsby]

@@kentayduhart785 Thank you. I know that. But can you put it the way he did without turning the truck on?

[@kentayduhart785]

@@ravshanormsby I just seen a guy from prime put it on the snowflake a/c mode and turned the next nob all they way to the red and turned it on! It went straight to standby! I haven't tried it! Im trying to make it go off and on in a/c mode! It runs constantly in a/c mode nerve wrecking!

[@ravshanormsby]

@@kentayduhart785 I put it to the fan position and turn the fans off so it is on non-official stand by mode. I mean the stand by mode-light is not on but if I use something power consuming the APU is gonna kick of to charge the batteries. But if you find out how to make the AC turn off & on PLEASE PLEASE let us know in this comment section 🙏 PLEASE.

[@kentayduhart785]

@@ravshanormsby you can put it on heat and leave it off it does the same thing! My heat doesn't work on the apu! I have an espar heater! My apu blew a fuse last night!

[@rblu7916]

My Apu doesn't have a control panel

[@liizy270]

Where does the fuel go?

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

It shares fuel with the truck

[@biogroovy]

Trouble doing regen

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

What kind of trouble? Is it responding at all?

[@arpadcsorba2053]

Shame the exhaust from the APU doesn't go into your stack.

[@certified_boogeyman]

Right

[@certified_boogeyman]

It's probably too hot to put a hose over the top and zip tie up and away Maybe weld an elbow pipe up towards the top of the truck

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

when you go on home time, be sure to put the APU in standby to preserve the life of the TripPac unit as well as your batteries.

[@MrCOREY2000]

I have a western star 5700 for some reason my stand by mode dose not come on

[@gufifigueroa]

So the apu is charging the batteries evrry night can i use the radio all night

[@MrCOREY2000]

Never mind, I got mine to work

[@Armannortheast]

How much it cost

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Humanity, how much is the cost for what? The APUs are included in each of our trucks

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

@@SirVeGaS2020 there is no cost, it's included in all our trucks

[@bobinthewest8559]

@@DeckerTruckLineInc... To be more accurate... your company "rolls the cost into" the price of the truck when purchasing new trucks. According to an article that I just read, APU price can vary from $8,500 to $13,000, depending on the unit selected... so, expect that amount to be added to the purchase price of the truck (or to pay about that much to add one to a truck that you already have). That pricing included installation (according to the article).

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

@@bobinthewest8559 I'm talking company trucks, we don't charge our drivers for the APU at all.

[@josephanderson47]

Where is the hr meter?

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

on the passenger side sleeper door compartment , inside the door frame towards the back wall

[@Redbikemaster]

I have this APU and hate it. I wish I'd gotten a Carrier instead. The control panel is useless on this thing.

[@DieselTrucker-oi7jv]

WHY won't the APU run when the truck is on? What I want double the cool down? My Comfort Pro DOES run with the truck on. If you don't want it on, then Shut it off! It's that simple.

[@glackaglack1534]

I have no good experience with thermo king apu

[@emauriceharr]

I would wash my clothes then dry them with the APU bunk heater.

[@Mike-ei9ip]

APU is a grate invention but way too loud and needs to be better isolated from frame to reduce vibration.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Thanks, Mike 123. We can bring that up to our provider when we discuss additional units.

[@Mike-ei9ip]

@@DeckerTruckLineInc If thy would take the APU exhaust put the check valve on it and pipe it in to truck exhaust it would alone most likely reduce the noise by 75-80%.

[@bobinthewest8559]

I was also a bit surprised by the apparent noise level. Was that an older unit, perhaps in need of a new muffler? Thermoking speaks of these as "quiet running"... but that sounded like a jobsite generator or air compressor.

[@Mike-ei9ip]

@@bobinthewest8559 if they would pipe APU exhaust to the truck exhaust problem would be mostly solved. Newer or older units it does not matter they are all way too loud. Thank God not as loud as Carrier refrigeration units but too load anyway.

[@tahirbayramov8570]

I really hate sleeping when parked right besides one of those trucks built with this loud APU. I can tolerate reefer but this APU thing is just drilling your ears.

[@ItsMe-xf3dv]

You needed 2 people to demonstrate this?

[@scottjackson1636]

How can i stop the cycling on this thing. It turns off and on every 2 minutes. Its so loud and it shakes the bunk every time. It disrupts my sleeping pattern. I want to find the idiot that designed this and stand in his bedroom and scream every 2 minutes and shake his bed and see how well he sleeps.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

You may need to have the batteries looked at. I'd suggest calling maintenance so they can look at it for you so you can get a good night sleep.

[@c.a.mcneil7599]

Wow did you just waist my time nope I stopped it now

[@g41thomas]

These format of climate control of the cabins is really useless, expensive and unnecessary.. I m running heat ac and even cooking not using a drop of fuel without this type of monster apu

[@billunderwood8975]

Great video, but I have to ask ... Why does Decker use a "man-boy love" pedo symbol as a company logo? I didn't make this up or invent the symbolism of pedophiles... Nor is it fiction... Perhaps you should look into it yourself. This is not an attack on you... You didn't design the logo either, but it's something that you should be aware of

[@mr.dbldblu6144]

Is the air cold or just cool?

[@truckerron]

Man, that thing is freaking loud!!

[@cookiesmom8398]

Does it come with the heater? I already have an espar bunk heater. Will it use that, or have its own? I also have a xantrex pro 1800w inverter.

[@DeckerTruckLineInc]

Yes, Amber Chardonnay, it does come with a bunk heater. The invertors are 1800-2000 watt

[@MrTexas77477]

Damn boo u a trucker? U got to many tools lol