Dead vehicle batteries delay shipments, raise vehicle maintenance costs, and increases downtime caused by service calls. The approaching winter weather only makes it worse.


With winter quickly approaching, companies should consider the effects cold weather has on their fleet's batteries. Falling temperatures diminish a battery's electrical capacity while increasing the amount of power the battery needs to crank the engine.

Havis Inc. manufactures a low-cost and easy-to-use solution to this common problem with the ChargeGuard Auto Shut-off Timer. ChargeGuard is the latest version of the original automatic shutdown device that prevents battery drain and extends battery life. The device also provides complete voltage protection for expensive electronics.

With ChargeGuard Auto Shut-off Timer, critical aftermarket electronics, such as computers, two-way radios and card readers, are always available to the drivers, officers and technicians that depend on them. They can leave the vehicle unattended, if needed, without having to remember to turn their equipment on or off.

ChargeGuard works by automatically turning mobile equipment on when the engine is started. When the engine is turned off, the equipment stays on for an adjustable period of time, and then is automatically disabled. When properly deployed, ChargeGuard will eliminate the hassle of a dead battery at a very affordable price -- cheaper than a single tow.

"With the installation of the ChargeGuard unit, we have not had to replace a battery, nor have we had a battery-related service call (jump start) on a vehicle equipped with the unit," said Sgt. Ken Gregory of the Hoover Police Department in Hoover, Ala. "By eliminating the cost of replacing batteries, service calls, and reducing officer downtime for vehicle repairs we have more than covered the cost of the ChargeGuard units."

With these solutions, Havis aims to reduce budget costs for departments and businesses by keeping officers and employees on the street and minimizing unnecessary dead batteries, wasted fuel and excessive engine wear.

For more information on the ChargeGuard Auto Shut-off Timer, please visit www.chargeguard.com.