Air conditioning system for Sprinters

Launched in 2008 as a no-idle solution for maintaining comfort in the cab without requiring an APU, the Arctic BREEZE has been seen as the trucking industry’s most successful system in Class 8 truck fleets operating on long haul routes.

According to Jeff Lemon, the President and chief designer at Hammond Air Conditioning Ltd., the company took on the development of a “split system” design when customers expressed interest in Arctic BREEZE Truck AC for the Mercedes “Sprinter” cargo vans. “On larger trucks, the entire system, including the battery pack, can usually be mounted to the frame rails behind the cab or sleeper. Along with the Sprinter, we found that there is a wide range of light and heavy trucks that need a no-idle AC system too, but have to fit it into a much more constricted space. Splitting the AC system into two separate components gives us the flexibility to fit these smaller vehicles.”

The new system packages the AC components so that the condenser and fan are mounted externally, while the compressor and motor are located inside the cab.

“Part of the secret to our success with the system is the efficiency of its motor,” Lemon explains. “It’s extremely compact and quiet, so it won’t disturb anyone while they sleep in cool comfort in their cab.”
Hammond developed the system using just 3 proprietary components, ensuring simple installation and service. Arctic BREEZE Truck AC delivers 8000 BTU of cooling, while drawing as little as 45 Amps from 6 AGM glass mat truck batteries. The fast-charging batteries recommended by Hammond provide up to 16 hours cooling time, even in the hottest regions of the country. Each system is equipped with an integrated low voltage cut-out switch to prevent draining the starting batteries.

Hammond calculates that, in most applications, an investment in their truck AC systems will recover their full cost within a single season based on fuel savings alone. Operators save additional costs through reduced engine wear and virtually zero maintenance. The purchase price and installation times for the new Arctic BREEZE Truck AC split system are expected to be no different from the original.