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Help with battery size and setting up my fridge

Discussion in 'Recovery & Gear' started by Civiceg94, Dec 26, 2019.

  1. Dec 26, 2019 at 4:25 PM
    #1
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    Hi again. I finally got my fridge. Its a dometic cfx75. I have seen anyone with the way i want it setup “afforable”. Everyone goes the dual battery setup because they are always out on road trips. The some what idea i have is wiring my fridge straight to the battery. Or making a portable solar generator pack in hopes of also using it at the race track to plug in my tire warmers. I have a 31E battery lead acid 950cca laying around for the longest i figured i could use it instead of buying another battery. I would connect a 100w solar panel to the battery with a charge controller full time. Is this possible ? I wont be spending more then 1 night at a camp spot most likely. Second topic anyone familiar in building a solar generator? I would want one around 2 to 3k watts because of the tire warmer. Any help is appreciated. If i missed anything feel free to ask away this could maybe help someone out their also.
     
  2. Dec 26, 2019 at 5:43 PM
    #2
    shellshock

    shellshock Guy who drives a lot

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    I run mine off a single group 27f x2power agm. I’m never parked for more than a day and it’s more than sufficient. I could easily go a couple days if I wanted (depending on temp etc). I’ll likely pick up a 100w solar panel at some point to that I can connect and set out to supplement the battery if I’m going to be parked for extended periods of time.

    I have the low voltage shut off set to the highest. I also carry a noco gb70, just in case I do run it down by some perfect storm of everything going wrong.
     
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  3. Dec 26, 2019 at 6:17 PM
    #3
    abomb60

    abomb60 Maker of things

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    I ended up choosing a Yeti 400 to power my CFX28 and I can get about 2 1/2 days out of the battery with the fridge set to 39 degrees at 70-ish ambient.

    In the past I have built my own portable power packs using Pelican cases, SLA batteries and a built-in solar charge controller. I'm still using one on my Kayak to power stuff like my iPad (GPS tracking, maps & connects to my Deeper fishing sonar) and phone.

    If you're looking for that much power it might cost less to do a dual battery setup rather than buying some portable pack commercially.
     
  4. Dec 26, 2019 at 7:21 PM
    #4
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    Am not to sure it will last a night. I used a meter to measure how many watts and it showed around 60 wats once it settled down in my house plugged in. The interior lights on a vehicle if left on would drained a battery. And they barely pull anything. So thats where i am confused. I also have a xp1 i think it is for a jumper pack. And i honestly dont trust it one bit. I think it only work for me 3 times out of maybe 10 times of me trying.
     
  5. Dec 26, 2019 at 7:28 PM
    #5
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    I wouldnt buy a commercial pack. I ratger build it my self and like that ill have some fun with the fun and spend the money slowly while building instead of at one shot. I still got to buy diapers for my son :crapstorm: I found a video of a person building a portable pack but he didnt put up a diagram up. Helping out. I calculated the dual battery setup and its up $1k and maybe more.
     
  6. Dec 26, 2019 at 7:31 PM
    #6
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    @abomb60 is it possible to connect a solar charge controller to the main battery. And still be able to turn on the truck and drive off ? I read some where issues regarding alternator and solar panel charging the one battery but couldnt understand the information.
     
  7. Dec 26, 2019 at 8:03 PM
    #7
    abomb60

    abomb60 Maker of things

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    I believe you only want one power source to be charging the battery at once. I haven't researched single battery with solar and alternator but i'm thinking you'd need something to cut off the solar input when the alternator was in use.
     
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  8. Dec 26, 2019 at 8:07 PM
    #8
    shellshock

    shellshock Guy who drives a lot

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    The AC draw is different than DC draw. AC will pull way more power. DC draws less than 1 amp at idle and 5-6 when the compressor runs.

    I ran an ARB 37 off a Tacoma with a stock group 24 battery (which was a terrible battery) and I could get 12-24 hours of run time. I now have a group 27 agm which has way more amp hours, meaning way more run time.
     
  9. Dec 26, 2019 at 8:11 PM
    #9
    shellshock

    shellshock Guy who drives a lot

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    just connect the solar when you are parked. You really don’t need solar when you are moving. If you do have huge power needs, you need a charge controller and second battery.
     
  10. Dec 26, 2019 at 8:42 PM
    #10
    KMG

    KMG New Member

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    Look into a dual controller like a CTEK 250. It automatically switches between charging sources (Vehicle alternator, Solar panel, Wind power). I suggest using a true deep cycle battery and not a dual purpose battery. I'm sure you know this but here's how to calculate volts, watts, and amps (Watts = Volts times Amps, Amps = Watts divided Volts, and Volts = Watts divided Amps). Good luck
    https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/d250sa
     
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  11. Dec 26, 2019 at 8:47 PM
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    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    This makes sense. Maybe theirs something that shuts off when the truck is turned off maybe.
     
  12. Dec 26, 2019 at 9:00 PM
    #12
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    Gotcha i barely know about electrical but willing to learn slowly about it school was to quick to push the knowledge.
     
  13. Dec 26, 2019 at 9:03 PM
    #13
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    Am looking at it as one less thing to do when parked up for camp. For the night. If their isnt a way to disconnect automatically then ill just connect it manually.
     
  14. Dec 26, 2019 at 9:10 PM
    #14
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    Would you say the 31E battery life would be cut short because of the fridge and whatever is connected to it ? I got this battery from my old job i had. It was used in fleet equipment for the airport. Its a massive battery. But yet again i hear deep cycle is always best because of the constant charging and discharging. Buutt I barely travel. Maybe once a year who knows.
     
  15. Dec 26, 2019 at 9:36 PM
    #15
    shellshock

    shellshock Guy who drives a lot

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    If you are doing solar, it’s best to have one of the mobile panels or blankets so you can direct it towards the sun to get the most efficiency.

    Typically you’ll be traveling during the day so you’ll need to collect power the last few hours of the day when the sun is low or first thing in the morning. A flat mounted roof panel won’t do you much good and keeps you from being able to park in the shade.
     
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  16. Dec 26, 2019 at 9:43 PM
    #16
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    I read about that in expedtionportal.com some people recommend mobile panels. I figured theirs a residential 100w panel. I could use for free. Ill just mount it on the roof.
     
  17. Dec 29, 2019 at 3:27 PM
    #17
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    I ended up installing the 31E battery. Next up will be the fridge. Then ill do a test run with the fridge installed to see if the battery will last. If the battery is the dead the next day wont be a issue in jump starting it.
     
  18. Jan 5, 2020 at 2:19 PM
    #18
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    If anyone was wondering how my battery looks installed
    B6045027-31D5-41D1-B4F7-199EC8E7339A.jpg
     
  19. Jan 5, 2020 at 2:29 PM
    #19
    Wsteven

    Wsteven New Member

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    I have a CFX75 and I have ran it off a Yeti 1000 for 2 days without any issues however I did not run anything else off the Yeti and I had one compartment set as freezer -28 degrees and the other side set to 45 degrees, I filled the freezer with fresh caught fish on day 1 two times and day 2 one time so it did have some work to do and yes i pulled ice out over and over on the evening of day one (adult refreshments what can I say?) it held up well but I think it would been better with dual battery and the Yeti 1000 combined.
     
  20. Jan 5, 2020 at 2:34 PM
    #20
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    Damn -28. Mine does not even go that low :eek2:
     
  21. Jan 5, 2020 at 2:45 PM
    #21
    Wsteven

    Wsteven New Member

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    Woops that should have been -22 F (30 C)
     
  22. Jan 5, 2020 at 2:49 PM
    #22
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    weird mine goes to -8 F
     
  23. Jan 5, 2020 at 4:48 PM
    #23
    Wsteven

    Wsteven New Member

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    I have had mine for near 3 years now (CFX 75DZW SE) in it will get down to -20 to -22 I most of the time set it to -10 and will see - 8 on hot days but on cold days out it will get down colder either way it is great for fishing because you can freeze the catch quickly.
     
  24. Jan 5, 2020 at 4:55 PM
    #24
    Civiceg94

    Civiceg94 [OP] New Member

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    Oo didnt know the special edition gets it that low
     
  25. Jan 5, 2020 at 6:40 PM
    #25
    Wsteven

    Wsteven New Member

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    I don't think there is any different outside of Color the SE is all black that I picked so it would not stand out in the back of the truck if someone looked in try give yours a try turn the smaller of the 2 compartments down to the lowest setting on AC first then go from there with the bluetooth to see what the actual temp gets too.
     
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