Guys with Freezer Fridges
- Thread starter Wrench
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Mine is hard wired through the secondary fuse box.
I have the 12volt Coleman cooler. I wired another cig outlet in the passenger back area of my '97. I ran the wires (ran 4 so I have extras) under the carpet right behind the 2nd row seats to the driver's side. Then there is a channel that you can run wires in all the way up to the firewall...a nice grommet already there, made a slice in it and bingo the wires are in the engine bay.
I ran 4 solid #12 house-wiring wires (THHN or whatever, the single wires, not romex stuff). Running the solid wires actually made it alot easier since a bundle of 4 of those is very stiff, so you can push it where you can't see, much easier than using flexy wire.
I have don't use the body for ground, I have power and ground connected to the battery directly, a 20 amp fuse right at the battery for this outlet, and since it's on the battery, it's always on. This setup has worked really well for me. Only downside is now I want more than one 12volt outlet back there, I have all the stuff already there to wire another one, just haven't done it.
I run the Coleman cooler off that outlet, runs all the time, works very well.
Hardest part is securing the coleman cooler since it's really light and likes to bang around.
The actual cig outlet I used was from Walmart, they have a 'Truck' one designed for a generic mount, comes with like 20' of red wire and like 1' of black wire (they are assuming you're using the vehicle as the ground). You just drill a hole and this goes in, then a screwon back holds it there, cute little spring cover...I hacked both wires and used crimp connectors to my #12 wire I ran. I probably should have soldered them but didn't have my soldering iron at the time and soldering solid #12 copper is a pain.
Good Luck...
Mark Brodis
I ran 4 solid #12 house-wiring wires (THHN or whatever, the single wires, not romex stuff). Running the solid wires actually made it alot easier since a bundle of 4 of those is very stiff, so you can push it where you can't see, much easier than using flexy wire.
I have don't use the body for ground, I have power and ground connected to the battery directly, a 20 amp fuse right at the battery for this outlet, and since it's on the battery, it's always on. This setup has worked really well for me. Only downside is now I want more than one 12volt outlet back there, I have all the stuff already there to wire another one, just haven't done it.
I run the Coleman cooler off that outlet, runs all the time, works very well.
Hardest part is securing the coleman cooler since it's really light and likes to bang around.
The actual cig outlet I used was from Walmart, they have a 'Truck' one designed for a generic mount, comes with like 20' of red wire and like 1' of black wire (they are assuming you're using the vehicle as the ground). You just drill a hole and this goes in, then a screwon back holds it there, cute little spring cover...I hacked both wires and used crimp connectors to my #12 wire I ran. I probably should have soldered them but didn't have my soldering iron at the time and soldering solid #12 copper is a pain.
Good Luck...
Mark Brodis
NorCalDoug
problems solved daily...
I ran mine similar to how Mark did.
I have a single, hot wire coming from the battery, along the engine compartment and through the grommet in the firewall on the passenger side. I then ran the wire under the carpet, into the rear cargo area. I think it's 8 gauge, so it's pretty thick. I connected this wire to a small fuse block that I bolted to the side of the small box in the plastic panel. Since I was doing it, I decided to install 2 12-volt outlets. From the fuse block, I ran power to each 12-volt recepticle. I connect the ground wire to the body for each one. I made sure to make the ground wire a bit longer so I would have some room to maneuver the panel when removed (without having to disconnect the ground).
I used these:
http://www.marinco.com/dcdevice.htm
(the one in the pic with the red background; the 12VBR if you download the specs)
A little spendy ($12-$18 each, depending on where you shop), but very nice.
I have my ARB connected all the time in the summer (an when on trips).
Don't have dual batteries yet, but the draw from the ARB is very low. I have a short commute, but it's long enough to keep the battery charged (YMMV).
I have a single, hot wire coming from the battery, along the engine compartment and through the grommet in the firewall on the passenger side. I then ran the wire under the carpet, into the rear cargo area. I think it's 8 gauge, so it's pretty thick. I connected this wire to a small fuse block that I bolted to the side of the small box in the plastic panel. Since I was doing it, I decided to install 2 12-volt outlets. From the fuse block, I ran power to each 12-volt recepticle. I connect the ground wire to the body for each one. I made sure to make the ground wire a bit longer so I would have some room to maneuver the panel when removed (without having to disconnect the ground).
I used these:
http://www.marinco.com/dcdevice.htm
(the one in the pic with the red background; the 12VBR if you download the specs)
A little spendy ($12-$18 each, depending on where you shop), but very nice.
I have my ARB connected all the time in the summer (an when on trips).
Don't have dual batteries yet, but the draw from the ARB is very low. I have a short commute, but it's long enough to keep the battery charged (YMMV).
The Norcold I have says it must be run directly from the batt and not through any other appliance or cig lighter. I run 8G wire batt to powerinverter. Using the same terminals on the inverter I run back to the fridge. When I am using the inverter for a hi draw item like a grinder I shut the fridge off but usually there is no issue with a batt charger, computer etc...
NorCalDoug
problems solved daily...
That's odd. I thought the same manufacturer made the Norcold, ARB, and Engel. I don't recall seeing that restriction for the ARB.
They are all the same and I think they all have the same restrictions, at least for the larger ones. Bascially direct from battery to fridge. You can have a fuse inline or build a fuse block and run additional accessories off of it. My 2nd batt goes to a 8 fuse block that powers all the extra crap and the fridge. The Norcold I got has a fuse inline with the supplied harness.
It also says thet you can not run it off of an inverter. The sine wave is not right for it.
It also says thet you can not run it off of an inverter. The sine wave is not right for it.
Yes, that restriction on power is strictly for the macdaddy size. The smaller sizes can run through regular 12v outlets.
H - that's one thing I can't pimp off
. Talk to dd113 or Koffer though if you want one, because they got screaming deals on theirs. I got a deal on mine $600 for the big, factory new, just cause it sat on the floor of the shop for too long. Apparently all the lamoheepers want small ones around here. I assume that's because their spouses obviously dig small things.
H - that's one thing I can't pimp off
. Talk to dd113 or Koffer though if you want one, because they got screaming deals on theirs. I got a deal on mine $600 for the big, factory new, just cause it sat on the floor of the shop for too long. Apparently all the lamoheepers want small ones around here. I assume that's because their spouses obviously dig small things.
Wrench, did you get one? If so, fess up bitch so like give us the details 
I have heavy ass cable back to my rear power distribution. I simply put a fuse in there and hard wired it to the distribution center.
I have heavy ass cable back to my rear power distribution. I simply put a fuse in there and hard wired it to the distribution center.
You'll love it and use it all the time. Congrats. One of the best things I ever got for my pos beater.
I have a similar setup as Mark. I have the 12volt Coleman thermoelectric cooler in the back for longer trips. For around town I have a Vector 6 liter thermoelectric cooler that fits in the footwell in the middle of the center row seat. It fits there perfectly and doesn't interfere with the other passengers as that seat is occupied with a baby seat. The smaller Vector cooler is great for keeping Diet Cokes and baby bottles cool around town.
For power, I have a powertap from a Tundra towing package to tap the power from the battery. It fits over the OEM battery lug and has a built-in 30 Amp fuse. The wire then goes to a PriorityStart! which takes the aux power offline if the battery drops below 11.9V, which is about 30-40% of battery charge left. This prevents the cooler from draining the battery all the way down and allows enough power left in the battery to start the car. The wire then goes to a aux fuse box under the passenger seat in a similar setup as Christo's. The fusebox provides power to 4 weatherproof cig lighter plugs, one under the glovebox, two at the center console, and one at the rear compartment.
I bought all my cig lighter plugs from Walmart. They have various types that fits all my applications (I have 3 different ones).
With a single Optima Orange Top, I estimate the Vector cooler will run for at least 8 hours before the battery drains to the point where the PriorityStart! takes the cig lighter plugs offline.
John
For power, I have a powertap from a Tundra towing package to tap the power from the battery. It fits over the OEM battery lug and has a built-in 30 Amp fuse. The wire then goes to a PriorityStart! which takes the aux power offline if the battery drops below 11.9V, which is about 30-40% of battery charge left. This prevents the cooler from draining the battery all the way down and allows enough power left in the battery to start the car. The wire then goes to a aux fuse box under the passenger seat in a similar setup as Christo's. The fusebox provides power to 4 weatherproof cig lighter plugs, one under the glovebox, two at the center console, and one at the rear compartment.
I bought all my cig lighter plugs from Walmart. They have various types that fits all my applications (I have 3 different ones).
With a single Optima Orange Top, I estimate the Vector cooler will run for at least 8 hours before the battery drains to the point where the PriorityStart! takes the cig lighter plugs offline.
John
HZJ60 Guy
Tank Buster
Ive got an ARB fridge that is wired through a secondary fuze box in the bed of my rig. I have three batteries on board. One is in charge of the fridge and is recharged by a solar panel.
TB
TB
Is that battery stand-alone or is it wired into the vehicle's charging system?
H, I have a solar recharge for the 2nd batt as well. You need to get with the times
Wrench you do want to fuse your power for the frig at the battery also.
Phil
Phil
