Help with electrical components/solar/batteries

[mbennett22]

Good Morning fellas,
The goal is to keep my fridge running without worrying or having to plug it in. I currently have a dual battery setup with Slee's aux battery tray. The main battery resting is 12.2 volts and the aux is 12.4 (tested with a volt meter). I have a Redarc BCDC 1225D installed. The fridge is an ICECO VL75 ProD. My roof rack is completely covered by a RTT. I have been looking at all kinds of scenarios to figure out what the correct way of doing this.

1. Just upgrade my current smaller aux battery and add in a 100-watt Lensun hood mounted solar panel. I know there are discussions on these hood mounted panels but I also plan on getting a folding solar panel for camping and I want to park in the shade. Would I be able to run a fridge 24/7 with this option? I feel it would be the easier option.

2. Swap over my starting battery, order Slee's bigger battery tray and new bigger battery. With this option I would have more power but do I need it if I am able to power the fridge 24/7 with the other option?

With either option, I would like to install the Victron bmv-712 in order to see what my soc is and my battery percentage.

Thanks for the help

 

[tbisaacs]

Lots of variables—how often do you drive the truck and it’s it long enough to bulk charge your second battery? Is the fridge loaded all the time? If not you fridge is probably cycling more than it needs to.

I like the idea of swapping the primary and secondary tray - you can fit a big group 31. However you are still going to be limited to maybe 50 amp hours of usable power due to AGM limitations.

I know it’s talked about a lot but am I personally considering running a lithium battery in the second tray. I know of at least two folks here who have done it. It requires protecting the battery with a blanket or thermal barrier and a BMS to manage the cutoff. Lithium batteries have come down in price enough that I’m willing to experiment.

 

[mbennett22]

Lots of variables—how often do you drive the truck and it’s it long enough to bulk charge your second battery? Is the fridge loaded all the time? If not you fridge is probably cycling more than it needs to.

I like the idea of swapping the primary and secondary tray - you can fit a big group 31. However you are still going to be limited to maybe 50 amp hours of usable power due to AGM limitations.

I know it’s talked about a lot but am I personally considering running a lithium battery in the second tray. I know of at least two folks here who have done it. It requires protecting the battery with a blanket or thermal barrier and a BMS to manage the cutoff. Lithium batteries have come down in price enough that I’m willing to experiment.

I drive to work Monday - Friday 35 minutes each way.

 

[Sandroad]

I checked the specs on that big fridge and it looks like it would take at least a KWh of power every day. That’s 83 Ah per day on 12V, so that’s asking a lot of a battery. May be best to go with 200W of portable, flexible solar panels and make sure they are in full sun at least 5 hours per day (assuming no other electrical demands).

 

[RET2]

Tons of variables here. Setting your temp at 37 degrees, keeping it as full as you can and of course limiting opening go far in cutting consumption.

 

[mbennett22]

Do any of y’all think with an good passenger side aux battery with a hood solar panel I could keep it running all day? I mean I was also thinking about installing my Noco genius 5 and just plugging it in when I get home. But I would love something I don’t have to worry about.

 

[RET2]

Do any of y’all think with an good passenger side aux battery with a hood solar panel I could keep it running all day? I mean I was also thinking about installing my Noco genius 5 and just plugging it in when I get home. But I would love something I don’t have to worry about.

Just asking, why does it need to run 24/7/365?

 

[mbennett22]

Just asking, why does it need to run 24/7/365?

Honestly I guess it doesn’t have to be on 24/7 I would just like to not worry about it.

 

[RET2]

Honestly I guess it doesn’t have to be on 24/7 I would just like to not worry about it.

Mine cools from mid 60's to 32 degrees in about 12 minutes. Would advise propping the lid open slightly (1/4") when not in use to prevent any mildew as well. If left plugged in but not turned on you may experience a small parasitic draw on power source.

 

[Aifer]

Good Morning fellas,
The goal is to keep my fridge running without worrying or having to plug it in. I currently have a dual battery setup with Slee's aux battery tray. The main battery resting is 12.2 volts and the aux is 12.4 (tested with a volt meter). I have a Redarc BCDC 1225D installed. The fridge is an ICECO VL75 ProD. My roof rack is completely covered by a RTT. I have been looking at all kinds of scenarios to figure out what the correct way of doing this.

1. Just upgrade my current smaller aux battery and add in a 100-watt Lensun hood mounted solar panel. I know there are discussions on these hood mounted panels but I also plan on getting a folding solar panel for camping and I want to park in the shade. Would I be able to run a fridge 24/7 with this option? I feel it would be the easier option.

2. Swap over my starting battery, order Slee's bigger battery tray and new bigger battery. With this option I would have more power but do I need it if I am able to power the fridge 24/7 with the other option?

With either option, I would like to install the Victron bmv-712 in order to see what my soc is and my battery percentage.

Thanks for the help

would love to see some pictures of the Lensun hood panel. How was the installation? did you get the full kut with the vinyl protector? does is have wind noise?

 

[mbennett22]

would love to see some pictures of the Lensun hood panel. How was the installation? did you get the full kut with the vinyl protector? does is have wind noise?

I haven’t purchased it yet but I want solar and the hood is the only location I have available.

 

[linuxgod]

I checked the specs on that big fridge and it looks like it would take at least a KWh of power every day. That’s 83 Ah per day on 12V, so that’s asking a lot of a battery. May be best to go with 200W of portable, flexible solar panels and make sure they are in full sun at least 5 hours per day (assuming no other electrical demands).

83Ah is a pretty big draw. Is that assuming peak draw, or is that normal usage? I would expect it to take 8-10 hours to recharge the battery given the battery charging time slows down after ~80% as the charger moves from bulk (constant current) to absorption (constant voltage).

I have 350W of solar on my camping trailer. That's 2 panels @ 175W each. They're about 2' x 4.5' each and are monocrystalline glass panels. At peak I've seen about 250W from them actually delivered to the battery. I don't think the OP could get 200W off a flexible panel just on the hood, especially since there's no airflow underneath it, but maybe I'm way off?

FWIW I'm a huge fan of lithium (LFP/LiFePO4) batteries for deep cycle use like this, but it definitely requires temperature management, among other things. I have a 280Ah LFP battery I built which is the size and weight of a 100Ah group 27, but then with a bigger battery comes longer recharge times.

 

[mbennett22]

Not really sure of amp hours, wish I understood all this better. Here is a link for the fridge.

ICECO 79QT VL75Pro Dual Zone 12V Refrigerator, Overland Fridge with 5-year Warranty Compressor

Dual-zone portable freezer for serious adventurers—freeze and refrigerate separately while camping, off-roading, or RV traveling.VL75Pro overland fridge has two reversible lids for multi-directional opening. 12V DC power port on both side. Sized for outdoor living. LA local tech support.Huge...

icecofreezer.com