fridge and batterys again sorry .

Submitted: Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 14:11
ThreadID: 63682 Views:3873 Replies:7 FollowUps:8
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I have a troopy with 2 x exide extremes at the moment . If i replace the auxillary one with a 120 amp/hr agm would i be able to keep an evakool 85 ltr on freeze(-18deg) indefinately in the back of the car . I figure that maybe with frozen water bottles in it and turned off at night it would use maybe 12 amps per 24 hr . Does this sound right . I think a troopy puts back about 25 amps per hour driving around . Maybe not , i am just guessing . Its too technical for me .
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Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 14:27

Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 14:27
Guess it will depend on how often you will dive around and for how long
AnswerID: 336206

Reply By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 14:29

Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 14:29
I would add a 65 watt solar panel and you won't have to turn the fridge off......I currently run two when I am out in the bush.
AnswerID: 336209

Follow Up By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 14:30

Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 14:30
Fridges that is.... a 60 and a 50 litre
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Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 at 21:04

Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 at 21:04
Hi
troopyman said
" If i replace the auxillary one with a 120 amp/hr agm would i be able to keep an evakool 85 ltr on freeze(-18deg) indefinately in the back of the car"
Red back , BIG differance running fridge as a deep freezer [-18DEG]indefinately ,it will run almost continously @ about 4amp draw, no way a 64watt panel could cope with THAT!!!
Even if turned of @ night it would need a 120w min panel just to run during daylight if the weather is sunny & that would not leave much output if any to recharge any lost from bats during night or when panel is not giving full output.
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Follow Up By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Monday, Nov 24, 2008 at 00:18

Monday, Nov 24, 2008 at 00:18
Hi Troopyman.....my 50 runs as a freezer and it does not run all the time or most of the time, it just runs normal for that setting......once down to temperature and it does not get opened often, it runs fine.
Also it depends how long you stop.....if you just stop 1 or 2 nights and journey the next day etc it is more than adequate....however if one was to say,that their requirements were for a week of bush camping, then a generator or larger panels would need to be required as the battery would run right down....I know because I have done this and still do.
Most people do not do extended stays...but a mix of weekends and 3 to 4 days etc....not everyone stays out there indefinitely...and the vehicle is usually being used in that time as well and so the battery is always being topped up.
Of course you can over design the system but KISS is best I find.
Check posts 63484...63308

cheers.

.
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Reply By: Philip A - Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 16:16

Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 16:16
I think that you will be disappointed, both that your fridge will use 12 amp hours per 24 and your car will put back 25 amps per hour.
Do you also intend to drive EVERY day?

It will depend very much on ambient temp how much the freezer uses but I would guess Min 1.5 amps per hour or 36 amp hours per day.
For example my Engel 40 litre will last about 3 days with low night temps but 2 with high temps on my 95AH AGM when used as a fridge at 0-4C.

I have 2x85 amp alternators with one directly connected to my 95 AH AGM. It will charge to say 85% in 2 hours but the final charge will take maybe another 4. I assume this from the voltmeter reading about 13.8 on charge after 2 hours and slowly rising to 14.2 after another 4 hours. So while you might get 25amps for the first hour or so, and that is doubtful, it will taper quite quickly as the battery charge rises.
I found when in NT , I had to run the car for half an hour after only 1.5 days to be sure of getting to the next morning.
I am looking at a minimum 100amp solar panel or genny for my next trip to hot climate.
So horses for courses but I think you are being very optimistic, unless you plan only cool weather camping.
Regards Philip A

AnswerID: 336231

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 19:23

Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 19:23
To give you a starting point, a 85 litre evacool on freeze might use say 3amps per hour or 72 amphours per day.

You'll want to run your vehicle each day.

Regarding the AGM, I prefer to not have mine under the bonnet - it goes in the back. I want it to last a long time, and heat, particularly in the confined space under the bonnet of a troopy will shorten its life.

I've got two Extremes under the bonnet and one AGM inside my canopy. Maybe this would be better for you. I keep my Extremes permanently paralleled, so double my cranking power and run other accessories off them. My isolator feeds the AGM in the back which runs the fridge.
AnswerID: 336263

Follow Up By: troopyman - Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 23:23

Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 23:23
Good idea phill , so yeah i could put a 120 amp/hr in the back . What sort of isolator do you use for the agm .
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 18:12

Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 18:12
I'll run through my setup.

Tray has two Extremes - the pos is isolated by a simple $13 kill switch mounted on the firewall. The negs are joined by a 2Ga cable. I have these batteries joined for everyday use and if needed for winching. I isolate these batteries if I need the extra capacity of one of these batteries for running the fridge.

100Ah Remco AGM is mounted in the canopy. To isolate it I use a Rotronics MH10 isolator, but I'd suggest that any isolator will do. I use 8Ga cable with a fusible link at each end for short circuit protection. I find that by limiting the cable size, I can restrict the current to 30amps (my AGM requires this). I run a neg back to the starting battery.

I also have two small fused wires from 2nd and 3rd batteries going to a digital voltmeter on the dashboard via a 3-way switch for monitoring.

I have outlets in the canopy from each battery, so I can choose which battery I run the fridges from.
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Reply By: troopyman - Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 23:20

Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 23:20
Thanks for that info fellars .
AnswerID: 336289

Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 06:30

Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 06:30
" I figure that maybe with frozen water bottles in it and turned off at night it would use maybe 12 amps per 24 hr . Does this sound right . I think a troopy puts back about 25 amps per hour driving around "

Your generator instantaneous fuel consumption may be measured in litres per hour but electrical units are different.

Instanttaneous draw is measured in amps. e.g my fridge draws 5 amps when the compressor is running. The alternator puts out 25 amps.

Total consumption over time is measured in amphours. e.g my fridge uses 12 amphours per 24 hours.

If you use the wrong units, people will misinterpret your question.
AnswerID: 336300

Follow Up By: troopyman - Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 08:58

Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 08:58
ok thanks
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Reply By: Member - Dick (Int) - Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 14:49

Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 14:49
Troopyman

I have the usual main battery and aux battery setup under the bonnet and I have two more 120ah AGM battery's behind the pax seat. I have two 80 watt solar panels mounted on the front of the roof rack. Provided I have good sun, this setup will run my evaKool 70L Fridge/Freezer easily although I have never stayed in the one place without driving for more than 2 days. There are some pics in my profile.



Cheers
Dick







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AnswerID: 336341

Follow Up By: troopyman - Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 19:13

Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 19:13
That is one serious setup . I dont have that much money .
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Follow Up By: Member - Dick (Int) - Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 at 15:38

Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 at 15:38
I does not have to be that expensive. The $$$ are only a function of how much capacity you need and how quickly you want to recharge. Originally I had dual Battery's and an 80 watt Solar Panel. It worked ok but if I did not drive the next day I had to run the engine for an hour or so.

Then I went to two 80 watt panels and this was the big expense I guess. I already had the Roof Rack and as I don't load it forward I decide to put the panels on the Roof Rack.

Later I found a reasonable supply for 2 additional batterys so I added them in. This gave more reserve but is not essential.

Cheers
Dick







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