Second battery to run refrigerator

I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post them for you.

Edit: After some more experience with the Jackery 240 I learned a few things about it. Make sure to read these two post if you are thinking about the 240

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/second-battery-to-run-refrigerator.673769/page-10#post-24053033

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/second-battery-to-run-refrigerator.673769/page-9#post-23905664

 

ok, I get it, I wasn't familiar with that little round plug, that must be the other end of the cable they supply and the other end goes to the bed outlet. if that is the AC input then where does the solar plug into. I suppose I need to look into the details on their web site some, but your comments basically answer my question. Thanks so much. I will make sure mine is a gen 3 and comes with the cable you mention. Also, might as well get the solar panel as well.

 

ok, that would be great, thanks so much!!

 

I'm sorry. I meant to take some pictures today but I ran out of time. I'll tey again tomorrow. I meant that my tacoma is a 3rd gen. Not the jackery. The newer tacomas come with a built in outlet/inverter in the bed. If you don't have that already you can run a 12v DC oulet to the bed. Or maybe buy the larger jackery so it will run longer and you can just charge at home.

Edit: After some more experience with the Jackery 240 I learned a few things about it. Make sure to read these two post if you are thinking about the 240

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/second-battery-to-run-refrigerator.673769/page-10#post-24053033

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/second-battery-to-run-refrigerator.673769/page-9#post-23905664

 

I just got home from a 5 day trip, first time out with the Dometic fridge. I didn't have time to put my solar system together so I simply took a 100ah led acid battedy and wired the bluesea power port to it, with the battery fully charged it would last 24 hours easily. I took a Victron IP65 120v charger and used the trucks factory inverter in the bad and it would fully recharge the battery in about an hour and a half.

 

I run the PBL40 as well. Love it

 

right on, the jackery is on its way... right, I have a 3rd gen with the outlet... interesting you have to be sitting to get 400 watts but the 100 while driving will be find. Thanks if you have time for the photos would like to see them.

 

Check that the Jackery can do "pass through" power. I have one of the smaller 167Wh models and it will NOT pass 12V power through (meaning if you have it plugged into 12V power to charge, it will charge, but it will NOT power anything plugged into its 12V outlet at the same time.)

I ordered a different model of similar device that is about 300Wh and will do pass-through, with the intention of using it to run my smaller 11L Dometic fridge while road tripping. I'll basically run off of the car's 12V while driving and then off of the battery unit while the engine isn't running. I just got back from a 5 day 2650 mile trip in the truck and didn't have that capability, and I forgot my AC power supply, so the cooler stayed in the truck overnight. Only non-perishables were in it, so it didn't matter if it got up to 50 some degrees overnight a couple times. It cools back down pretty quick !

 

wow, thanks for pointing that out. I got the 500 and looking now to see if it does pass thru. if not, I will be sending it back. Seems like a very basic thing that so many solar generators should do. Now I have time to get something else if it wont pass thru power.

 

You can find 12v extension cables on Amazon and others. If you go this route you are just doing a temporary run for when you have the fridge with you. No fuses are needed and you can run the cable out the rear slide window and the however you want to get it in the bed since its temp.

If you are doing a permanent solution then you want to install a 12v outlet in the bed sidewall. Easy to find those on Amazon as well. If you go this route then you need to run a 8 gauge cable from the battery to the bed outlet along the frame under the truck. Be sure to install a fuse at the battery end and wrap the cable in wire loom to protect it.

 

The other tip I’d offer if you add a a bed outlet is to look for the ARB or Dometic style locking socket and plug. Nothing like getting to camp and finding that the cig lighter plug vibrated out and your beer is warm. My Dometic battery has both types of sockets, not sure about the Jackery, and the plug end on both the Dometic fridge cable and battery cable is configurable to fit in either a standard cig socket or the locking socket. Here’s the socket; I didn’t need to buy a plug since my devices came with them, but I’m sure they’re available too.
https://ok4wd.com/arb-fridge-freeze...MIuLnHvYC56gIVBdbACh1-aQlPEAQYCCABEgJ_UfD_BwE

 

I set it up in the garage so I could take a picture for you. It works the same in my truck. The jackery is plugged into my wall outlet. My fridge is plugged into the Jackery AC two prong outlet. I also plugged in my flashlight battery charger to the 12v DC outlet to show that it could run multiple devices. The only difference in the truck is that I have to remember to turn on the bed outlet.



The display shows you how many watts are coming into the Jackery and how many watts are going out. My fridge and flashlight charger were only drawing 8w at the time. I think that's low because my fridge was already at temperature so I don't think it kicked on . I keep it in the garage full of cold beer.



Edit: After some more experience with the Jackery 240 I learned a few things about it. Make sure to read these two post if you are thinking about the 240

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/second-battery-to-run-refrigerator.673769/page-10#post-24053033

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/second-battery-to-run-refrigerator.673769/page-9#post-23905664

 

I always ditch the cigarette plugs for Anderson powerpole connectors. I made my own 100ah LiFePo out of 32650 cells (4s20p) from ebay. . Not that cheap, but cheaper than a factory Li battery. Weighs 27lbs and runs my edge star for 4 days on its own. I used to use a couple of Trojan golf cart batteries for a few years, but the weight is not manageable or practical and keeping water in them sucked. I now use the Trojan SLA batteries in my office as the world's largest UPS.....

 

What charger are you using?

 

I have a Renogy LiFe charge controller and a 100w solar panel on my roof. I rarely have to charge manually, but I use an RC car battery charger. DC-DC or 120.

Supposedly, the battery protection board I used for the pack controls charging, but I don't use it.

 

Glad to see someone else running this. I have a Jackery 500 and my original plan was to run it like yours but then I couldn't really find any info on anyone else running it or if it would be safe. But I'm glad the truck bed outlet charges the Jackery. I really didn't want to pull the trigger on running a hard wiring set up since I only keep the fridge in my truck for camping trips.

 

Right on, I have a jackery 500 coming as well. if I were still single without kids no doubt I would have built my own system but with family and kids no time anymore. the Jackery just seems too easy and its turnkey. So for times when you are not driving I would imagine you pull the AC input and hook up the solar panel to the same input connector? A 6mm round that seems easy to get. From an earlier post I was a bit concerned about the unit not doing pass thru but it must if this works... I could not confirm on their web site or manual. I am guessing the early smaller model may not have had pass thru. The 500 and 250 should for sure.

thanks for posting those photos, my set up is just like yours but I also got the panels. No more ice... love it.
.

 

This is what it looks like in the truck.



Even when the bed outlet is set on 100w it charges just as it would in my house.





Edit: After some more experience with the Jackery 240 I learned a few things about it. Make sure to read these two post if you are thinking about the 240

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/second-battery-to-run-refrigerator.673769/page-10#post-24053033

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/second-battery-to-run-refrigerator.673769/page-9#post-23905664

 

wow, envious... where did you get the rail system, that is what I plan to do after this trip... don't have time right now.

do you ever have a hard time with the fridge working from the Jackery when it is hot out, like now.
I imagine keeping the windows down in the back help but still. My fridge looks like its speced to run up to 80 and I am sure will run hotter than that but will be less efficient..

gesh, love the rails!! thanks for the photos

 

Holy cow, I am guessing yours are a bit simpler, I just googled sliding truck rails and oh boy were the prices substantial... I am guessing I will be making my own. linear bearings would be far shorter than the designs I saw as well, but then again, I have not priced the bearings... also they are hard to keep dead square/true.
thanks for sharing what ya got