I’m glad you are jumping in. I’m trying to learn by others posts. Looking under the truck where the 7 pin connector makes me anxious about cutting into it. I’m hoping to find an easy way to keep me from screwing it up. Funny thing is I’m willing to pay someone to install one but have failed to find anyone. The dealer said no, my mechanic said no, two places that specialize in aftermarket truck accessories said no. So for now I’m thinking let it go or work up the balls to do it. It’s not that hard, I’m overthinking it. Maybe I need a therapist instead of a mechanic
Looks like you and I are trying to accomplish the same thing for the same purpose. Powering a cooler / freezer.
The main difference is you need the seven pin for your trailer and I do not.
I am still rather dubious as to how much amperage can honestly flow through that 12V supply line. I have not investigated the wire size yet. It is a long run to carry 12V from the voltage source to that trailer plug and then you need to consider the additional run from the trailer plug / harness to your cooler. I have installed solar systems on my RV's in the past and always tried to keep the voltage as high as my controller would handle and the wire runs a short as possible while using the largest gauge wire as practicable. All in an effort to reduce loss. Think of the power coming to your house. It is not at household voltage on its route to get to your residence. It is higher voltage. 12V is pretty low voltage to carry any appreciable about of current over long runs through small wire.
I never liked using inverters. Just does not make sense to me. If your appliance will run on 12V I would stay with 12V. If you have to go with the inverter I would place the inverter as close to the battery as possible and use the 120V from the inverter to make the long run to your appliance. ( reference what I said above in regards to voltage loss )
An option I am considering is using a lithium iron phosphate ( LifePO4 ) battery dedicated to run the freezer with a B2B ( battery to battery ) charger to maintain the LifePO4 battery. This would eliminate the worry of drawing off your starting battery and the LifePO4 system is a far superior way for powering your appliance. LifePO4 batteries are pretty amazing and have their
own protection circuits built into them. They are also expensive compared to lead acid type batteries. Dometic makes a self contained battery / charger that might be the way for you to go. It is portable and totally self contained. It will charge from 110-120V as well as 12V. It will charge from solar as well though this probably does not interest you. It can be charged from 12V simultaneously while in use to power your cooler. It has a built in B2B charger that will function from typical 12V outlet power. ( cigarette lighter ) None of the lithium stuff is inexpensive so you would have to weigh the cost with how often you would use it.
You might want to check it out. It is a model PLB 400 made by Dometic.
I was going to build my own B2B / LifePO4 system using a battery from Battleborn and a stand alone B2B charger but the PLB 400 is catching my attention as it is quite portable and everything is self contained in one package.
Hope this did not add confusion to what you are considering.
Good luck.
DD
