Engine Start module

[Longhood]

Has anybody had any experience with either of these :http://www.maxwell.com/esm/ or http://www.skelstart.com/engine-start-module/

If they are 1/2 as good as the sites say they will be a welcome addition.
the concept is: the trucks batteries can charge the capacitor module to cranking voltage even if they are at a lower voltage. the ESM is the size of a Group 31 and replaces one of the batteries in the box.
I have seen an ad on Kijiji with a $1300.00 CAD price
A look at the sites will provide a lot more/ better info than I can.

 

[JasonG]

No experience but it seems that it would be great in very cold areas.

 

[Truck Shop]

Never seen that system, but out of all the stuff on the market these days that looks like a good idea. With all the stuff our drivers power up micro's,
coffee pots and c-pap machines in the sleeper that would help us. Good info.

Truck Shop

 

[Goodysnap]

I have seen the Maxwell installed before. Scared me a tad when I found 15V with the truck off. I have no feedback on durability or performance.

My first thought is that it would clearly mask a bad battery and may damage the capacitor if continued to operate on weak or bad batteries.

Cool idea nonetheless if you know its there. In the wrong hands I smell trouble.....

 

[Truck Shop]

I have seen the Maxwell installed before. Scared me a tad when I found 15V with the truck off. I have no feedback on durability or performance.

My first thought is that it would clearly mask a bad battery and may damage the capacitor if continued to operate on weak or bad batteries.

Cool idea nonetheless if you know its there. In the wrong hands I smell trouble.....

Good points. While at work I was wondering about the possibility of a battery with internal short and what effect the skelstart would have on it.
I could see things getting hot in a hurry.

Truck Shop