Considering a Dometic Portable Refrigerator -- second battery / charging setup?

[trekster]

I've got a Dometic CFX3 45 and I left it in the Jeep overnight connected to the 12V in the trunk (or whatever you call it). I left it for 24 hours with nothing in the fridge (makes it work harder) at -7 degrees. I think the battery still was around 11.8V. I'll be taking it on a trip to The Maze District in Canyonlands this June, it'll have to work harder as it'll probably be hot in the desert, I'd assume, but I'll be moving daily so only one night on the Jeep battery.

Eventually, I plan to get some solar system. That will probably be 2024 though, we're broke now.

Good to hear, it’s a lot to buy the fridge and a battery pack at the same time.

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[trekster]

I have dometic 35 and I had it in my jeep in Moab in summer (really hot) for 5 days without turning it off and without any problems with a battery. And it never turned off at night. As long as you drive it every day you will be fine.

Great news, I can wait to purchase a battery pack later.

 

[trekster]

I don’t think it does in any large way. Especially since you’re only doing it once in a while anyways. If it concerned you enough you could run the fridge on a small portable battery when you park. The fridge should tell you your Battery voltage though so you can keep an eye on where it’s at. I did 5 days going around Death Valley with it plugged in the whole time. No issues.

That’s what I’m hearing from guys using them without battery packs.

 

[Vinman]

I have dometic 35 and I had it in my jeep in Moab in summer (really hot) for 5 days without turning it off and without any problems with a battery. And it never turned off at night. As long as you drive it every day you will be fine.

I agree.
I was in Moab in 2019 for about 10 days with the “coldest” day being over 100 degrees at the hottest.
The fridge was plugged in the entire time. Zero issues

 

[trekster]

I agree.
I was in Moab in 2019 for about 10 days with the “coldest” day being over 100 degrees at the hottest.
The fridge was plugged in the entire time. Zero issues

Good to hear. Thank you

 

[Fatboy97]

Just something to consider. I have a jackery 500 that I plug into the 110v outlet in the rear of the armrest then I plug my fridge into the jackery. The jackery has pass through charging and always stays fully charged when the Jeep is running. When not running the 110v outlet does not work and the jackery automatically powers the fridge. I have run the fridge for 35-37 hrs. before needing a recharge. Iceco fridge and jackery was about the same price as a dometic fridge.

 

[Odyssey USA]

I have a delta 2 (ecoflow) with a dometic fridge, and it'll last around 3 days. Can be charged with 12v and solar, I have 220 watt panel and with full sun, I can fully charge in about 4 to 5 hours.

Good to hear. I’ve got the same setup coming. I’ll be running a BougeRV dual zone 37qt, probably just refrigeration mostly.

 

[trekster]

Just something to consider. I have a jackery 500 that I plug into the 110v outlet in the rear of the armrest then I plug my fridge into the jackery. The jackery has pass through charging and always stays fully charged when the Jeep is running. When not running the 110v outlet does not work and the jackery automatically powers the fridge. I have run the fridge for 35-37 hrs. before needing a recharge. Iceco fridge and jackery was about the same price as a dometic fridge.

I’ll look into that. Thanks

 

[trekster]

I’ll look into that. Thanks

Which Iceco fridge are you using?

 

[trekster]

I’ll look into that. Thanks

Oops forgot to ask which Iceco fridge your using?

 

[jlrubeinswaz]

I second the Iceco. There are several good choices in 12v Fridges/Freezer. I have personal experience with Engel, Iceco, Dometic. I have found the Iceco has some of the lowest draws in amps when running. I am currently running the JP-50 and if fits great and has lots of room. Pic I posted is the JP-40. The JP-50 is about 3.5 inches taller and the exact footprint of the 40. I would highly suggest a portable battery pack or a 2nd battery ( LiFePO4) to run your refrigerator . Sure you can get by for a while with the stock battery but it is not designed for this purpose and will shorten the life of the battery (not that they are that good to begin with). Dometic and ARB are quality units but what Fatboy97 stated is true. I currently have 3 Icecos and an Engel. No problems with any of them.

 

[azjl#3]

3rd iceco, been using one in a hotel for work for last 12 months, goes strong, can go to minus5 or whatever temp above that, usually 30. I have the double latch all metal looking one.

Not knocking dometic, RV full of that thing been on for solid 12 years straight. Yeah, my moms, refuses to turn it off, says it will last longer, well, it sure has mom, it sure has. Still on as we speak.

 

[Windshieldfarmer]

I have a Jackery 1500 that feeds my Blizzard 45 qt cooler when not in the Jeep. I can run the cooler overnight on the Jeep aux plug in back but I needed to increase the wire size and added a direct fused connection to the primary battery to avoid a low voltage shutdown of the cooler. The Jackery serves me well…can even run a heated blanket at night in my tent and recharge the Jackery during the day from the Jeep…so it serves serval purposes.

 

[JINO]

Good to hear. I’ve got the same setup coming. I’ll be running a BougeRV dual zone 37qt, probably just registration mostly.

I've been thinking about the bouge. Seen good reviews, and I need a larger fridge.

 

[zouch]

curious; where did you have your fridge plugged in?
because the first time we spent a week in Moab at ~100º our fridge wouldn't always start up because of the low voltage at the Aux Plug in the left rear of the cargo area, even though we were driving every day.

I have dometic 35 and I had it in my jeep in Moab in summer (really hot) for 5 days without turning it off and without any problems with a battery. And it never turned off at night. As long as you drive it every day you will be fine.

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