CSI Fridge/Freezer Mega Thread

Done!

 

Dimensions: 17.3 x 32.2 x 19.3 inches for the arb element fridge

 

Thanks so much which is the height? 19.3?

 

Yes, usually it's L x W x H

 

Ok, with my order placed, and my desire to NOT power this off of my starting battery, I need an aux battery... This was always the plan once my Drifter goes on, but for now I plan on putting the aux battery in a battery box on the floor of the back seat. No plans of solar panels until they can be mounted to the top of the drifter.
Eventually the battery Will be relocated into the bed of the truck, and will be kept charged with a solar panel or two.

Is anyone running one of these on a 12v battery for a long weekend and not needing to recharge it?
If so, what battery specs?

 

If I have it and my battery solution in time for next weekend, you're more than welcome to take a peek!

 

Sounds great!

 

I have one of these refrigerators and I've measured the power draw at roughly 1.0 amps/hour.

That means you'd need approximately 72 amp hours AVAILABLE to power the fridge for a long (3 day) weekend without recharging. (note: in order for your battery to last longer than a few short years you shouldn't draw it down to less than 50% of it's capacity, unless it's lithium, then it's a different story)
A 12v flooded deep cycle golf cart battery is probably your best bet.
Trojan makes a great 150 amp/hr battery for ~$200, which would net you the 72 amp hours needed for a 3 day weekend.
Probably the best dollar/performance value are two 6v flooded golf cart batteries wired in series (12v). You can get roughly 230 amp hours (115 usable) for around $200. This is what I did in my system.

Cheers.


Pics of the electrical system on my trailer:

 

How are you mounting your fridge? I have mine mounted in the bed with the Blue Sea below deck panel direct hookup to battery. I have been on 2 trips with it like this 1st trip 2 nights and 2nd trip 3nights. No power drain at all to battery, running a Northstar 31M. I am recharging battery while on the trails during the day. This of course wont work for you if you are leaving fridge unmounted to your truck and is a leave at camp type of setup.

 

Kind of similar to TW above, I will also mount mine on a platform in the bed of my truck when we go Boy Scout camping.
It's powered by a Yeti 400 that charges off the bed outlet when driving.

Cheers

 

I am using a Northstar 27F on mine and it keeps the fridge powered 24/7.

This is assuming that 27F is 100% charged.

Problem with Tacoma's is the alternator only charges up to 75% capacity for AGMs.

2nd gens can buy a fuse to trick the alternator to charge more.

3rd gen alternator voltage is controlled by ECU so not much can be done right now.

I have a solar setup that charges the battery at rest so it's always topped.

 

This is what I’d do with one if I bought it. Did you make your own slide?

 

What solar did you use?

 

Renogy 100W from Amazon with MPTT charge controller

 

So....maybe I’m blind to the whole situation, I currently have a “red top” battery. I run the fridge on low and have kept it at 35 degrees. I’m currently finishing up my 14 day camping trip with driving. Fridge and truck seem to work great????

Review on the fridge, I was very hesitant on purchasing this fridge/freezer. After washboards, long hours of 4 x 4, this unit held up excellent and I am very happy that I purchased it

 

I'm using the DFG Offroad refrigerator slide that fits the fridge perfectly. I mounted the slide to a 2' x 4' piece of 3/4" plywood I cut to fit around the wheel well. At the back of the plywood (behind the fridge) I mounted my Goal Zero Yeti 400 to power fridge. This keeps the fridge from tipping when extended out on the slide and I can plug the Yeti into the inverter on the side of the bed. I have an oem rubber bed mat, and put bolts up through the bed mat and the plywood, then secured with wing nuts.

Cheers


Again, this is what I use for when we go Boy Scout camping. The rest of the time I use my trailer's battery system as noted above.

 

Mine is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, but I'm trying to wire up my battery box tonight. Does anyone know what amp fuse should be on the circuit?

 

Do you also have the slider? For the expedition?