Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America, a provider of engine-off vehicle heating equipment, officially unveiled its new SmarTemp digital bunk thermostat. The SmarTemp Control is designed to work exclusively with Webasto's Air Top 2000 ST bunk heater to deliver ultra-precise temperature control while saving fuel, lowering emissions, ensuring compliance and reducing maintenance costs.
The Webasto SmarTemp Control is a compact, easy-to-use, all-in-one temperature management system. With the SmarTemp Control, drivers can quite literally dial-in the temperature they want and the device does the rest. Standard comfort adjustments are as easy as turning the dial right for higher temperatures and left for lower temperatures. Once set, bunk temperature is precisely maintained, allowing drivers to focus on getting the rest and relaxation they need between shifts.
"We were looking for an intelligent, effective and ergonomically pleasing user interface, and the dial control method just stood out from the other options," said Mark Hickey, vice president of business development for Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America. "The first thing you notice about the device is the dial, and how intuitive and easy it makes the overall unit operation."
The Webasto SmarTemp Control's large, backlit, LCD screen is easy to read and prominently displays the ambient bunk space temperature as well as the corresponding set temperature. The screen brightens while in use and automatically dims itself a few moments after interaction. The dial has tactile feedback with a one-click-to-one-degree ratio that makes adjusting it easy to do in the dark, even without looking at the screen.
"Simple" best describes the SmarTemp's controller logic. The user easily toggles between menu options with just the push of a button, and once in the chosen menu, uses the dial to scroll up or down to the desired selection. Main menu preferences allow a user to quickly select the heat or ventilation mode, one of three languages and Fahrenheit or Celsius temperature scales. Main menu options allow users to select continuous or timed run times, low voltage disconnect thresholds, password protection and preventive maintenance reminders. Integrated panels softly glow red when in heating mode, blue when in ventilation mode and blink to indicate a diagnostic alert.
"Designing a controller that is both easy and precise is just part of the ROI equation," Hickey said. "Operator satisfaction, comfort and safety are paramount in today's environment, as are the more traditional metrics of fuel consumption, emission compliance, battery life and maintenance costs – Webasto's SmarTemp Control, used in conjunction with an Air Top 2000 ST bunk heater, will positively impact the whole equation."
In fact, Webasto's Air Top 2000 ST heater consumes less fuel and imposes a lower amperage demand on the vehicle's electrical system and battery than competing systems. The reduced fuel use and lower emission output of the Air Top 2000 ST make it a natural choice for fleets and independent owners interested in saving the environment and their money in the process.
By choosing a Webasto heater, vehicle owners may qualify for supplemental funding under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). Qualified recipients can obtain DERA reimbursement by retrofitting existing vehicles. Hickey noted that the SmarTemp Control will work with any existing Air Top 2000 ST bunk heater and that retrofitting equipment is fast and easy.
Webasto pioneered the development of fuel-operated air heating technology, introducing the world's first commercially available unit in the 1950s. The company produces more than a million heaters a year and remains a leading innovator of heating, cooling and ventilation systems for passenger cars, heavy-duty on- and off-road vehicles, as well as watercraft.
