I have a ARB fridge/freezer 37 qt.

mxvpsanchez · October 2015

I want to run it offf of solar what size panel and battery will I need? It will be in the back of my tj jeep.

waynefromnscanada · October 2015

Not much technical info easily found. Did come across this posted by a supposed customer:
"According to the owner's manual, the ARB 50 has a Danfoss compressor that draws 5.1 amps at 12 volts DC, and runs about 25%, or about 15 minutes out of every hour."
IF this is true, the consumption of this model could be roughly 0.37 KWH per 24 hour day.
As a comparison, my 8 cu ft upright freezer converted to fridge, consumes roughly 0.3 KWH / 24 hour day, AND it didn't cost anywhere near the over USD$800. of the ARB.

vtmaps · October 2015

mxvpsanchez said:

I want to run it off of solar what size panel and battery will I need? It will be in the back of my tj jeep.

Welcome to the forum,

To answer your question I need to know the fridge consumption (which Wayne has calculated at 370 watthours per day), and how many days autonomy you want/need. In other words, how many cloudy days in a row do you want to go before running a generator?

Answering the autonomy question will give us a battery size. The battery size will tell us how much solar energy you need to charge that size battery. And then there are the issues of climate and solar exposure... your jeep can't hold enough panels to do the job if it doesn't have good solar exposure.

How often do you drive the jeep, and can you use the alternator to charge the battery?

--vtMaps

mxvpsanchez · October 2015

I tow the jeep behind my rv. I live in Mexico in the winter and Mt a and Canada in the summer. When I am parked I can plug it in to 120v. I was thinking to keep it charging when parked for more than 2 hours or so. When I am at the beach for the day our out hiking in the mountains. The ARB has a setting so it won't kill the jeep battery. This is just a luxury thing for me. (Ice cream and cold beer) I am fine getting a oversized battery.. I have no clue how solar/batteries do all this. I am a cabinetmaker. Sorry for being dumb.
i like this ARB due to the fact it will run on a 30 degree angel.

mxvpsanchez · October 2015

Vtmaps I would like to keep it running overnight, the jeep will charge it when I drive. Does that help?

vtmaps · October 2015

mxvpsanchez said:

Vtmaps I would like to keep it running overnight, the jeep will charge it when I drive. Does that help?

Using the consumption numbers that Wayne provided, it will require 30.6 amphours to run for 24 hours.

A deep cycle battery that can do that every day should be at least a 60 ah battery. You do not want to let the battery get below 50% SOC (state of charge), and when it gets that low it must be recharged ASAP.

By the way, are you planning to have a dedicated battery for this fridge, or are you thinking that you will get a larger vehicle starting battery and use it for the fridge?

--vtMaps

mxvpsanchez · October 2015

I want to get a dedicated battery. Could you recommend the parts and pieces I would need to do this? (panel size,a good battery,controller). Thanks

vtmaps · October 2015

mxvpsanchez said:

I want to get a dedicated battery. Could you recommend the parts and pieces I would need to do this? (panel size,a good battery,controller). Thanks

OK. Remind me... what do you expect from the panels and controller?

Previously you wrote that you could plug it in when you parked, and then you wrote that you want to keep it running overnight and then charge it while driving.

So then, what's the solar for? Sorry to give you a hard time about this, but in order to design a system that gives you satisfaction I need hard numbers. Engineers work that way. Because you will be plugged in when parked, and charging while driving, I calculate that a solar array size of 0.0 Watts will be adequate. As I mentioned earlier, you can run the fridge for 24 hours with a 60 amphour deep cycle battery, as long as you immediately recharge the battery.

You mentioned that the fridge has a LVD (low voltage disconnect) to protect the battery. Is it adjustable? If not, do you know what its disconnect voltage is? A LVD is an important part of the system and can be added as an independent item. Also, some high quality, inexpensive controllers have load terminals with LVD, if you do decide to install solar.

--vtMaps

Wheelman55 · October 2015

mxvpsanchez said:

I want to get a dedicated battery. Could you recommend the parts and pieces I would need to do this? (panel size,a good battery,controller). Thanks

Hola. I've been using an ARB fridge in my 1993 F250 for a couple of years now and I love it.

I installed a second battery using a "Hellroaring" battery isolator and a dual battery tray from Wrangler Power. I installed a dedicated ARB DC plug in the truck and put it on it's own circuit. Let me know if you have any questions.

Hell Roaring is located in Polson Montana, they are very helpful on the phone, reasonably priced and make the best isolators. Here's the link to their site: http://www.hellroaring.com/

Wrangler products had the battery tray for my truck....I also bought some beefy jumper cables from them. Link:http://www.wranglerpower.com/Wrangler%20Power%20Products.pdf

unseenone · October 2015

I keep a 40L Snomaster in the back of my truck. I keep the battery topped up with a 100w flex panel. I have run a 72L on occasion when I needed a little more. (also sell them)

A dual battery as suggested is a good idea.

I have a ARB fridge/freezer 37 qt.

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