New to This - Batteries

[dannyvp]

Im new to the overlanding idea. Watched lots of videos and read tons of articles. My first big push is a fridge. To support the fridge i was thinking about a single battery setup with a solar charger.
Im looking for ideas for the battery. Im hoping for a battery for ~$250. I dont really want the complexity of DC DC charger right now, if i dont have to.
Ideas?

 

[LostWoods]

Odyssey, Northstar, or similar. Basically any quality AGM battery is a good pick.

 

[dannyvp]

I was looking at a battery pack like these. I have some golf cart batteries, but 2 would be crazy heavy and they don't seem to be in the nest shape, charge wise.

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I did look at this battery a couple days ago in the store.

X2Power BCI Group 31M 12V 1150CCA AGM Marine & RV Battery - SLI31AGMDPM at Batteries Plus Bulbs

Group 31 12 volt AGM replacement deep cycle battery with 100 AH capacity for marine, boat and RV use. Dual Purpose technology offers both incredible starting power and deep capacity

www.batteriesplus.com

 

[LostWoods]

You need 4 of the first battery to make a 12v system as LiFePo4 batteries are only ~3.2v. Excellent choice for a house battery if you go that route but not ideal for a starter battery so the generally require a battery management system. You'll be out $1500 or more to add a good second LiFePo4 battery to an existing system.

IMO if you can fit a group 31 under hood, get an Odyssey Extreme or whatever Northstar's equivalent is and call it a day (I've heard good things about that second battery you've listed but no direct experience so no comment). A group 31 will more than let you run a couple small scene lights and a fridge overnight and has more than enough capacity for winching or anything else you'd throw at it on the trail.

 

[smritte]

I love my Odyssey batteries. Have never run Northstar but I want to try them next time I change batteries. Figure out how much your fridge draws and base your panel on that. I have a 50 watt on my Cruiser. It barely keeps up with the fridge while sitting. I have it because my vehicle isn't a daily driver and the normal battery draw kills my battery in two weeks of sitting. The nice thing about my panel/charger is it keeps my battery exactly where it needs to be. driving/camping its enough as ling as I don't sit for more than a day(ish). My trailer has a 120 watt and that's more than enough to keep up with my 50qt fridge.
Most of my trips are desert, mountain trips mean moving my panel around and hoping I get a good charge in my trailer battery.
I don't run a DC-DC converter on anything and I get normal life out of my AGM's. Even before adding my solar.

 

[dannyvp]

You need 4 of the first battery to make a 12v system as LiFePo4 batteries are only ~3.2v. Excellent choice for a house battery if you go that route but not ideal for a starter battery so the generally require a battery management system. You'll be out $1500 or more to add a good second LiFePo4 battery to an existing system.

IMO if you can fit a group 31 under hood, get an Odyssey Extreme or whatever Northstar's equivalent is and call it a day (I've heard good things about that second battery you've listed but no direct experience so no comment). A group 31 will more than let you run a couple small scene lights and a fridge overnight and has more than enough capacity for winching or anything else you'd throw at it on the trail.

 

[dannyvp]

Maybe that P04 isn’t the right battery for me.
This is a every month camping truck. I think an AGM house battery with a 150 watt solar charger should do what I need. The fridge is suppose to use 19aph over a 10 hour period in the day with the fridge cycling on and off.