What Single Battery for ARB 63 Fridge

[SoCal80]

Hey guys,

I don't have a dual battery setup at the moment, but want to be able to run my ARB 63 fridge for a couple days without concern for draining starting battery. I don't have any other accessories at the moment that require constant power. Which battery would you recommend?

Thanks

 

[Dragos80]

Power Systems

#143, #144

Rubicon Solar Power Experience

 

[fireball]

2-3 days in the summer heat off a group 31.

I'd recommend a group 31 and a 100-150w solar panel.

 

[Box Rocket]

I had many recommendations for this Deka group 31 (9A31) battery when I asked a similar question. I'm also running a single battery with fridge, winch, lights, stereo/DVD, CB and Ham radios. This battery has been excellent. It's a tight fit and requires some minor trimming of the factory battery tray.

 

[SoCal80]

Thank you all. Wanting to keep it simple for now to determine what my actual needs will be after a few more trips. Will start with the group 31 and see how it goes on this trip.

@Box Rocket Did you have to get longer bolt to secure it? Can you describe a little more what modification you had to do?

Thanks

 

[JCruse]

Well it would be a group 31 since that's the biggest you can fit. As Fireball said the only thing is, do you want to add solar charging.

I was able to fit a bigger G-31 battery (Lifeline 31XLT - 125 Ah vs 100 Ah) in the passenger side with some modifications. I don't know if there's any additional impediment on the drivers side though.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Having 1 battery and sitting for "a couple days" is not a good plan. You can solve this problem 3 good ways and one bad way.

1-Dual batteries
2-Add solar charging
3-Drive everyday

4-Less desirable, run your battery down further than the 50% rule and restart with a jump pack.

If you are determined to sit for several days without the truck running you should have an external charging source like a solar panel.

 

[SoCal80]

Thanks Drew. Sorry, please allow me to clarify. It won't be frequent or regular that I would let the truck sit for a couple days without running. I would like to be able to let the fridge run without the concern in the back of mind what if the battery dies. I'd like a basic dual battery setup eventually where I could run any accessories and have the second battery for backup as well for self jump starting. I'm leaning towards eventually the Blue Sea ACR setup. Have to determine what type of battery to use for that application. Eventually I plan to have a winch and some driving lights setup.

 

[Box Rocket]

Thank you all. Wanting to keep it simple for now to determine what my actual needs will be after a few more trips. Will start with the group 31 and see how it goes on this trip.

@Box Rocket Did you have to get longer bolt to secure it? Can you describe a little more what modification you had to do?

Thanks

The battery tray itself needed to trimmed slightly in the bottom, outside corner at the rear of the tray. There is a small "hump" there in the tray that won't let the battery sit flat. I used my dremel to cut out that hump and the battery dropped in after that.

As far as securing the battery, it's up to you. Longer J bolts are one solution. I chose to move the J bolts to the front and back of the tray instead of using them on the sides. I had to drill a new hole in the back of the tray for one of the J bolts and another hole in the sheet metal behind the headlight for the other. I modified the hold down "strap" to go across the top of the battery front to back instead of side to side. This was just a matter of shortening the strap. There could be simpler solutions but that's what I did.

 

[Corbet]

I've been doing this for nearly a decade. Any group 31 deep cycle will be up to the task with some common sense monitoring.

Get the fridge cover, it gives you some more insulation
Crack your windows when you can to reduce the ambient interior temp
Us a sunshade on your windshield

I've used a optima blue top, Sears platinum, and now a X2 Power from Batteries plus. All gave me plenty of power for 2-7 days pending exterior temps. Powering a Engel 45 with transit cover.

I made a slightly longer battery tie down bar to secure the platinum/X2. The optima' unique shape fits with no mods to the OEM system.

 

[Brentbba]

As Cruiserdrew said, not a wise idea to let the truck sit for a couple of days and then expect it to start. A couple of factors to think about. How new is your ARB Fridge? The newer ones are much more efficient than older models. How hot will it be where you plan to sit for a couple of days? While I do have a dual battery set up, I've parked from a Friday afternoon/evening to a Sunday mid day with day time temps in the hi 90's and above. Fridge running and the 2nd battery was pretty much drained by the time we left on Sunday both times. I seriously doubt that 2nd battery had enough to start a truck.

I second either starting/driving some daily or have a set of jumper cables and someone else in your group not running a fridge to give you a jump, because you're going to kill your main battery in the SoCal heat my friend. Be safe, not sorry!!!

 

[60wag]

Before I went to dual batteries, I used one of these devices to shut off the fridge before the battery charge dropped too low to start the truck.

Powerwerx Compact Low Voltage Disconnect (LVD) Battery Guard | Powerwerx

 

[mct75]

shut off the fridge before the battery charge dropped too low

Doesn't the fridge do that already?

 

[NLXTACY]

Doesn't the fridge do that already?

depends on the fridge

 

[SWCruiser]

I'm sure that group 31 is expensive. I think your better off getting a smaller battery and simple isolator and 2nd battery. Having two batteries in itself is a good idea if you camp in the wilderness. An isolator is $40. I had 31s before and it worked fine but need up going with more common sizes for easy replacement

 

[surfpig]

I have done that for years with a single battery for Friday-Sunday camping trips and the battery was almost always dead on sunday. I carry a jump-starter battery pack to get started. Not very good for the battery. Now I run dual + solar so I don't have to care (much) anymore.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Many guys in Arizona get by without issue running a fridge on 1 group 31 and carrying a jump box as insurance.

This thread may help for the latest in group 31 fitment. Power upgrade Group 31 install and Optima content

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I'm sure that group 31 is expensive. I think your better off getting a smaller battery and simple isolator and 2nd battery. Having two batteries in itself is a good idea if you camp in the wilderness. An isolator is $40. I had 31s before and it worked fine but need up going with more common sizes for easy replacement

Not my findings at all. 1 group 31 cost is way less than duals with any type of controls. You get twice the available AH with 1 group 31 than separating two group 34's.

 

[fireball]

Please consider just doing a single 31 with a solar panel or a jump box. I bought into the dual battery hype and spent way too much time and money and added weight to have a dual battery setup. It's simply not needed on a truck that sees action every few days!

A single group 31 will work great in your application.

 

[Right Turn Clyde]

Odyssey PC1700 + NOCO jump pack for just in case.