Carrier Transicold has introduced a low fuel level sensor for its Vector trailer refrigeration units, to eliminate the number one cause of breakdown call-outs.
Scott Dargan, operations director at Carrier Transicold UK, says the unit is designed to help safeguard the integrity of the cold chain, as well as to protect Carrier's temperature controlled systems from running out of fuel.
Currently, costs to repair units that have run out of diesel on the road often exceed £100, and that figure takes no account of the additional stress on the starting system, with drivers continually attempting to re-start air-locked units.
"Once a fuel tank runs dry, air can be drawn into the system, and a technician is required to bleed the fuel lines before it can be re-started," explains Dargan.
And he adds: "The sensor not only helps to warn the driver of the need to refuel; it also protects the unit from running out of diesel completely. This enables the system to be re-started by the driver as soon as the tank is refilled, without incurring the cost of an emergency call-out from a mobile technician.
Carrier's new sensor is available as a retrofit option and as original equipment. If the refrigeration unit's fuel level drops below 15% for more than 30 seconds, an alarm is activated to notify the driver. If the fuel level continues to fall and drops below 10 per cent for more than 60 seconds, the system automatically shuts down.
