Bronco Fridge option

[Then&Now]

I was impressed by the leaked options list thread.
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...ims-colors-tops-packages-more.1606/post-50946

The fridge option has me wondering how it would be powered. If it were a cooler, I imagine it would have said so. Fridge is listed which makes me think it needs an outside power source.
My first thought was the 2021 Ford F150 on board generator. As someone pointed out, that is only for the hybrid engine option which does not appear relevant to the Bronco.
We'll find out soon enough, but till then ... any thoughts?

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[KCBRUIN]

I’m sure it’s just like all the overland fridge/freezers used by the overlanding community currently. Look at the Dometic and ARB options out there and I’m sure thats what they’re referencing.

 

[Toccoa]

I was impressed by the leaked options list thread.
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...ims-colors-tops-packages-more.1606/post-50946

The fridge option has me wondering how it would be powered. If it were a cooler, I imagine it would have said so. Fridge is listed which makes me think it needs an outside power source.
My first thought was the 2021 Ford F150 on board generator. As someone pointed out, that is only for the hybrid engine option which does not appear relevant to the Bronco.
We'll find out soon enough, but till then ... any thoughts?

This option might help. It’s buried in the option list as well.
"110V/150W AC Outlet"

 

[Then&Now]

Thanks for the info/replies

 

[chtucker]

This option might help. It’s buried in the option list as well.
"110V/150W AC Outlet"

I don't think the fridge will need AC it will likely be either DC or AC. Obviously running in the Bronco it will be on DC. We plug our Dometic in to AC to precool it before we load it for a trip. We try to get all of the drinks precooled before leave as well. The Fridge likely has its own AC to DC conversion built into the compressor. No need to have the Bronco convert DC to AC to have the fridge convert it back to DC... You loose 5-10% each way on efficiency.

 

[MaverickMan]

I don't think the fridge will need AC it will likely be either DC or AC. Obviously running in the Bronco it will be on DC. We plug our Dometic in to AC to precool it before we load it for a trip. We try to get all of the drinks precooled before leave as well. The Fridge likely has its own AC to DC conversion built into the compressor. No need to have the Bronco convert DC to AC to have the fridge convert it back to DC... You loose 5-10% each way on efficiency.

Does your dometic run better off DC or AC? I have a knock off brand between the front seats of my 96 it runs great off AC but doesnt like the Bronco DC, it doesnt mind a direct stand alone battery or the DC in my Eagle though. I mounted a 1000 truckers inverter over the trans tunnel. And run it off that. Even being in that not so cool, not always shaded part of the truck it get drinks Ice cold in an hour even if they weren't before. Basically turn it on when we leave and by the time we get to town the thermostat is usually in the 30s or 40s on a hot day. But the walls get icy quick so those drinks are always ready by the time we hit the beach. Honestly we cant live without it. We put cold groceries in there and we dont have to go straight home after shopping, Put ice packs in for sunburns. Keep a gallon of water ice cold.

They are magical.

 

[chtucker]

Does your dometic run better off DC or AC? I have a knock off brand between the front seats of my 96 it runs great off AC but doesnt like the Bronco DC, it doesnt mind a direct stand alone battery or the DC in my Eagle though. I mounted a 1000 truckers inverter over the trans tunnel. And run it off that. Even being in that not so cool, not always shaded part of the truck it get drinks Ice cold in an hour even if they weren't before. Basically turn it on when we leave and by the time we get to town the thermostat is usually in the 30s or 40s on a hot day. But the walls get icy quick so those drinks are always ready by the time we hit the beach. Honestly we cant live without it. We put cold groceries in there and we dont have to go straight home after shopping, Put ice packs in for sunburns. Keep a gallon of water ice cold.

They are magical.

Honestly never paid attention. It works great on both. Its certainly less worrisome to plug it into AC the night before we leave and not worry about battery drain. It is just a matter of swapping power cords. I have used a deep cycle battery to keep an entire Lacrosse team's ice cream frozen from 7am till 5pm in 90 degree heat. The battery was about 3/4 charged when I brought it home.

Sticking warm water bottles in and expecting it to chill the water to 36 degrees are not what it is made for. I have done that at home plugged into AC when I knew we were going to be leaving for a road trip though.

We did a 4 week road trip (6000 miles) with the kids/family. We ate breakfast and most lunches out of the cooler. It was awesome to not have to take hour long lunches at expensive restaurants. Someone got hungry and we pulled over for sandwiches.

 

[MaverickMan]

Honestly never paid attention. It works great on both. Its certainly less worrisome to plug it into AC the night before we leave and not worry about battery drain. It is just a matter of swapping power cords. I have used a deep cycle battery to keep an entire Lacrosse team's ice cream frozen from 7am till 5pm in 90 degree heat. The battery was about 3/4 charged when I brought it home.

Sticking warm water bottles in and expecting it to chill the water to 36 degrees are not what it is made for. I have done that at home plugged into AC when I knew we were going to be leaving for a road trip though.

We did a 4 week road trip (6000 miles) with the kids/family. We ate breakfast and most lunches out of the cooler. It was awesome to not have to take hour long lunches at expensive restaurants. Someone got hungry and we pulled over for sandwiches.

Thats awesome. Havent done 6000 miles since I was a kid. We did it several times then. 2 1/2 years ago we did that in a Eagle I bought in New York. Drove it from Ohio to LA the long way. about 3400 miles. At the time nobody would ship a fridge here. So i shipped it there and drove it cross country Ran great off the DC in the Eagle. We would bring it into motels with us and run it in there. Its actually serving as my mother in laws fridge in her cabin. We have a smaller 26 quart one in the bronco and use it almost every day we drive anywhere. When we go camping I have run it tied directly to a battery with a 50 watt panel. Stays cranked all weekend.

 

[WuNgUn]

These fridges are optimized for 12VDC use... Using household AC uses a laptop type converter to feed DV to the unit. Some maybe have these built in?
Definitely uses/wastes more power on AC, but we don't care because that isn't important.

 

[MaverickMan]

These fridges are optimized for 12VDC use... Using household AC uses a laptop type converter to feed DV to the unit. Some maybe have these built in?
Definitely uses/wastes more power on AC, but we don't care because that isn't important.

Must be the 12V "Power Port" in my 96 that sucks lol. It does run much better on a stand alone battery when I do that setup. But the inverter works good and the alternator makes plenty power. Like you said we dont care as long as it works.

 

[WuNgUn]

Must be the 12V "Power Port" in my 96 that sucks lol. It does run much better on a stand alone battery when I do that setup. But the inverter works good and the alternator makes plenty power. Like you said we dont care as long as it works.

I definitely plan on making maybe a 1.5 or 2KWh solar generator and work out some sorta rack mounted roof-top solar panels... Or better yet, swing out panels that double as an awning. ??

 

[MaverickMan]

I definitely plan on making maybe a 1.5 or 2KWh solar generator and work out some sorta rack mounted roof-top solar panels... Or better yet, swing out panels that double as an awning. ??

That was the plan for my van before it burned up. (not from electrical a trans line rusted and sprayed the exhaust n caught fire) But yeah a big solar awning that slid off the roof rack, maybe on both sides. Enough to run a hot tub trailer!

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