Dometic PLB40 battery with Jackery 100W solar panel

[mookamatook]

I only run the system off solar. I park the ranger outside, and will bring the PLB 40 inside when it's crazy cold. And I turn the whole thing off when not in use. Otherwise, it'll run permanently with no input from me at all.

So here's the plan. If anyone on here has some advice, please post! The goal is to have everything hooked up at all times and control each piece with the switches that are already part of the unit. No fuse box or distribution network for DC. Just rely on solar and alternator charging and the PLB40 as the main storage/power source when the car is not running. One main thing I'm wondering about is hooking the PLB up to a 150w inverter off the rear cargo 12v socket and running it AC instead of running it directly into the socket and eating up the anderson connector (which is also the DC input) as I want to use that for solar and not have to swap every time I stop etc.

Electrical needs are: Dometic CF50 for fridge temps mainly (24-26F), Laptop Power for ~2hr/day, Drone/Camera Batteries recharge for ~30mins/day, (1) strip LED lighting for ~2-3hrs/day, iphone, ipad, garmin, 12v DC water pump for ~4-6min/day.

 

[mookamatook]

So here's the plan. If anyone on here has some advice, please post! The goal is to have everything hooked up at all times and control each piece with the switches that are already part of the unit. No fuse box or distribution network for DC. Just rely on solar and alternator charging and the PLB40 as the main storage/power source when the car is not running. One main thing I'm wondering about is hooking the PLB up to a 150w inverter off the rear cargo 12v socket and running it AC instead of running it directly into the socket and eating up the anderson connector (which is also the DC input) as I want to use that for solar and not have to swap every time I stop etc.

Electrical needs are: Dometic CF50 for fridge temps mainly (24-26F), Laptop Power for ~2hr/day, Drone/Camera Batteries recharge for ~30mins/day, (1) strip LED lighting for ~2-3hrs/day, iphone, ipad, garmin, 12v DC water pump for ~4-6min/day.

View attachment 2295285

Does anyone see problems with this set up?? I've all the parts now, just going to mount and wire everything up!

 

[stevenjj71]

The dometic CF50 needs to go into the 2 blade 12V threaded connector on the PLB40 but my cable that came with the fridge doesn't appear to have that threaded connection... I'll need to source a cable like that has that 2blade threaded end I think..

I don't have a Dometic yet, but I saw this in the Q&A on the Dometic PLB40 site.
"We just wanted to let you know that we made the 2-pin threaded 12VDC output specifically for your Dometic powered cooler. The 2-pin is built in to the 12V plug supplied with every Dometic CFF, CFX, and CFX3. Simply twist the bottom portion of the plug and the adapter will come apart revealing the 2-pin plug. We love the 2-pin because of the piece of mind it gives- its threaded and won't back out!"

Does your fridge cable have that?

 

[mookamatook]

Does your fridge cable have that?

It didn’t have the 2pin. I was sad about that. I wound up buying a replacement cable for an arb that had it but spent 23$!!! I wound up splicing it with a coiled 12v adapter cord (like an old telephone) to work with the tilt/slide fridge set up. Not super happy it did not come with the 2pin threaded and I didn’t easily find a replacement part for it. I’m sure it exists.

 

[stevenjj71]

Didn't come with what this guy talks about at 1:40?

 

[mookamatook]

Didn't come with what this guy talks about at 1:40?

I did not... I think it may have been a mistake. I got it 50% off from Backcountry a month or so ago. They are sold out now of the 50l but for 500$ out the door with free shipping and 1yr returns, I was okay with the deal and not getting the cable.

 

[Gazziza]

I'm going to bump this thread since I don't want to create another one but Dometic is having a sale on their PLB40 units for $377. Pretty good deal if you ask me. The reason I like the PLB40 is that it has TWO 12V cigarette ports that are rated at 15A, one is a 2-pin fridge port and the other is just a normal cig port. Most Jackery/GZ/Ecoflow/Bluetti units have only ONE 12V cig port and 6mm barrel ports that are typically rated for 10A. This is important for a few reasons. One, if you want to run another 12V accessory other than your fridge you're going to have to adapt it into a barrel plug. Two, if you're running a diesel heater 10A might not be enough to power them since on their start sequence they can often draw 12A. So with the PLB40 you can run a fridge and your diesel heater at the same time without worrying about amperage. If you don't need to have an inverter with you I think the PLB40 is a nice unit. It's also small enough that you can still use a fancy dual battery system, other solar generator and still bring the PLB40 as an extra one perhaps dedicated for a diesel heater.

Dometic PLB40

Dometic PLB40 - Portable lithium battery, 40 Ah

www.dometic.com

Same price on Amazon as well

Amazon.com

 

[Mooterman]

I'm going to bump this thread since I don't want to create another one but Dometic is having a sale on their PLB40 units for $377. Pretty good deal if you ask me. The reason I like the PLB40 is that it has TWO 12V cigarette ports that are rated at 15A, one is a 2-pin fridge port and the other is just a normal cig port. Most Jackery/GZ/Ecoflow/Bluetti units have only ONE 12V cig port and 6mm barrel ports that are typically rated for 10A. This is important for a few reasons. One, if you want to run another 12V accessory other than your fridge you're going to have to adapt it into a barrel plug. Two, if you're running a diesel heater 10A might not be enough to power them since on their start sequence they can often draw 12A. So with the PLB40 you can run a fridge and your diesel heater at the same time without worrying about amperage. If you don't need to have an inverter with you I think the PLB40 is a nice unit. It's also small enough that you can still use a fancy dual battery system, other solar generator and still bring the PLB40 as an extra one perhaps dedicated for a diesel heater.

Dometic PLB40

Dometic PLB40 - Portable lithium battery, 40 Ah

www.dometic.com

Same price on Amazon as well

Amazon.com

We've had ours parked in back of the car for 3 yrs and it has worked flawlessly. It's main mission is to keep the fridge running but occasionally we'll run the weBoost as well if a little more signal is needed at camp. It seems to recharge quite fast when running around in the car so haven't ever needed to hook up the solar panel. Would consider buying another at that price but really no need.