What Size Generator Do You Need To Run A Refrigerator? This is a question I am asked a lot by my clients who are either buying a property with an existing generator or building their home or cabin and want to know about the size and power requirements for appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, television sets, computers, and lighting.
A fridge is one of the main appliances in the house, which consumes a lot of electricity. If you want to run your refrigerator in your home or office, you need a generator. Typically a generator should have at least 1500 watts of power.
In this article, I will help you pick the right size of generator to operate an appliance such as a refrigerator in your home.
What Size Generator Do I Need To Run the Refrigerator ?
All mini-fridges and the majority of energy-efficient refrigerators and freezers with Energy Star ratings require a 1,400W generator. A 3,000W generator can power all common refrigerators and freezers. The generator with 3,000 W is the most popular choice for running a refrigerator. To power all extremely large refrigerators and freezers, a 5,000W+ generator is required. But not everyone has a fridge this size.
The initial wattage of your refrigerator determines the size of the generator you need. For instance, you’ll need at least a 3,000-watt generator to power your refrigerator safely if its electric motor is rated at 3,000 watts when you switch it on.
What Wattage Is Required For A Refrigerator?
If you’re looking to run a refrigerator or freezer, there are two main things you need to consider: running watts and starting watts.
The starting wattage is the energy required to start the compressor and cool down the refrigerator when it is first plugged in. You should pay attention to the running wattage, as it is the amount of Energy used when your refrigerator is running at full capacity.
The starting wattage is significantly higher than the running wattage because it takes more Energy to get a compressor started than it does to keep one going once it’s up and running.
Starting watts is how much power it takes to get your fridge going. This could be anywhere from 200W to 6,000W.
If you’ve ever heard a whirring sound coming from your fridge right after you open the door, that’s probably because it’s using up all its starting watts to get cool enough for you to store your food in there.
Running watts is how much power the appliance uses once it’s running. It could be anywhere from 50W to 1,500W.T
This is what matters most when it comes to how much electricity your refrigerator uses—the higher its running wattage, the more energy it uses over time.
What Is The Ideal Portable Generator For A Freezer And Refrigerator?
Keeping your freezer and refrigerator running during a power outage is essential for food safety, but it is not always easy.
There are two basic options: a portable generator and an inverter. Both have pros and cons, but we will focus on the portable generator here.
A good generator producing at least 3000 starting watts would be ideal for a refrigerator and a few more household items.
If you want to run more than one appliance or a larger appliance, such as a microwave or water heater, at the same time, then you will want to get something with more wattage.
Generators come in all different sizes, so it’s best to go with what fits your needs.
I particularly recommend getting a dual-fuel generator. Since propane is cheaper than gasoline, it would save you some money on fuel costs in the long run.
The first thing you will need before purchasing any type of generator is a place where you can safely put it outside your home.
You don’t want the generator inside your house because it needs ventilation and should not be placed near windows or doors due to carbon monoxide poisoning risks from fumes and exhaust fumes escaping through vents in those areas of your home or garage where these appliances are located.
In addition, be sure there are no trees nearby that could fall on top of this machine during storms or high winds if they happen during any type of power outage situation!
The best option is to get an inverter generator because they are quieter, more portable, and completely safe to use with delicate modern electronics like TVs, laptops, and home audio systems.
Refrigerators And Freezers Operating And Start-Up Wattages:
Running and Starting Watts of Refrigerators/Freezers
Running Watts: The amount of energy the compressor uses to keep the refrigerator cool. This is measured in watts (W) and should not exceed the capacity of your electrical service.
Starting Watts: The amount of Energy used by the compressor to start, or “kick”, on a new cycle. This mustn’t exceed the capacity of your electrical service because it can cause serious damage to your appliance.
Here I have listed starting and operating watts of the refrigerator and freezer.
| NO | Refrigerator and Freezer | Running Watts | Starting Watts |
| 1 | Small Mini Fridge | 50 watts | watts200 |
| 2 | StandardMini Fridge | 75 Watts | 300 Watts |
| 3 | Big Mini Fridge | 100 Watts | 400 Watts |
| 4 | Sall Energy Star Fridge | 132 Watts | 528 Watts |
| 5 | Standard Energy Star Fridge | 192 Watts | 768 Watts |
| 6 | Big Energy Star Fridge | 250 Watts | 1000 Watts |
| 7 | Small Fridge | 400 Watts | 1200 Watt |
| 8 | Standard Fridge | 700 Watt | 2900 Watt |
| 9 | Big Side By Side Fridge | 1000 Watt | 4000 Watt |
| 10 | Biggest Fridge | 1500 Watt | 6000 Watt |
Simply check the specification label to determine the operating wattage of your refrigerator and freezer. You’ll need to move the refrigerator a little to check, but it’s typically on the back.
How Can You Calculate How Much Start-Up Power Your Refrigerator Needs?
The start-up watts are rarely listed on the label of refrigerators. Therefore, you will typically have to “best guess” how much beginning power they require.
To size a refrigerator generator, multiply the running watts by four to get the beginning watts. Here’s how to determine that:
Running Watts = 4 x Starting Watts
As a result, 1,000W running watts will probably have 4,000W starting watts. That indicates that to operate such a refrigerator and freezer during a power outage without any issues, you would need at least a 4,000W generator.
What Size Generator Do I Need To Run A Refrigerator?
Generators provide a steady stream of electricity, even when the power grid goes down. That’s why it’s important to know how much generator power you need to run your refrigerator and freezer.
There are two main types of refrigerators and freezers: mini-fridges (1,000W) and standard refrigerators and freezers (3,000W).
If you have a mini-fridge, a 1,000W generator should be enough to keep it running during an outage. If you have a standard refrigerator or freezer, you’ll need a 3,000W generator or more to keep your food safe while the power is out.
Then there are the really big refrigerators and freezers—the ones that can hold all kinds of food for your whole family! These require 5,000W or more of generator power to keep everything cool while your family is without electricity.
Suggestions For Generators For Energy-Efficient And Mini Refrigerators (1,000W)
- The generator recommendation for mini-fridges and Energy-Star fridges is a 1,000W generator.
- Mini fridges (Energy Star) require a 1,000W generator. You can also run this fridge on a 2,000W generator or even a 4,000W one. However, if you use a 4,000W generator, you must keep an eye on your load. The heat it generates while running can damage the inside of your fridge.
- Small refrigerators are great for keeping the food in your home cold, but they can’t do it alone. If you have a small refrigerator and want to keep it running during a power outage or other emergency, you’ll need to hook up an RV or portable generator.
- Many portable generators are too big for use with mini-fridges, but some are specifically designed to work with small appliances like this. You should consider using an RV generator if you have one. If not, look for a generator specifically designed with Energy Star-rated appliances.
- The best type of generator for your mini fridge is going to depend on how much power you need and how much space you have available for storage and installation.
- For example:If you need more than 1,000 watts of power, consider getting a larger generator with more wattage available than what’s listed above (1,000 watts). This will ensure that your fridge stays running even when demand is high.
- If space is limited in your garage or yard, look into smaller generators designed to be more compact and easier to store away when not in use. They may not have as much power as larger models.
Also See: Proven methods to keep your generator running after it starts
Suggestions For Standard Refrigerators And Freezers With Generators (3,000W)
- The recommended generator power for standard refrigerators and freezers is 3,000W. The most important thing to remember when using a generator to power your refrigerator or freezer is that you must have a generator that can supply at least 3,000W of power.
- To determine how much power your refrigerator or freezer needs, add the wattage of all its electrical components.
- If you are unsure of how many watts your refrigerator uses, check its owner’s manual or look at the sticker on the back of the appliance. To ensure you have enough power for your refrigerator/freezer, add up all of its electrical components and add another 1,000W as a safety factor.
- For example: if all of your appliances use 1,500W each (1st refrigerator, 2nd refrigerator, and freezer), then add an additional 1,000W to make sure that you have enough electricity to run everything at once without overloading your generator.
- To ensure that there are no problems when using a generator for refrigeration purposes, we recommend using an inverter generator with automatic voltage regulation capabilities so that voltage levels do not fluctuate as often as they would with non-inverter generators.
Also See: The versatility of a 7500 watt generator: What can it power?
Which Type of Generator Should You Use To Run A Fridge?
When selecting the generator type to power a refrigerator, there are several factors to consider. Fuel type is the first. Common options include gasoline, propane, and standby generators. A battery-powered generator designed for interior use is another soaring in popularity.
Gasoline:
To run a fridge, you’ll need a generator. The most common type is the gasoline-powered generator. These generators are easy to maintain and produce less noise than diesel generators.
Gasoline generators can run on gasoline or unleaded gas, making them more affordable than diesel generators. However, they require special fuel that can be expensive to obtain.
Dual Fuel:
To run a fridge, you’ll want to use a dual-fuel generator. This type of generator is able to function on both liquid and gas fuel, giving you more options when it comes to powering your appliances during an outage.
This is the generator for you if you’re looking for something that can run on propane or natural gas! It’s also good if you want a small unit with limited power output—it won’t be able to keep up with a larger home or business, but it will work well for smaller spaces like campsites and cabins.
Stand By:
If you’re looking for a generator that can power a refrigerator, you’ll want a standby generator. Standby generators are the most common generator and can power all kinds of appliances, but they are best suited for refrigerators.
Standby generators run on natural gas or propane fuel and produce electricity when you need it. They’re typically installed outside your home in a shed or garage and provide backup power during an outage.
Battery Powered:
A battery-powered generator is another option for running a refrigerator when there’s no power available.
These generators use batteries as their source of Energy, which means they’re portable and can be used with any appliance that requires electricity—not just refrigerators.
Battery-powered generators are ideal if you need to use your refrigerator while camping or if you’re having work done on your home and don’t want to lose food that may spoil while the power is out.
Conclusion;
So the next time you buy an air conditioner or a refrigerator generator and are wondering how big it should be, take a look at this article and don’t hesitate to ask us any questions.
Gas-powered generators are the most popular as compared to other types. In this article, I looked at the available generators for you to purchase. I hope that this will help you decide on your purchases made in the future.
FAQs:
How big of a generator do I need to run my refrigerator?
However, refrigerators and freezers also need an additional burst of power, often 2-3 times the running wattage, each time the compressor starts. This indicates that a generator with a minimum output of 1,560 watts is needed for this device.
Can I run a refrigerator on a 2000-watt generator?
Most refrigerators need between 800 and 1200 watts to start, and 2000 watts is more than enough to power them safely.
Can a small generator power a fridge?
There shouldn’t be any problems as long as you’re generator’s wattage exceeds the refrigerator’s watt consumption. Many experts advise utilizing a generator that provides at least 2,000 watts of starting power to keep your refrigerator and freezer operating normally in order to be safe.
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