1. Why do I need a CCS?
Currently, truckers are forced to idle their main engine in order to provide heat/air conditioning to their sleeping quarters while they rest. By running the CCS instead of their main engine:

• They reduce the amount of idle running hours subjected upon their main engine
• They reduce the amount of fuel consumed by running an appropriately sized engine for the task at hand.
• They significantly reduce the amount of pollutants being released to the atmosphere.
• They keep their main engine warm in cold weather as well as keeping their start batteries topped up.

2. What makes Mechron’s CCS Lightning better than the rest?
There are several advantages gained by choosing the CCS versus other units on the market:

• Mechron’s design approach has been to direct couple the AC alternator to the crankshaft of the engine. This eliminates the need to tighten and maintain a drive belt thus resulting in a much more reliable and efficient power unit.
• The overall size of the CCS is significantly smaller than the competition, thus requiring much less space on the truck. In fact, the CCS Lightning requires only 21" of frame rail space!
• An advanced control system allows the CCS to cycle on and off as required, resulting in even greater fuel efficiency. Adjustable timers allow the user to program a timed start, thus eliminating cold start early mornings!
• Mechron’s extensive military experience with APUs has resulted in a much quieter and smoother running machine, making the peace and comfort of home available to you in your truck
• The extended maintenance interval of the APU allows you to align your CCS maintenance with your routine truck maintenance.
• The optional "Shore Power" connection allows the CCS to function on both APU power and commercial utility power if available.
• The CCS can be installed using a shared cooling system, or an optional remote radiator can be chosen.

3. How long will it take for the CCS to "pay for itself?"
Assuming the average long haul trucker currently idles his main engine 40 hours per week, and the cost of diesel fuel is $2.20 / US Gallon, the CCS will save enough fuel to have paid for itself within approximately a year and a half. Taking into consideration the wear on the main engine, the reduced maintenance costs and the life extension of other major components, the payback time period could easily be considered to be less than a year.

4. How much fuel does the CCS consume?
On average, the CCS Lightning will consume 0.2 US Gallons/hour. The average truck engine at idle will consume roughly 1.2 US Gallons/hour. By using the advanced CCS cycling mode, the fuel consumption will be reduced even further by cycling the APU only when required.

5. Will I need other sources of power such as inverters or coolant heaters?
Absolutely not! The CCS lightning is a complete system, providing heating, air conditioning and electrical power. By sharing the cooling system with the main engine, the CCS Lightning can be used to preheat the main engine in cold start conditions. The CCS can also be used as a power generator to operate pressure washers and other electrical appliances in the absence of commercial electricity. The advanced 40 Amp battery charger will also keep the main engine start batteries fully charged whether the APU is providing power, or the truck is connected to commercial electricity through the optional Shore Power connection.

6. How long will the CCS Lightning operate between maintenance intervals?
The CCS has been designed with an extra large oil and filtering system to allow the unit to run for 500 hours between routine maintenance intervals. This design feature allows the operator to schedule both routine truck maintenance and APU maintenance together, thus reducing truck downtime.

7. Is the CCS Lightning easy to operate?
Not only is the CCS Lightning easy to operate, its flexibility allows the operator to configure the system to cycle on and off when required, to automatically start thus preheating the main engine in inclement weather, and to enable/disable all functions independently. The CCS Lightning has been designed with the operator’s complete comfort at the forefront.

8. Is it easy to install?
The CCS Lightning was designed with ease of maintenance and ease of installation in mind. The standard installation will take no longer than 8 hours, allowing the operator to have routine maintenance performed at the same time a CCS Lightning is being installed.

9. Will I be able to sleep while the APU is running?
Definitely. Mechron’s extensive military experience was not wasted on the CCS Lightning. Both engine noise and vibration have been reduced to the point where comfort is not compromised - both for the operator in the bunk, and the operator in the truck next door!

10. Can I perform my own routine maintenance on the CCS Lightning?
Yes. The routine maintenance is easy to perform as all maintenance points have been made accessible. All filters, drain plugs and fuses have been located to make routine maintenance a simple task requiring only standard tools.