I am looking to set up a small fridge. Looking at ARBs new fridge freezer, which is a 12v fridge. This means i could not use 2 6 volt batteries? A small toaster oven and an air conditioner. Using a laptop and lights and radio. So my problem is, i do not know exactly what i need to do. Get a 1500 watt power inverter and an extra 12v battery? And a continueous duty solenoid? This is being done in an 03 dodge 5.9 conversion van. What battery, what power inverter and what else? Or what is the best way to accomplish this? Thank you. I am just trying to get it right the first time. I may setup solar panels someday but i need a good battery power setup. I will use a generator to charge the batteries or can the extra batteries charge off the van running?

Start here and get some basic knowledge:Don Rowe site Inverter FAQInverters by Phredinverter threadMSW v. pure sineInverters and MW thread

Hi,Very few folks can successfully run an air conditioner on just battery power.

Several years ago I learned how long a fully loaded down MSW 1500WATT Inverter would last running a whole bunch of electronic test equipment (added up to around 1300WATTs) from the trunk of a standard rental car setup...It lasted a total of 12 minutes haha...Rental car company brought out another car on a flatbed and exchanged with us out in the antenna field haha... Didnt know why the rental car quit on us...Inverters are very power hungryRoy Ken

Forget about running the air conditioner from batteries.2 6v golf cart batteries are a good start. 4 would be better if you're really going to run a toaster over.A 1,500 watt inverter is probably marginal for a toaster oven. I'd go with a 2,000 watt. A modified sine wave unit will be fine unless you have an Apple computer. Even if you don't I'd get a small pure sine wave inverter for the electronics and use a big modified sine wave inverter for the toaster oven.You will need at least a continuous duty solenoid between your van's alternator and the battery bank. A voltage sensing relay would be better. Blue Sea makes a nice one.

The toaster oven i saw was 470 watts. But what about running a 12v fridge? Will it work on 6v batteries? Or maybe get a diff fridge?

power inverters, batteries and appliances | Good Sam Community

2oldman
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2013
Start here and get some basic knowledge:

Don Rowe site Inverter FAQ
Inverters by Phred
inverter thread
MSW v. pure sine
Inverters and MW thread
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 21, 2013
Hi,

Very few folks can successfully run an air conditioner on just battery power.
RoyB
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2013
Several years ago I learned how long a fully loaded down MSW 1500WATT Inverter would last running a whole bunch of electronic test equipment (added up to around 1300WATTs) from the trunk of a standard rental car setup...

It lasted a total of 12 minutes haha...

Rental car company brought out another car on a flatbed and exchanged with us out in the antenna field haha... Didnt know why the rental car quit on us...

Inverters are very power hungry

Roy Ken
KD4UPL
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Forget about running the air conditioner from batteries.
2 6v golf cart batteries are a good start. 4 would be better if you're really going to run a toaster over.
A 1,500 watt inverter is probably marginal for a toaster oven. I'd go with a 2,000 watt. A modified sine wave unit will be fine unless you have an Apple computer. Even if you don't I'd get a small pure sine wave inverter for the electronics and use a big modified sine wave inverter for the toaster oven.
You will need at least a continuous duty solenoid between your van's alternator and the battery bank. A voltage sensing relay would be better. Blue Sea makes a nice one.
danwild
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
The toaster oven i saw was 470 watts. But what about running a 12v fridge? Will it work on 6v batteries? Or maybe get a diff fridge?
danwild
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Heres an example of the.fridge i am considering
http://www.adventureparents.com/blog/dads-dirt-roads-blog/443-5-things-you-need-to-know-before-buying-a-fridgefreezer-for-your-truck-or-camper
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 22, 2013
Two 6v batteries in series IS a 12 volt battery. All 12v stuff will run fine.

Probably best to have 600 watt inverter to run the toaster. Honestly I would try not to cook or heat stuff on battery power. It really zaps the battery hard. Try to use propane or the generator.

Smaller inverter is better. Laptop, phone, tv can run on 150/300 watts. Wire direct to battery and plug in direct is easiest.

Forget air conditioning on inverter. That is a generator item. You may need 2600 to 3000 watts of generator power to run the air.

Yes the "house" battery should charge from the engine running. Still takes 2 to 8 hours to get a good charge into a low battery.

If you will be off grid a lot I suggest solar sooner than later.
Kits to compare: http://www.solarblvd.com/Solar-Panels-&-Systems-12-Volt-Solar-Kits/c1_272/index.html

The 12 Volt Side of Life
danwild
Explorer
Aug 26, 2013
http://www.frigidaire.com/products/Air-Conditioners-Dehumidifiers/Window-Air-Conditioners/FRA052XT7.aspx

Will this 515 watt ac work off of a bunch of deep cycle 6 volt batteries? Or no because its a 110v ac?
danwild
Explorer
Aug 26, 2013
I found this: perhaps this is best.: http://www.arcticbreeze-truckac.com/
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 26, 2013
12 volt air conditioner

Hi, Hmmm this is the second time today a link has failed to post correctly. How very odd.

Thanks for fixing it.