Leaving fridge on - Daily driver

[RVR2RSQ]

I was wondering if anyone is leaving their fridge on all the time.

I have not hooked up my dual battery system yet, but was planning on turning the fridge on and letting it run once that is in place. Just planning on setting up a continuous duty solenoid to an AGM battery in the back of the vehicle.

Not sure if my limited drive time would sufficiently charge the battery though.

My callouts are only 1-2 a month, but it would be nice to have cold water and the dogs cold packs already in place and ready to roll.

Anyone here doing this?

Thanks
Brian

 

[jcbrandon]

I leave mine on all the time. I keep it just cold enough to chill drinks. It would probably be too warm for proper food safety. If I don't drive the truck for two days, and it has been hot, the battery will have difficulty starting the engine. I keep an extension cord plugged into house current near my parking space and plug the fridge into 110 volt power in hot weather.

 

[Teamjeff]

I leave mine on all the time. I keep it just cold enough to chill drinks. It would probably be too warm for proper food safety. If I don't drive the truck for two days, and it has been hot, the battery will have difficulty starting the engine. I keep an extension cord plugged into house current near my parking space and plug the fridge into 110 volt power in hot weather.

Same exact scenario here, except I keep it just above freezing. I need to get a second dedicated battery installed - I don't like stressing the main battery like that.

 

[RVR2RSQ]

Wow, your both able to run it during the week just off your main battery. I'm impressed.

I have an old norcold and it has a sliding cover so that you can only plug in either the 12 volt cord or the 110 cord. So it would not be easy to switch and plug in the 110 over the weekend.
I was thinking instead I might get a small 5amp charger/maintainer to plug in over the weekend and fully charge up the battery. While still leaving the fridge running.

Thanks for the response
Brian

 

[dzzz]

You might using one of those watt measuring devices on 110v to get a feel for energy usage. "Old" (and also inexpensive) usually means less efficient when discussing refrigeration. But if the Norcold is compressor based it's probably pretty good.
A 3 way or peltier probably wouldn't work.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

I keep mine on (set at around 38F, to keep drugs cold) all the time. When I'm going to be away for more than a couple of days, though I either take the drugs out, or plug in a battery maintainer. Of course, being a diesel I have two batteries anyway.

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

Keep it simple. 110 V alternate plug in for the fridge set it at 35 degrees and once cool she will run forever. Mine has been on since the day I bought it and surprise no compressor or start up issues.. Fridge Freeze 42.

 

[overlander]

I generally keep mine on all the time, and keep stuff in it to make my lunches at work.

I have the new ARB fridge tied into my 2nd battery. I have a dual management system, and I have a marine battery maintainer permanently mounted on the frame and tied in to my 2nd battery, with the 110 plug hanging out my front grill (like a coolant block heater).

When I'm going to not drive for more than a day or so, then I just plug in to my front grill, and the maintainer keeps it charged up completely while the fridge runs.

Bit of a different approach from others, but I never have to switch the fridge off 12v to leverage shore power.

 

[wrcsixeight]

I keep my compressor Norcold running 24/7, but I have 130 watts of Solar, and have upgraded my alternator wiring. I would not be abusing my batteries by running the fridge If I were not going to be using it regularly.

The compressor units cool down so quickly, If I were not going to open the fridge for a week, I would remove any food, turn it off,

Or plug into the grid, and save my batteries capacity for when I'm out in the sticks.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I only use the fridge when I really need it. Today I went to the lake fishing and because it was just me I took a ice cooler even though I have solar and dual batteries. Deep cycle batteries are expensive and are only good for so many charging cycles and my goal is to make the batteries last as long as possible.

 

[Corey]

On all the time from late spring until fall.
I have let it sit over a four day weekend in my driveway without starting the rig, and it started right up for work when I had to go back.

Granted I have duals, but I run the fridge off the main battery, and it started right up.

The fridge is off today though, the rig is in the shop for its 30K service.

 

[Cabrito]

I was wondering if anyone is leaving their fridge on all the time.


Not sure if my limited drive time would sufficiently charge the battery though.


Anyone here doing this?

Thanks
Brian

Couple of questions,
What fridge are you running, and how long is your daily drive?

When I'm on a weekend trip usually every other week I leave mine on the whole time. I've done week long trips and just leave it on the whole time. I run it off of my single battery. I'm running an older ARB MT35 with a Two Zone on it. I would guess that having the Two Zone it's not running as efficiently as it would if I was not using the Two Zone. Over night it's always fine.
I've even left it on by accident in the garage for three days and I was still able to start up although it was a little sluggish.
Usually mine is only on a low setting. (no freezer use).