I don't have dual battery, just a big yellow top.
also "They" are usually wrong (especially when it comes to electrical, IMO).
Fridge is on the way!
- Thread starter Southeast Overland
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I don't have dual battery, just a big yellow top.
also "They" are usually wrong (especially when it comes to electrical, IMO).
Rick, what all do you have plugged into that thing? Pros and cons to only having one battery?
I ran my arb fridge for 3 days off of a yellow top without charging (it was setting in my tent a GSMTR) until it died. Results may vary. A low battery shut off or whatever its called would be fine with a single IMHO.
Pros - you don't pay for a second battery setup.
Cons - the one battery you have may die
I've had mine run for about 2 days straight without starting the truck before I ran the yellowtop out.
I'm not all that big on the latest technology or gadget for the most part, but the fridge on the trail is one of the best investments I've made. No ice, no soggyness, extra space etc... its great for camping. I also use mine to take out on the patio filled with beers in the summer.
I installed a secondary fuse panel that runs straight off the battery (key off power was important). I run all my accessories through this panel: Hellas top and bottom, air compressor, fridge, GPS, CB, 700W inverter, flashlight charger. Not all these things are "running" when the truck sits, typically just the fridge. But if I'm on the road or trail, I could have some of the other things running too. My fridge has 3 cut off settings: 12.0v, 11.0v and 10.4v to keep from killing your battery completely. I keep it on Medium (11.0v). I can run it for a couple days in fridge mode (40-45*) without cranking the truck, but if I put it in freezer mode (<32*) then only overnight.
I got the biggest yellowtop I could find about 6 months ago when I finally killed the stock battery. (I ran all that stuff above on the stock battery for about 2 of its 3yr lifespan) I think these are the specs on it. With rebate it was about $180 at NAPA.
Part Number: D34 (8012-021)
YellowTop®; Deep Cycle Battery; UNBOXED; Group D34; Cold Crank Amps 750; Crank Amps 870; Reserve Capacity 120; Ampere Hour 55; Top Terminal; L-10 in.; W-6 7/8 in.; H-7 13/16 in.;
I got the biggest yellowtop I could find about 6 months ago when I finally killed the stock battery. (I ran all that stuff above on the stock battery for about 2 of its 3yr lifespan) I think these are the specs on it. With rebate it was about $180 at NAPA.
Part Number: D34 (8012-021)
YellowTop®; Deep Cycle Battery; UNBOXED; Group D34; Cold Crank Amps 750; Crank Amps 870; Reserve Capacity 120; Ampere Hour 55; Top Terminal; L-10 in.; W-6 7/8 in.; H-7 13/16 in.;
Steve, are you running a second bat.? If not, are you planning to? Or are you going to give it whirl with one?
Southeast Overland
Get lost! Go explore!
- Thread starter
- #27
Single battery. I'll upgrade to a dual battery system when I add a light bar hopefully this summer. I'm working on a DIY bar that should run me about $150 less than anything decent that is available commercially. I don't a souped up stereo or many other electronics putting extra drain/strain on my battery so I should be OK.
True.
Way to give them fab skilz some practice!
Way to give them fab skilz some practice!
Steve,
Where are the pics? Without pics, you don't own a fridge.
Where are the pics? Without pics, you don't own a fridge.
Pros - you don't pay for a second battery setup.
Cons - the one battery you have may die
I've had mine run for about 2 days straight without starting the truck before I ran the yellowtop out.
I'm not all that big on the latest technology or gadget for the most part, but the fridge on the trail is one of the best investments I've made. No ice, no soggyness, extra space etc... its great for camping. I also use mine to take out on the patio filled with beers in the summer.
Glad to hear it's still doing well. How's the GPS?
The fridge is excellent! The GPS is working out great but haven't had much chance to use in lately. I finally have all of Cullowhee mapped out... like that will do me any good
I was able to confirm steve actually owns a fridge over the weekend. Its pretty beefy....
Southeast Overland
Get lost! Go explore!
- Thread starter
- #34
Looks like I'm going to a dual battery set-up. My fridge cut off once on me due to I think a low battery, and numerous times due to a bad connection in my stock AC plug at the rear of my FJC. I'm thinking about keeping the current battery and installing a Costco/Kirkland deep cycle (~$70) to run all my accessories and using a National Luna kit distributed by Equipt Outfitters. Overland Journal gave the National Luna kit a great rating. I'll fab up a battery mount to mount on the passenger front wheel well.
I also think I'm going to move my fridge up to behind my driver's seat to open up more storage room in the back and to try and keep from having to fab up sliders.
Feedback on either idea?
I also think I'm going to move my fridge up to behind my driver's seat to open up more storage room in the back and to try and keep from having to fab up sliders.
Feedback on either idea?
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If it's only lasting an hr with the 1st battery then it will only maybe give you 2 with a deep cycle. Unless your current battery is on the fritz. It should be lasting a day or longer. Might want to check how many amps it's pulling. What kind of power wire is running it? What Gage? By this I mean if your using a small gage wire a long distance it's going to lose voltage due to heat buildup in the line which causes resistance. What I would do is check the voltage of the battery when it cuts off.
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Southeast Overland
Get lost! Go explore!
- Thread starter
- #36
I guess I should clarify. After I read your post and reread mine what I typed didn't come across like I wanted it to. I edited that post.
I had the fridge cut off once I believe due to a low battery.
I've had it cut off multiple times due to a bad connection at the factory AC plug in the rear of my FJ. I'm not sure the gauge of wire but its fairly beefy. I'm gonna mount the fridge first behind my driver's seat and install a nicer, aftermarket connection. We'll see how that works.
Southeast Overland
Get lost! Go explore!
- Thread starter
- #37
PS - shhhhh, I see this as a good reason to go to a dual battery set-up. I currently have the fridge, one set of extra lights, a CB and a phone that frequently run. I'm gonna add 4 more lights to a light bar and a laptop/tablet soon... 
Lol. The AC side may be the reason for your problems. I would think it would run better on the 12v than A/C since your going from 12v to 120 back to 12v?
Southeast Overland
Get lost! Go explore!
- Thread starter
- #39
Ah shoot, I mistyped again. It runs just peachy on AC (plug in home). I did some testing today and I think my issue is the connection to my DC plug in the back of the FJC. I don't use the AC plug in the FJC. I moved my fridge to behind the driver's seat like Rick has his and I'm going to install another DC plug on the rear of my console, probably two.
Sometimes I keep a good connection to the DC plug in the back of the FJ for a long time, and other times it wiggles out. I can just touch it and make it lose or pick up its connection... I also have the two storage drawers Merle installed which limit access to the factory DC plug. Couple that with increased poor visibility with the fridge in the rear and you can't see squat.
I didn't think the oem AC/DC outlet in the back of the truck was a "key off" power supply. I ran something like a 4 or 6 gauge wire from my battery to my extra fuse panel. From there I ran a 10-12 ga wire to my 12v "cig lighter" outlets on the back of the center console. Can't say I know much about electrical, but I used the biggest wire I could find manageable. I installed the fuse panel above the brake pedal and ran the wire under the A/C control panel and down the tranny hump to the back of the console. Because of the way you have to lift the console plastic off the hump, leave yourself plenty of extra wire. I cut mine a little close and when I lift the plastic console off, the wires unplug from the back of my outlets. I have to lower it in place and reach inside to ensure the wires stay in place. Live and learn.
