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[azmojave]

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[ShadowsPapa]

So for a few years I’ve had my Jackery 500 hooked up like this- Jackery plugged into Jeep inverter on back of the console, and fridge plugged into 12v socket on Jackery. So while I’m driving the Jackery is being charged by the Jeep and powering the fridge, and when I’m parked the Jackery is powering the fridge in its own.
This weekend I hooked it up the same but the Jackery would barely maintain and wouldn’t charge all the way up while driving.
So is there an issue with the alternator, the inverter, the Jackery, or how I’m setting it up?
I looked at the Jeep voltmeter on the way home without anything plugged in and it was reading 12.8 which I thought was weird but then I read that it’s normal when the battery is charged.

12.8 is a fully charged battery voltage - you'll see that on long drives when the batteries are full and/or hot.
Easy enough to check the inverter - plug in something else that's no more than 400 watts and see how it works - and measure the voltage at the inverter outlet.

 

[bill61]

Did you check the voltage of your Jackery charger?

 

[GeneralMaximus]

How old is your Jackery unit? Like any other battery pack, it will eventually degrade and quit holding a good charge

 

[Mr._Bill]

So for a few years I’ve had my Jackery 500 hooked up like this- Jackery plugged into Jeep inverter on back of the console, and fridge plugged into 12v socket on Jackery. So while I’m driving the Jackery is being charged by the Jeep and powering the fridge, and when I’m parked the Jackery is powering the fridge in its own.
This weekend I hooked it up the same but the Jackery would barely maintain and wouldn’t charge all the way up while driving.
So is there an issue with the alternator, the inverter, the Jackery, or how I’m setting it up?
I looked at the Jeep voltmeter on the way home without anything plugged in and it was reading 12.8 which I thought was weird but then I read that it’s normal when the battery is charged.

Did you start the trip with the Jackery fully charged? I would suspect it to be the problem, due to age and use, and no other changes.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It was at around 60%. In the past it’s been no problem for it to fully charge and run the fridge while driving. Maybe it is gettin old. I think it’s at least 5 years old.

5 years - yeah, getting to the point it could be getting iffy............ it does have a batteries.

 

[Sweetums]

Jackery issues aside, going from a 12v DC system to AC through an inverter just to have the Jackery transform it back to 12v DC again adds a ton of loss and inefficiency.

 

[nanook12]

Charge the jackery off the 12V cigarette lighter, run the refer off the inverter, while driving. My Goal Zero has a charge cord made to do that.

 

[Glad Jeeper]

This is how I have been using my jackery 1000 and dual zone for many years (4’ish). The only difference is I use the 110 plug off the jackery to the Jeep and the 110 plug off the fridge to the jackery. I have never had an issue.

 

[smlobx]

Jackery issues aside, going from a 12v DC system to AC through an inverter just to have the Jackery transform it back to 12v DC again adds a ton of loss and inefficiency.

EXACTLY!
Use the 12 V cord from your fridge and plug it into the Jackery.

 

[Jaxmax]

EXACTLY!
Use the 12 V cord from your fridge and plug it into the Jackery.

That’s what he is doing Fridge is plugged into 12VDC outlet of Jackery which in turn is being charged off the rear seat inverter 120AC plug while driving and won’t drain his battery while truck is off. There is only one change of power type in the Jackery, I guess he could tie the Jackery into battery DC some where. I would check out the Jackery first then the inverter ….Jack

Sidebar : I’m Jack what is with the name Jack that it is used for everything, Jack of all trades , he is jacked, a Jack is in the wood framing of a door frame, we jack up our jeeps, you don’t know Jack, there’s Jackoff, so why could they not name their equipment Dannery, Skippery, Robbery, Mintery , oh forget it, I fell better now!

 

[smlobx]

That’s what he is doing Fridge is plugged into 12VDC outlet of Jackery which in turn is being charged off the rear seat inverter 120AC plug while driving and won’t drain his battery while truck is off. There is only one change of power type in the Jackery, I guess he could tie the Jackery into battery DC some where. I would check out the Jackery first then the inverter ….Jack

Sidebar : I’m Jack what is with the name Jack that it is used for everything, Jack of all trades , he is jacked, a Jack is in the wood framing of a door frame, we jack up our jeeps, you don’t know Jack, there’s Jackoff, so why could they not name their equipment Dannery, Skippery, Robbery, Mintery , oh forget it, I fell better now!

My bad. What I meant to say is why not plug the fridge directly into the 12V socket in the Jeep then just switch it to the Jackery when you’re stationary.

On my rig I have everything set to run on 12V. I have a LiPho 100 AH BattleBorn battery that is charged via the engine when it’s running through a Redarc BCDC charge controller that allows me to plug in solar when I want. So far I’ve never had to use it but do occasionally. I can run my system for at least 3 days without needing to charge the battery.

 

[GeneralMaximus]

My bad. What I meant to say is why not plug the fridge directly into the 12V socket in the Jeep then just switch it to the Jackery when you’re stationary.

On my rig I have everything set to run on 12V. I have a LiPho 100 AH BattleBorn battery that is charged via the engine when it’s running through a Redarc BCDC charge controller that allows me to plug in solar when I want. So far I’ve never had to use it but do occasionally. I can run my system for at least 3 days without needing to charge the battery.

Yes, your method would definitely extend the life of the Jackery Battery. Less charge cycles on the Jackery will extend the battery life.

Unfortunately, OP has run his set up for 5 years, so its too late if his unit does indeed have a worn down battery, that is unable to hold a good charge.

 

[WILDHOBO]

So for a few years I’ve had my Jackery 500 hooked up like this- Jackery plugged into Jeep inverter on back of the console, and fridge plugged into 12v socket on Jackery. So while I’m driving the Jackery is being charged by the Jeep and powering the fridge, and when I’m parked the Jackery is powering the fridge in its own.
This weekend I hooked it up the same but the Jackery would barely maintain and wouldn’t charge all the way up while driving.
So is there an issue with the alternator, the inverter, the Jackery, or how I’m setting it up?
I looked at the Jeep voltmeter on the way home without anything plugged in and it was reading 12.8 which I thought was weird but then I read that it’s normal when the battery is charged.

Calling you. I think we have the same symptom.

 

[John in the Woods]

I run an EcoFlow for house power (for a dual-zone Iceco, gear recharging and camp lights) so this may not apply directly to those with a Jackery, but as inefficient as DC->AC->DC conversion is, my EcoFlow charges much faster drawing AC from the Jeep inverter than pulling DC from the dash plug. I’ll be honest and admit I haven’t done an analysis to figure out if it’s due to a difference in overall power output from the Jeep sources or the varying ability of the EcoFlow to draw in power from those different sources, but I have noted recharge times cut in half when charging from the AC inverter.

I can see how a direct DC->DC system like a Redarc with a direct connection to truck power could draw in faster, and I hope to set up house power that way down the line, but right now I’m finding my best success with AC inverter input while driving and DC solar power input when at camp.

I added an expansion battery to the EcoFlow this winter to deepen my reserves to cover stretches of hot cloudy days. When this system (now in year 3) gives out, I’ll go the DC->DC route. If it turns out OP’s portable Jackery has kicked it, I’d recommend that move.

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