How long will a power station run a refrigerator?
A full-size fridge’s compressor draws around 100 to 200 W while running, but it cycles on and off. Averaged over a day, a typical modern fridge uses about 1,440 Wh, which works out to 60 W continuous. Older fridges and big side-by-sides can use twice that.
| Station | Runtime (fridge only) |
|---|---|
| 300 Wh | 4 h 15 min |
| 500 Wh | 7 h 5 min |
| 1,000 Wh | 14 h 10 min |
| 1,500 Wh | 21 h 15 min |
| 2,000 Wh | 1.2 days |
Output matters as much as capacity
When the compressor starts, it pulls several times its running power for a moment, often around 1,200 W. A station with plenty of capacity but a small inverter will shut off at that moment. Look for a continuous output of at least 1000 W and a surge rating above the compressor’s start-up draw.
Making it last
- Keep the door shut. A closed fridge holds a safe temperature for about 4 hours with no power at all, so you can run it in shifts.
- Add solar. A 200 W panel in 4 peak sun hours puts back about 600 Wh a day, more than half a typical fridge’s daily use.