More Fridge Help Please ;-)

Hey folks so I set up my fridge and have it all plugged in and working...only set on about mid temp. How often should I idle my truck and for how long to ensure I dont drain the batteries down. I'm in a 19 international LT. And from what I have looked at there is no kind of optimized idle /auto-start option...unless I have missed it.

Do I just need to crank it and let it run every so often?

You should be okay on a 10 hour break. This also depends on what else is drawing battery power. Microwaves and hair dryers are the worst.

Remember that batteries see their hardest times in high heat and below freezing cold, so Summer and Winter are the worst times of the year.

If the batteries get really drained, that's less than 10 amps, it will take more than a few hours to recharge completely. Most truck batteries are basically the same technology from over a hundred years ago. I won't get too in-depth unless you want me to.

I would try not running the truck for three hours, then see how it starts up. If it's seemingly okay, go to four hours. Keep trying this and see what works.

What is your company's policy on idling in general? I was in Fort Worth two days ago, and it was already a 90 degree day.

Yeah it was reading about 93-95 around Red**** Fl yesterday. I got a message from my DM that I could idle while I rest(10hr break) but not when it's not in use. I've been on my break since I got back finishing my load about 3am this morning and am picking up after midnight tonight...the step testing of the batteries does sound like a great place to start. How long should i run the truck in between the off times?

***I didn't realize it would star out the "richard" letters in the name of the town...my bad...its all one word

The longer between idling starts, the longer it will take to charge the batteries.

The fridge will stay cold on the inside the longer the door is kept shut. Outside air temp (the temperature inside the cab) will have an effect on it. If it's been shut while you sleep for eight hours and the truck has not started, it should be fine.

Experiment with it because every truck, every inverter, and every fridge is different.

***I didn't realize it would star out the "richard" letters in the name of the town...my bad...its all one word

It's a Family Friendly safety Brett has incorporated. Bad words are blocked out this way. Occasionally some names and places come out with comical spellings.

That is by far the best answer I have seen. I've been looking through the manual and also have found the load control/shedding should shut down electrical use to allow enough power to start the truck. Would it shut down the inverter as well?

Oh yes. It will start cutting out what are known as, "hotel loads." These are anything not required to operate the truck as it is intended. Interior lights, inverter, radio, air conditioning/heater.

As you read, it will cut these out for self preservation.

Well here goes...truck off, inverter on and input reading at 12.7v. Timer set for 2.5 hours to see how it's doing lol

A new, warm fridge will use more juice until it gets itself cooled to the selected temperature.

When I take time off (yes I do!), I'll turn the two fridges and the cooler off. It takes about a full day for the cooling to be achieved again.