12V Fridge & freezer

[brazos]

I remember that you ended up going with the Snomaster, Dan.

As did Brett. @rustyshakelford

I followed your thread carefully, and it was very useful in my research.

I’m not much into sucking up, but when either of you two men speak, I listen.

I went with long-term tried and true, though. To me, that was ARB.

And it was ~$300 dollars cheaper than Snomaster, at least as I was able to find prices.

Fact is, I’m more interested in how long things have proven to last than how long they are guaranteed to last.

Many ARB owners report 15-20 years of carefree use.

Anyway, as I said, both, as well as the Engel, have impeccable reputations. I don’t think I could have made a bad choice among them.

I received my fridge a couple of hours ago, and am monitoring its performance as it cools down and draws down my battery.

Will report here

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[DanW]

I remember that you ended up going with the Snomaster, Dan.

As did Brett. @rustyshakelford

I followed your thread carefully, and it was very useful in my research.

I’m not much into sucking up, but when either of you two men speak, I listen.

I went with long-term tried and true, though. To me, that was ARB.

And it was ~$300 dollars cheaper than Snomaster, at least as I was able to find prices.

Fact is, I’m more interested in how long things have proven to last than how long they are guaranteed to last.

Many ARB owners report 15-20 years of carefree use.

Anyway, as I said, both, as well as the Engel, have impeccable reputations. I don’t think I could have made a bad choice among them.

I received my fridge a couple of hours ago, and am monitoring its performance as it cools down and draws down my battery.

Will report here

I showed my wife your kind comment about listening to me and she laughed so hard I think it hurt her.

You can't go wrong with the ARB. I like the lid closing latch better. It is more secure. It also, as you said, has a reputation for longevity. I was able to get the Snomaster for $650, or I would have probably gone with the ARB. It was a very close decision. There was an Engel that was in play, too. The ARB also has the remote monitoring option, which my Snomaster lacks. I think the cover is a little better quality, too. The Snomaster cover is good, but doesn't feel quite as well stitched together. I'd be perfectly happy with the ARB, had I gone that way.

 

[brazos]

Ok. Some numbers:

Received 37qt (marked 35L)ARB fridge on this hot Texas afternoon, and plugged it into the rear 12v outlet in my Jeep.

At 1645, outside temp was 99f. I set temp at 29f. Battery voltage was 14.2.

At 1715, outside temp was 100f. Fridge temp was 47f. Down 52f in 30 minutes.

At 1730, still 100f ambient. Fridge 32f

1748, still 100. Fridge temp 25f! (Still set at 29f). Checked battery voltage. 14.1.

So it dropped 74f in an hour, and battery voltage dropped .1 volt.

I’ll check battery again in 12 hours, and report.

 

[Rahneld]

Ok. Some numbers:

Received 37qt (marked 35L)ARB fridge on this hot Texas afternoon, and plugged it into the rear 12v outlet in my Jeep.

At 1645, outside temp was 99f. I set temp at 29f. Battery voltage was 14.2.

At 1715, outside temp was 100f. Fridge temp was 47f. Down 52f in 30 minutes.

At 1730, still 100f ambient. Fridge 32f

1748, still 100. Fridge temp 25f! (Still set at 29f). Checked battery voltage. 14.1.

So it dropped 74f in an hour, and battery voltage dropped .1 volt.

I’ll check battery again in 12 hours, and report.

...and you weren't running the engine..wow, that's some (great) small battery draw!

...especially when it takes at lot of energy to remove initial heat

 

[RubenZ]

My Engel, also has a very low draw and went from 80 to 29 in like 15-20 min. This thing is really nice! Nice purchase.

 

[intentsrig]

Ok. Some numbers:

Received 37qt (marked 35L)ARB fridge on this hot Texas afternoon, and plugged it into the rear 12v outlet in my Jeep.

At 1645, outside temp was 99f. I set temp at 29f. Battery voltage was 14.2.

At 1715, outside temp was 100f. Fridge temp was 47f. Down 52f in 30 minutes.

At 1730, still 100f ambient. Fridge 32f

1748, still 100. Fridge temp 25f! (Still set at 29f). Checked battery voltage. 14.1.

So it dropped 74f in an hour, and battery voltage dropped .1 volt.

I’ll check battery again in 12 hours, and report.

Nice.

Do you have the tow package? I believe when I looked at my battery it said 75ah. Not bad for a stock battery but still not a deep cycle.

I also went arb. But 50qt. Inside my house the compressor only turns on about every 2 hours. Fridge set at 35 and it is 75ish inside the house. Only about 15 cans in it too.

 

[brazos]

Yes, I have tow package. I’d forgotten that it came with a better battery, and alternator too, as I recall. Good stuff.

I had a hard time deciding between the 37 and 50. I went 37 because it’s big enough for my needs, I figure it will use less power (they have the same compressor), and the lid will open higher in the Jeep.

I’m sure I’d have been happy with the 50, though.

 

[brazos]

Just checked, and after 14 hours, it’s at 27 degrees. (Set at 29). I’ve read that you need to fool around with temp setting to find what works for you, and not pay too much attention to the number.

I want it to not quite freeze my beer.

What’s weird is my battery shows 14.2v on the dash display. That’s where it was 14 hours ago.

I like it, but can it be true?

 

[Martindfletcher]

Just checked, and after 14 hours, it’s at 27 degrees. (Set at 29). I’ve read that you need to fool around with temp setting to find what works for you, and not pay too much attention to the number.

I want it to not quite freeze my beer.

What’s weird is my battery shows 14.2v on the dash display. That’s where it was 14 hours ago.

I like it, but can it be true?

I have a hard time believing the voltage is over 13 without the engine running. I normally see 12.7 on dash or voltmeter

 

[brazos]

I have a hard time believing the voltage is over 13 without the engine running. I normally see 12.7 on dash or voltmeter

Engine was running. Just checked without it running. 12.1v. So with engine running, that number is the voltage the alternator is charging at?

 

[intentsrig]

Engine was running. Just checked without it running. 12.1v. So with engine running, that number is the voltage the alternator is charging at?

I’ll check my running voltage on the way to work.

 

[brazos]

I’ll check my running voltage on the way to work.

I just drove 20 miles on-road, and an hour of low range wheeling, and it was up to 12.7v with the engine off when I got home.

 

[intentsrig]

I just drove 20 miles on-road, and an hour of low range wheeling, and it was up to 12.7v with the engine off when I got home.

I spaced out and drove a different car to work. So how much power did you end up losing overnight?

 

[brazos]

I spaced out and drove a different car to work. So how much power did you end up losing overnight?[/QUOTE



Assuming full charge is 12.7v, which is what I think Martin was saying, I dropped .6v, to 12.1.

Electricity is not my strong suit. It’s magic to me. That’s why my generator is such a comfort.

Fill with gas. Pull cord. Electricity!!

 

[brazos]

Ok. 24 hour test:

At 1000 yesterday, battery was at 12.7v. Fridge was set at 29f, and already cold.

It reached 100f ambient temperature here yesterday. Black Jeep was closed, but in deep shade.

Just now, 24 hours later, fridge still running, battery at 11.9v.

Jeep started with no sign of sluggishness. According to fridge manual, I still had .5v to go before it shut down, set on medium. (11.4v)

I’m thinking I’ll set shutdown to high
(11.8v), now that I know it will go 24 hours on a hot day at that setting.

I had 1 beer sitting in the middle, on the floor. It didn’t freeze, but is very cold.

I’m happy.

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