2023 Jay Flight 12V Fridge and Solar

[rc01]

Hello,

I am considering purchasing a 2023 Jayco Jay Flight 212QBW and see that they all seem to come with a 12V electric fridge paired with 200W solar panels. I typically boondock and have always used a propane/electric fridge in the past with no problems.

I would love to know any experiences you all may have had using the 12V electric fridges with the 200W solar package. I have no experience with solar or these electric only fridges and wonder if they can really be used to boondock for 3-4 days with occasional generator use?

Many Thanks!

[Forester2]

Lots of recent post on this topic. I boondock and previously had propane but went 12v on new unit 2 years ago and love it.

[mini4mw]

For the most part it depends on two things, battery capacity and sunshine. Most RVs come with a 100amp hour lead acid, so you can discharge up to 50amp before damaging the battery. A 12v compressor will pull about 4amps while its running. Once the fridge is cold, it won't run too often depending how often the door is open. I don't know the exact number, but some posts say it will run 25% of the time. So figure 6hrs in a 24hr window. 6hrs, at 4amps = 24amp hours. Running with no charge over 2 days is 48amp hours, right at the max of 50amp hour discharge on 100amp lead acid. Add in lights, water pump, charging phones and some other stuff, all depending on how much you use it and I'd guess 36hrs at most with no charge (solar, generator, connected to car, etc). 200W panels if setup in series will generate ~ 8-9amps after the solar charge controller in full sun and should top off the batteries in a few hours, depending of course on how low they are.

If you buy new, make sure they put a good battery in it. Most of the time the new RV batteries are already damaged from too much discharge or cheap quality. You'll know its junk if you use it for the fridge and the battery is below 50% in a few hours..

Definitely recommend a shut (victron shunt is best IMO) to monitor battery capacity/use.

[Kim Gass]

More than two things. if you need to run the furnace and there is no sun and you are under a forest canopy your battery will need recharging in six hours.

If you are in direct sun, no trees and good weather and need not run the furnace you would be fine for a few days; we did five..

We have the same rig and setup. As it is cold and rainy more often than not we have a 2000 w generator. We do not have to run A/C.

We do have two batteries and the fridge can be put in Night Mode but I am not sure what that does. Something perhaps to do with the door not being opened overnight

The door gets out of whack easily..On our last trip the latch did not engage and we had the contents on the floor. We now tie the door shut on dirt and potholed roads.

[rc01]

Thanks Forester2, mini4mw and Kim Gass - very helpful!

[RogerR]

if you haven't bought a battery yet look at lithium. 100 amps, no damage from over discharge, full 100 amps of capacity and half the weight. Plus way longer life, no maintenance needed, etc.

Love the bluetooth battery and solar status on the phone app that i got from Renogy. Cost more up front but saves in the long run.

[rc01]

Thanks Roger! - I was considering either another set of GC batteries or the Lithium

[Barefooting]

I have the 12v fridge in my new 26FK White Hawk. I added a second AGM battery, however, don't even need it. I prefer the 12v over the dual fuel. cools down quicky.

[rc01]

Thanks a lot for the input Barefooting!

[ems437]

Originally Posted by rc01

Hello,

I am considering purchasing a 2023 Jayco Jay Flight 212QBW and see that they all seem to come with a 12V electric fridge paired with 200W solar panels. I typically boondock and have always used a propane/electric fridge in the past with no problems.

I would love to know any experiences you all may have had using the 12V electric fridges with the 200W solar package. I have no experience with solar or these electric only fridges and wonder if they can really be used to boondock for 3-4 days with occasional generator use?

Many Thanks!

I had a 171BH with a Furion 12v fridge, Overlander 1 single 190 watt solar panel, and one AGM battery. I upgraded to a 25RB this year with the the exact same setup.

The 12v fridge has an off grid setting on the temperature dial inside. I set it to that and my solar and single battery has kept the fridge cold and the freezer frozen around the clock when I use it. Both in the previous 171BH and the current 25RB. So the factory 12v fridge and factory Overlander solar system fit well together.

[rc01]

Excellent - thank you ems437!

[Johnynorthland]

I run my new GE 12V fridge off my 92AH AGM with 200 W of solar. I have no issues, but to be honest I plug my 3,034 WH solar gen in the night before a trip so my coach battery doesn’t take a hit. (That’s if there’s no shore power available)

But one thing that strikes me is all the comments that people make on this topic is this one; “if it is not a sunny day you’re screwed”! I guess those people do not have an onboard generator! Because if I got to the point of battery exhaustion, that’s what I would do! Not my first choice but it’s available, and exercising it doesn’t hurt!

Almost a year in with a 12V fridge, and I can confidently say I’ll never buy another rig without one! (And we’ve previously had 3 rigs with LP)

[rc01]

Great Johnynorthland - thanks!

[mpace]

We recently bought a 2023 Jayco with solar panels. We were told this would be great for dry camping. Our first time out we were awake all night with a beeping and blue lights flashing from the refrigerator. Our camper came with one 12-volt battery. When we went back to the dealership, we were told that we need either 2 12 volt or 2 6-volt batteries to run the refrigerator. We are now looking at another 1000.00. to have a new bracket welded on to hole 2 batteries and to buy the new batteries.

[rc01]

mpace thanks for your feedback. I previously had two 12v batteries that served me well until they died. I replaced them with two 6v and found they last much longer. I currently have a propane/electric fridge though so the propane is fueling the fridge when we dry camp. Hope you get everything working for you soon!

[Johnynorthland]

Originally Posted by mpace

We recently bought a 2023 Jayco with solar panels. We were told this would be great for dry camping. Our first time out we were awake all night with a beeping and blue lights flashing from the refrigerator. Our camper came with one 12-volt battery. When we went back to the dealership, we were told that we need either 2 12 volt or 2 6-volt batteries to run the refrigerator. We are now looking at another 1000.00. to have a new bracket welded on to hole 2 batteries and to buy the new batteries.

Ouch! Not what you want to hear! Have you ever had an LP fridge? You can always get a solar generator, like I did, and it will a be multi purpose use device, great for home use and UPS. Don’t frown on your 12V fridge, it’s way more stable and reliable than absorption. If your a hardcore boondocker than I feel your pain!