New battery?

You could take it to a battery dealer and get them to load test it.

Or if you have a decent battery charger to charge up your battery after this test, plug your fridge in and let it run for 24hours set to the temp that you'll be running it on the trip. and see if the vehicle will still start. That's presuming your fridge is one of the 240/12 volt engel/waeco/ evakool types that only draws 3 to 5 amps when running.

Matt,

If you intend running a fridge off your one and only battery, your first investment should be a low voltage discharge device, unless one is built in to the fridge.

It is very easy to discharge a battery entirely without one and this is the quickest way to destroy a battery beyond recovery.

The size and type of fridge you intend using will determine if running it off a single battery is wise or not.

A 40 litre compressor fridge like the Engel or Waeco, you may get away with, providing you charge your battery every day. Anything bigger and I would be rather paranoid that the vehicle doesn't start in the morning.
And as for a three way fridge, there is no way I would be running it off the battery unless the engine was running.

Not only is your standard wet cell battery fairly old, but they are not really designed to "deep cycle" which it would be asked to do in running a fridge for an extended period of time.

Proper deep cycle batteries have thicker plates and are designed for deeper discharge than a standard starting battery, which is designed for a high amperage drain over a very short period.

Some people will tell you a single starting battery is all they use, but they are just tempting disaster.

At least with a low voltage cutout device, you will protect your battery as much as possible and even if the fridge cuts out (risking the contents) you should be able to start the vehicle.

The best test you can have done on your battery is to have a load test performed on it. This and checking the individual cells with a hydrometer will determine if any are "on the blink".

Bill.

Thanks for the replies. I've just been reading the 'Battery Power' article on this site and have got a bit more knowledge on things now.

Now I am wondering if I should maybe get a 'power pack' and keep my current (no pun intended) battery???

From what I've read my fridge (an Evakool 47 litre) needs to run off a deep cycle AGM type battery, but these types of batteries are no good for starting a vehicle.

I think from what I read it says you need a wet cell for starting and an AGM for fridges etc. If possible, I'd like to stick to a single battery. Is there a type of battery I can use that will run my fridge and winch (just remembered that) and start my vehicle with as well??

Thanks again.

Hi Matt, I have a 2004 hi lux, Mine lasted 5 years , which is good for where I live. If going on a trip I would be changing it before I leave. Up here 4 - 5 years is a good run for a battery. I have duel batts and the cranck batt was a Z70 and I replaced it with the same type. My sec batt is a deep cycle and it runs 2 ZEngle fridges and lights.
Damien

Thanks again for the replies.

I've started looking into those 'battery box' type second battery setups, they look like a good way for me to go.

Has anyone had any experience with them? I'm wondering what a good brand might be and what to look for.

That's a great help Bill. Thanks very much. I'm looking at both of those units now, so your advice is greatly appreciated.

I've had a few friends who have stuck with a single cranking battery (rather than spend $1000+ on a dual battery setup) and had no problems whatsoever (they will say less problems than a dual battery setup), and their battery lasts fine.

What they do is:
- use a battery that is less than say 3 years old
- fit the biggest wet cell cranking battery into the space available (usually an N70 Exide Extreme or Century Overlander)
- have a low voltage cutout on the fridge
- use up to a 40l fridge that has a low power draw (later series compressor-type)
- Drive the vehicle for at least half an hour during the day.
- They go away with friends (can jump start in an emergency).

If you don't want to do all of the above, then get a second battery or jumpstarter.

Gee whiz, I thought selecting a fridge was a tough decision. I never thought I would spend so much time trying to work out how to power the blasted thing!

I've gone from, dual batteries to power packs and back to just putting in a new single battery.

Anyone have any experience with Exide Orbital Extreme 750cca batteries?

I've worked out I'll consume about 65amp hours per night with fridge and ligths etc so I think if I get at least 120 amp hour battery I should be OK.

Thanks.