The Battery Brain electronic controller for truck, bus and marine batteries, introduced a couple of years ago by Smart Energy Solutions, has been improved. The company has launched a new high-capacity model, after working with several fleet maintenance managers to develop and test the product. The new Heavy Duty model is available for 12- and 24-volt systems and will withstand starter battery current draws of up to 2000 amps, the maker says.

It constantly monitors electrical discharge of the vehicle’s battery. If the Battery Brain detects that it’s losing the charge needed to start the truck’s engine, it automatically disconnects the battery.

The product can pay for itself in less than six months, the company claims, by reducing battery-related service calls, downtime, and delaying battery replacements due to deep cycling when batteries run down. It also provides a warning when batteries are reaching the end of their life cycle so that replacement can be scheduled.

The device is said to be ideal for fleets in the beverage and courier markets, for example, where trucks are turned on and off frequently. It’s also suited to construction and logging applications where vehicles can stand idle for prolonged periods of time. In fact, it can be used in nearly all kinds of vehicles.