12V Fridge & freezer

[DanW]

Reviving an old thread....I picked up a neat little Jackery 240 battery and a solar panel for it. I ran the Snomaster for nearly 24 hours at 34 degrees on it. I went to Oshkosh last year and ran the fridge for a few days off the Jeep battery, but not at such a low temp. I wanted a portable battery for charging drone batteries and other uses, but I figured it could take the load off the Jeep battery on trips where I don't drive the Jeep much. The solar panel charges it back up reasonably quickly, too. I figure it will run the littel 20 quart Alpicool for almost 2 days, on one charge. The great feature is that I can plug the Jackery into the Jeep's 12v, and the fridge into the Jackery. When the fridge isn't running, the Jackery charges. When it runs, it drains the Jackery. So, If I set the 12v plug to only be on when the Jeep is running, the fridge won't drain the Jeep battery, but rather just the Jackery. When I drive off, the Jackery charges. We'll see how it works this summer. It won't run nearly as long as @Jeff1 's Dometic battery, though. Not in the same league.

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[intentsrig]

Reviving an old thread....I picked up a neat little Jackery 240 battery and a solar panel for it. I ran the Snomaster for nearly 24 hours at 34 degrees on it. I went to Oshkosh last year and ran the fridge for a few days off the Jeep battery, but not at such a low temp. I wanted a portable battery for charging drone batteries and other uses, but I figured it could take the load off the Jeep battery on trips where I don't drive the Jeep much. The solar panel charges it back up reasonably quickly, too. I figure it will run the littel 20 quart Alpicool for almost 2 days, on one charge. The great feature is that I can plug the Jackery into the Jeep's 12v, and the fridge into the Jackery. When the fridge isn't running, the Jackery charges. When it runs, it drains the Jackery. So, If I set the 12v plug to only be on when the Jeep is running, the fridge won't drain the Jeep battery, but rather just the Jackery. When I drive off, the Jackery charges. We'll see how it works this summer. It won't run nearly as long as @Jeff1 's Dometic battery, though. Not in the same league.

Nice. Yeah I have the 290 version. I think it ran the fridge for 34 hours or something like that before it died during my in house test. ARB 50qt. Using the 12v adapter.

I try to set up the solar panel so it will be facing wherever the sun rises. So by the time I wake up it’s already charged back up from what it lost overnight! And yeah being able to plug into the jeeps 12v to recharge it is awesome too.

When the compressor isn’t running it says 1 watt being drawn..sometimes 0. So it draws very little power. Compressor running draws anywhere from 30-45

 

[DanW]

Nice. Yeah I have the 290 version. I think it ran the fridge for 34 hours or something like that before it died during my in house test. ARB 50qt. Using the 12v adapter.

I try to set up the solar panel so it will be facing wherever the sun rises. So by the time I wake up it’s already charged back up from what it lost overnight! And yeah being able to plug into the jeeps 12v to recharge it is awesome too.

When the compressor isn’t running it says 1 watt being drawn..sometimes 0. So it draws very little power. Compressor running draws anywhere from 30-45

So does it charge through with the solar panel like it does connected to the Jeep 12v?. I'm guessing it must.

When we get a warm enough night, I'll try that method. That's a great idea! I think the Snomaster draws about exactly the same wattage on both ends.

I ran mine at 34 degrees and got nearly 24 hours, so I'm betting 38 to 40 degrees would buy a bit more time. I'm also going to try it at zero degrees sometime, just out of curiousity. Last year I ran it off the Jeep at zero or a little below to give ice cream sandwiches to my son's baseball team. I just can't ever go back to a cooler after living with a fridge. I view the solar charger as free ice! Lol!

Btw, that 24 hour run started with the fridge already chilled. I'm sure starting with a warm fridge would cut that way down. But in my real world usage, that's how it would be. It would chill plugged into the Jeep on the way to wherever I was going. In fact, I'd have had it plugged into the wall overnight before the trip even started. I may do a curiosity run with it full of drinks at room temp and then see how far it can go. I'm betting maybe 10 to 13 hours?

 

[intentsrig]

So does it charge through with the solar panel like it does connected to the Jeep 12v?. I'm guessing it must.

When we get a warm enough night, I'll try that method. That's a great idea! I think the Snomaster draws about exactly the same wattage on both ends.

I ran mine at 34 degrees and got nearly 24 hours, so I'm betting 38 to 40 degrees would buy a bit more time. I'm also going to try it at zero degrees sometime, just out of curiousity. Last year I ran it off the Jeep at zero or a little below to give ice cream sandwiches to my son's baseball team. I just can't ever go back to a cooler after living with a fridge. I view the solar charger as free ice! Lol!

Btw, that 24 hour run started with the fridge already chilled. I'm sure starting with a warm fridge would cut that way down. But in my real world usage, that's how it would be. It would chill plugged into the Jeep on the way to wherever I was going. In fact, I'd have had it plugged into the wall overnight before the trip even started. I may do a curiosity run with it full of drinks at room temp and then see how far it can go. I'm betting maybe 10 to 13 hours?

Yeah charges the same way. I run fridge off Jeep while driving on the trail. Bought a spare 12v power cord so I don’t have to deal with moving it. I cut a little whole down under the center console area and put a direct 12v outlet to the battery.

Sometimes it gets so cold that the fridge does not turn on. Which in turn the jackery will shut off after 3 hours off no output of power. That only happened once though.

What I like about the jacket is that it will supply the FULL 12v power needed for the fridge even at 1% battery remaining. Unlike some other brands.

The fridge is a game changer. It’s honestly one of my Favorite things I have ever bought for the Jeep.

 

[Martindfletcher]

So does it charge through with the solar panel like it does connected to the Jeep 12v?. I'm guessing it must.

When we get a warm enough night, I'll try that method. That's a great idea! I think the Snomaster draws about exactly the same wattage on both ends.

I ran mine at 34 degrees and got nearly 24 hours, so I'm betting 38 to 40 degrees would buy a bit more time. I'm also going to try it at zero degrees sometime, just out of curiousity. Last year I ran it off the Jeep at zero or a little below to give ice cream sandwiches to my son's baseball team. I just can't ever go back to a cooler after living with a fridge. I view the solar charger as free ice! Lol!

Btw, that 24 hour run started with the fridge already chilled. I'm sure starting with a warm fridge would cut that way down. But in my real world usage, that's how it would be. It would chill plugged into the Jeep on the way to wherever I was going. In fact, I'd have had it plugged into the wall overnight before the trip even started. I may do a curiosity run with it full of drinks at room temp and then see how far it can go. I'm betting maybe 10 to 13 hours?

I ran my arb 50 off the jackery/Honda 290 all day at 33 deg on the trail in the high 80’s without a top, left it plugged in over night outside, the jackery died overnight but the fridge was still below 40. I think it will it works pretty well.

 

[Blu bi Kong]

Reviving an old thread....I picked up a neat little Jackery 240 battery and a solar panel for it. I ran the Snomaster for nearly 24 hours at 34 degrees on it. I went to Oshkosh last year and ran the fridge for a few days off the Jeep battery, but not at such a low temp. I wanted a portable battery for charging drone batteries and other uses, but I figured it could take the load off the Jeep battery on trips where I don't drive the Jeep much. The solar panel charges it back up reasonably quickly, too. I figure it will run the littel 20 quart Alpicool for almost 2 days, on one charge. The great feature is that I can plug the Jackery into the Jeep's 12v, and the fridge into the Jackery. When the fridge isn't running, the Jackery charges. When it runs, it drains the Jackery. So, If I set the 12v plug to only be on when the Jeep is running, the fridge won't drain the Jeep battery, but rather just the Jackery. When I drive off, the Jackery charges. We'll see how it works this summer. It won't run nearly as long as @Jeff1 's Dometic battery, though. Not in the same league.

I am curious. I love your idea of running the jackery off the 12v supply with it switched to operate only while Jeep is 'on'. I wonder if you have tried it and can definitively say the jackery will power the fridge while it's plugged in to 12v socket charging?
My only thought before I go with your plan. Sounds like a no brainier!

 

[Martindfletcher]

I am curious. I love your idea of running the jackery off the 12v supply with it switched to operate only while Jeep is 'on'. I wonder if you have tried it and can definitively say the jackery will power the fridge while it's plugged in to 12v socket charging?
My only thought before I go with your plan. Sounds like a no brainier!

my jackery 290 powers the arb 50 fine until the jackery battery dies. Most I saw it pull was 85 watts. I left the jackery unplugged to see how long it lasts, In my case it was than 24 hours, but the frig was still below 40 when I woke up. Not very scientific but practical. I posted otherdetails above. FYI I used the ac plug for my test, my 12v plug is converted to arb socket not the cig lighter.

 

[Blu bi Kong]

I think that's my plan then. I have the big 850 amp Oddesey battery but this will just make things even better!

 

[Martindfletcher]

I think that's my plan then. I have the big 850 amp Oddesey battery but this will just make things even better!

i have even used the jackery to charge the main battery over night. It provides a lot of flexibility. I am eventually putting in a rear battery with an isolator.

 

[Blu bi Kong]

I am concerned with the room of the rear battery. At one point I was considering fabricating a battery box to put and put the second battery behind driver's seat. But this jackery seems like it offers more options out of much less room, lighter and being able to remove it simple along with keeping back seat in.
I'm going in with the 290 Jackery.

 

[DanW]

I am curious. I love your idea of running the jackery off the 12v supply with it switched to operate only while Jeep is 'on'. I wonder if you have tried it and can definitively say the jackery will power the fridge while it's plugged in to 12v socket charging?
My only thought before I go with your plan. Sounds like a no brainier!

I've not tried it yet, but I saw several Youtube gurus boast about the feature, so I'm hoping they are right. It was a selling point for me. One of them explicitly pointed out competitor's products that did not do this. It was a multi unit test. It's been awhile since I saw it but I'll try and find it for you. I'll also try it as soon as I get a chance to drive that Jeep more than in the neighborhood.

Here's what they say on their FAQ for the 240....

Can all the ports be used at the same time as it's charging?

Yes, the product supports pass-through charging, Which means you can use all the ports while charging, both from wall outlet and a solar panel (sufficient sun power needed). Only the recharging speed will be reduced, as all the ports are also discharging the battery because of devices you plugged in. How much slowly also depends on the devices you 're plugging in.

 

[DanW]

I am concerned with the room of the rear battery. At one point I was considering fabricating a battery box to put and put the second battery behind driver's seat. But this jackery seems like it offers more options out of much less room, lighter and being able to remove it simple along with keeping back seat in.
I'm going in with the 290 Jackery.

It is small and light. I expect the 290 is pretty much the same size/weight as the 240, or at least close. They just did a promo last week through Amazon for 50 bucks off, making it $200. I wish I'd waited. Oh well.

 

[Blu bi Kong]

...and how are you switching the cargo 12v power supply to ignition on instead of always on. I don't see that in uconnect settings, dash settings or tazer. I know I've seen the path to doing this but darned if I can find now

 

[Blu bi Kong]

Nevermind, found it. Simply shift the fuse in fuse box

 

[DanW]

...and how are you switching the cargo 12v power supply to ignition on instead of always on. I don't see that in uconnect settings, dash settings or tazer. I know I've seen the path to doing this but darned if I can find now

I'll switch it to only on with the ignition. I haven't made that change yet. I did it before, but can't remember how.

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