Fridges and battery supply

[Cleandezert]

So i am slow when it comes to this all and trying to figure out where save pennies.. thoughts.

so I have 2 airborne offroad batteries, rated at 36 amp hours.

Does it make more sense to .
1. try and wire directly to these, which are already charging off alt when car is running...
2. ad a lipo batter and charger ($300-$400) upgrade?

I guess as I type this 2 makes more sense instead of trying to run off the one... any idea how long the 36 amp hour battery would keep a fridge running?

 

[84Prerunner]

So i am slow when it comes to this all and trying to figure out where save pennies.. thoughts.

so I have 2 airborne offroad batteries, rated at 36 amp hours.

Does it make more sense to .
1. try and wire directly to these, which are already charging off alt when car is running...
2. ad a lipo batter and charger ($300-$400) upgrade?

I guess as I type this 2 makes more sense instead of trying to run off the one... any idea how long the 36 amp hour battery would keep a fridge running?

You don’t really have 36AH available with that lead acid battery. IF you pulled 36AH from it you’d be under 10v (fridge likely wouldn’t run) and that battery would only last a hand full of cycles that deep before being trashed. You only gave 15-20Ah available realistically.

 

[SteveG]

So as i get older I like the idea of doing a fridge in my truck... total overland style.. My plan is to try and squeeze one between 2 rear prp seats in the back of the fraptor... Anyone wanna school me who has experience on this? Curious on your thoughts and how you power it? currently thinking of adding a jackery or something of the sort to power the fridge while the truck is off, and while the truck is on it can charge the jackery.... or put a switch on it so I can charge at anytime.

Also any better solutions for a better price than a jackery? i like the ability to see the power... but don't really need to plug much into it other than fridge.

In the Bronco, I run two big Full Throttle batteries… great set up with lots of power. I’ve abused the hell out of them with great results.

For a long road trip in the Camaro (will also use in the Explorer), I recently bought a small Bluetti battery pack. The fridge is powered by the Bluetti and the car charges it when the engine is running. This way, the battery pack stays charged and the fridge will run overnight without draining the engine battery.

Link (I paid $200 about 5 weeks ago)
https://www.bluettipower.com/produc...OD0nr-NR2y29sd6OIa2E-udXEHjt8xiJGrhjQwOInqM96

 

[SteveG]

So i am slow when it comes to this all and trying to figure out where save pennies.. thoughts.

so I have 2 airborne offroad batteries, rated at 36 amp hours.

Does it make more sense to .
1. try and wire directly to these, which are already charging off alt when car is running...
2. ad a lipo batter and charger ($300-$400) upgrade?

I guess as I type this 2 makes more sense instead of trying to run off the one... any idea how long the 36 amp hour battery would keep a fridge running?

Adding, now that I read your entire post, ha! All the car fridges I’ve used have low-voltage cut-off. Make sure that’s active, cool the fridge (and contents) on AC power before setting off on your trip and you’ll probably be good. Also keep the fridge full so it stays colder longer without running.

 

[Cleandezert]

First trip out with the fridge this weekend. Freaking game changer. This is 1 overland trend everyone needs to do. No longer need ice, no longer have to stick my hand in a freezing cooler looking for a drink, no longer have soggy sandwiches.

Battery and charging system for it worked great, as well as the supplemental solar panels.

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

Bump

Well, the last night of Dezertfest my power bank died, so i kept my fridge plugged into the truck and of corse my battery was dead in the morning. Ive been lucky for months up until this point lol. It doesnt help that i hard park with my rock lights on all the time lol. I'm probably going to throw a better battery in, and maybe run a bigger solar panel maybe suction cupped to the sun roof like they do starlink? Not sure yet. Andrew, i texted you but figured id post here as well.

 

[Cleandezert]

i can post up all the crap i bought if it helps.

battery
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C49STP5P?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_6&th=1

charger - auto charges as soon as the truck hits 13v or something like that.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZCXNHDV?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_5

Solar panel - i have only used this one to test it out.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DKTZY7G?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_6

so charger is hard wired to vehicle battery
charger is then hard wired to lipo battery for fridge
fridge is wired to lip battery with a switch to turn on and off.
then i can plug in solar to charger if i am not going to drive my truck for a day or two.

So far i have used this set up for 3 day weekends without issue, with a little bit of driving like we did this weekend. I then turn it off when i get home, and turn it on for next trip. usually not driving truck inbetween.

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

Great info thank you!

 

[84Prerunner]

i can post up all the crap i bought if it helps.

battery
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C49STP5P?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_6&th=1

charger - auto charges as soon as the truck hits 13v or something like that.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZCXNHDV?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_5

Solar panel - i have only used this one to test it out.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DKTZY7G?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_6

so charger is hard wired to vehicle battery
charger is then hard wired to lipo battery for fridge
fridge is wired to lip battery with a switch to turn on and off.
then i can plug in solar to charger if i am not going to drive my truck for a day or two.

So far i have used this set up for 3 day weekends without issue, with a little bit of driving like we did this weekend. I then turn it off when i get home, and turn it on for next trip. usually not driving truck inbetween.

I gave him basically the same recommendation via text. Glad to hear your setup is working, I’d only recommend a better Dc/dc but if it’s working for you that’s all that matters.

 

[Endless Trails]

My new fridge is running off the truck batteries but I want a "jackery" style and a solar panel, plus have it charge off the alternator with a charge controller. The Battery generator give you more options of use vs solid mounted "RV" batteries. My old setup had two matching batteries to my two starters, but I had to move them to my starters and my starters were past warranty.
Anker has a 1000 battery generator at Best Buy for $499.
Dometic is running a 75% off deal on some of their stuff right now. They have a few models of the center console fridges for $100 Amazon. I would love to pick one up and build a full center console for the Dodge.
I am running a Dometic 75DZ in the bed. A Jackery 300 won't power it from 5pm to morning.
Southern California Edison will rebate you $150 back on battery generators if you live in a tier 2 zone. They will also do $600 back on gas

 

[Endless Trails]

Oh and AI is a great source to do the math on how much battery you will need for x number of hours for a specific model of fridge. I was way off trying to calculate it.