Fridge Freezers on one battery (1 Viewer)

[boozewz]

I have a question regarding the fridge freezers. Since all my trips are day trips, with the possibilty of an overnight trip, I was wondering if its possible to run the fridge with a single battery in the truck instead of going with the dual battery set up?

ie I'd just plug the fridge into the cig lighter and take off?
If the car were to be turned off, and I kept the fridge running, how long would the battery last before cranking the engine would not be possible? I never use any other battery draining accessories except the AC. (ie no lights, stereo, navigation etc) while driving on day trips.

trying to save monies where I can.

 

[Count_Fred]

Using accessories while driving is usually well within the capabilities of our alternators (within reason). When I stop with a full charge I can make it about 48-64 hours of fridge time before I don't have enough battery charge to crank the engine. I think I have the medium size ARB/Engle fridge from about 5 years ago. The larger ones probably draw more, the newer ones might be more efficient.

What battery you use as your primary is your biggest concern. The POs battery would last around 20 hours. With a Sears Platinum 31M, I get the above quoted time. So it is certainly doable, especially if you drive several hours every day. The AGM batteries recharge very quickly meaning even short days replenish what was used overnight while camped.

Dual batteries are needed when you have extended periods when the vehicle doesn't run. Or when you wish the peace of mind that should your overnight power draw be high (camp lights left on, doors ajar, high fridge draw) you will still have a charged battery to crank off of. This becomes very important when miles from civilization, especially offroad where you may be idling slowly forward for long periods of time during which our alternators are not putting out their maximum current. Add on top of this large draws to use a winch and offroad lights and it is possible to offroad much of the day and end up with a partially depleted battery going into your evening.

You will need to make sure the outlet you choose is always on. Currently all my outlets are setup to be always on.

Cheers,
JFS III

 

[esh]

I have a Waeco CF-40 that has been running off a single battery. Have done 3 days with it on setting 4 / 7, which freezes the bottom half thoroughly, without the truck running. In about 80F temps, 60F at nights. Was in the Colorado boonies and parked so I could push start the truck if needed. Two days is easy. Four or five might be too long but I haven't had a chance to test and am hooking up the BEP Marine VSR for a controller so may not ever test.

Larger size fridges might take more amps to do their job.

I use a transit bag and keep the fridge full to reduce run times, but the Waeco is very efficient at cooling. Turbo mode was off.

 

[e9999]

no problem here on one battery, with some thinking and checking.

main thing -if you don't have an emergency startup pack or don't want to take a chance- is setting up the fridge so it stops running when the voltage goes below a certain level.

 

[Arvin G.]

I've been using one battery and a dealership battery at that to power my fridge for the past 2-3 years. I've had no problems thus far.

Crank it up when you're driving to get the fridge up to desired temperature. Crank it back down to cool/ref when you have reached the destination. You can easily go overnight without worry of a dead battery when left on the 1st setting overnight.
I recently spent a week out in the woods occassionally venturing out every few days and that would be the only time my battery would get charged.

Having a wireless temp gauge, transit bag and keeping out of the sun all help from the fridge constantly cycling.

 

[boozewz]

Thanks guys.

So by the look of it, one battery can handle the load for an overnight trip, and anything longer it would be safer to go with the dual. Most of my driving is not over slow/crawling speed, so I can imagine the battery will be well charged.

Forgive me for asking, but the Optima deep cycle would be good for a single battery set up in terms of leaving it to run the fridge while the rig is switched off?

 

[VTCDN]

Boozer ,, Here and read , batterys will be # two here

Always over build , under thinking cost's ..

VT

 

[Corey]

I use a solar panel at 60 watts to keep the main battery charged up.
60 watts is about what you would want to go with to keep the battery topped off.

I do have a dual battery setup too, but the Optima Yellowtop crapped out, need to replace it later with a better brand.

I have ran my fridge before on just the factory battery for four days in my parking space, then it started up the following morning to go to work.
That is pushing it though.

 

[Ebag333]

Forgive me for asking, but the Optima deep cycle would be good for a single battery set up in terms of leaving it to run the fridge while the rig is switched off?

I'm not a huge fan of the Optima batteries. They're pretty expensive for what you get (look at the stats).

Best bang for the buck I've found is the Sears PM-1 or PM-2. They're extremely nice batteries, priced similar to the Optima's but much larger capacity. I have the PM-1 in my truck.

 

[rgsiii]

I'm not a huge fan of the Optima batteries. They're pretty expensive for what you get (look at the stats).

x2. I have had terrible luck with Optima's. Apparently, they were great back when. I would go with something else.

 

[VTCDN]

Best bang for the buck I've found is the Sears PM-1 or PM-2. They're extremely nice batteries, priced similar to the Optima's but much larger capacity. I have the PM-1 in my truck.

Going off the price , Are they AGM'S ??
Plus Size 31M (with exchange),, so you need to drop an AGM off? or it's more,


VT

 

[Ebag333]

Going off the price , Are they AGM'S ??
Plus Size 31M (with exchange),, so you need to drop an AGM off? or it's more,


VT

Yup. Means it's better for when you're bouncing around off road. Also it eliminates about 95% of off gassing, so you won't have corrosion build up.

 

[Bogo]

PM-1 is a Group 31 sized AGM battery. Should be about 100Ah@ 20 hour rate and around 75 lbs. I see it has both studs and posts. Cool. Right, add it to my possible batteries list.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850131000P


The PM-2 is a group 34 size. 68A hour at 20 hour rate.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850134000P

 

[Ebag333]

PM-1 is a Group 31 sized AGM battery. Should be about 100Ah@ 20 hour rate and around 75 lbs. I see it has both studs and posts. Cool. Right, add it to my possible batteries list.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850131000P


The PM-2 is a group 34 size. 68A hour at 20 hour rate.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850134000P

The PM-1 is a rebadged Odyssey PC2150. The PM-2 is (I believe) the PC1500.

Odyssey AGM Batteries

If you want to buy the same battery, but not rebranded with Sears name, it'll set you back $373.55 vs $234.99.

Even on eBay they're over $300.

Tons of good info on Optima's site about their batteries.

 

[VanGo]

Running dual optima yellow tops with hellroaring battery management system and enjoying cold beverages with no worries of draining the batteries. I did use the fridge on one battery, but would unplug it over night and tried to keep it full or withwater bootles to keep a "load" in the fridge.

 

[VTCDN]

Thanks Ebag333

Good info ..

VT