ARB fridge off inverter (1 Viewer)

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Ambient temp is the key.

I have my fridge set to 33 degrees. I can go ~30 hours before the fridge shuts down in a +100 degree environment. I would expect to almost double that at 50 degrees.


I use my fridge everyday, so I leave it running 24/7. I've already saved ~50 dollars on bottled water in the last few months.

When I'm home [garaged], I plug into house power [Wil at Sierra Expeditions gave me the idea] via an extension cord [will someday run a dedicated cord to the front of the truck]. The fridge [current 50qt ARB] makes the switch to 110 automatically.
 
What gauge wire did you wire from the battery to the inverter and how did you route it? I hear some people wire it through/on the frame and some go through the fire wall and then, I guess, along the floor on the right hand side of the vehicle and into the rear side panel. Might try and tackle something similar this week.
 
Wire gauge is set by the maximum amps the inverter can draw, and how long the wire is. The inverter manual should tell you what it recommends to be used. I'd go to the next larger wire size. So, if it called for a #4 wire, I'd use a #2 wire.
 
Bogo is right on!

My ARB 37 is wired direct from my big badd ass blue battery. I have left it on for 3.5 days and starts with no issues. I have my ARB low batt setting to low. Which allows it to draw the battery to its lowest point (starting voltage). Never had any issues with this set up
 
I'd protect the wires with a wire loom of some sort. This is especially so if it is wired along the frame. Rocks, etc. will be picked up by the tires and may hit the wires. I prefer spiral looms because they shed dirt and water easier. I choose the size so it tightly holds the wire or bundle of wires. For heavy cables it likely is best to wrap them individually.
 
I'd protect the wires with a wire loom of some sort. This is especially so if it is wired along the frame. Rocks, etc. will be picked up by the tires and may hit the wires.

Does this mean that wiring along the frame is preferred to interior? This would be a first for me. Any tips on moving parts to be avoided in the undercarriage and/or where to route the wire up into the right side rear interior side panel? Drilling required?

Methinks Enigma is on Rubithon right now so I guess no help from him just yet...
 
Not sure how mirrored RHD is vs LHD, if that's an issue...

In the US spec 80s, there is at least one plug in the firewall up where the clutch would hang if they didn't all come with slushboxes. That's where I've taken multiple wires through to the interior from the engine compartment.

For my fridge circuit in the back left panel, IIRC I ran #10 wire to a locking Marinco socket via the wire loom under the plastic treadplate at the bottom side of the doors between the cabin floor and the cabin wall. For the inverters, I cut up a set of jumper cables -- cheaper than buying wire that size, IIRC 2/0, but maybe 4/0? -- and ran them through the side wire loom that's under the carpet, then under the driver's seat to one 400w inverter in the center console. Then it went back under the seat, through the side loom holder, then up through the sleeper conversion to another 400w at the tailgate.

Like Bogo says, go with lots of wire wrap. With fat wires, you're going to have to stuff things in the wire loom along the bottom of the interior, so they need lots of protection.
 

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