What is Overnight Standby and Do you Need it?
Stand-by facilities allow a van to keep refrigeration systems running while the engine remains off. It is a system that uses electrical and mains power to work, either a generator or the mains can be used to keep the stand-by facility working.
An overnight standby system is an electrical plug-in facility, which can be added to a refrigerated vehicle. Although it is an extra facility it cannot be added into a van after the conversion into a refrigeration vehicle. However, if you are converting a vehicle it is worth adding a stand-by system, it will add a lot of value to your van if you come to sell it.
Using cables to connect your refrigeration system to the power source allows flexibility in the length of cables used. This means if you need to use a longer cable to connect to a main you can, it doesn’t restrict you to where you can park your vehicle. The cable also plays a role in the efficiency of your system, thick core cables are usually used to connect the system to the source. These cables reduce the voltage drop, blown fuses and tripped circuit breakers. All aiding in the efficiency of your refrigeration.
For your safety but also the prevention of machine damage, you cannot extend your power cables. This means you can’t use extensions leads, or any other method similar in which to connect your refrigeration. If you need a longer lead then there are a variety of lengths available online.
One thing you do have to consider is the suitability of your power supply, if the power supply is low then that is subsequently going to cause your equipment to fail. If there is an adequate supply of power to your system, the equipment will be able to run to its potential.
Overnight Standby is perfect for when the vehicle needs to be stationary but you still need to keep goods chilled. Uses for catering and parties are common for stand-by vehicles because they can keep food chilled while unloading. Another use for the standby system is pre-cooling your storage area, if a product needs to be constantly maintained at a temperature, you can pre-cool your van to that temperature which will be maintained while travelling.
An Overnight Stand-by facility is easy to use, all you need to do is, connect your van to the mains or a generator while the vehicle engine is off. You then turn on your power source and use the system’s facilities to alter temperatures accordingly.
If you’d like more information about overnight standby or any of our refrigerated vehicles, you can contact the team at RVR, here!