How long will a power station run a refrigerator?

Average watts determine battery runtime

A refrigerator doesn't draw the same power all day. Its compressor cycles on and off, so the watts it pulls while the compressor runs are different from its average over a full day. For battery runtime, the average is what matters, because it sets how much energy the refrigerator uses over time.

Our appliance data gives these reference figures for a full-size ENERGY STAR refrigerator:

• Average consumption: About 60W across a day
• Estimated compressor-running consumption: 123 to 240W
• Startup surge: Not published in our available sources

The compressor-running range is an estimate based on DOE's guidance that a refrigerator runs about one third of the time. It isn't a measured operating range for every refrigerator, so use your own refrigerator's energy information whenever you can.

Find your refrigerator's annual electricity use

The yellow EnergyGuide label gives an estimate of annual electricity use in kilowatt-hours per year (kWh/year). To turn that into average watts, use:

Average watts = (Annual kWh × 1,000) ÷ 8,760

The ENERGY STAR median of 524 kWh/year works out to (524 x 1,000) / 8,760 = 59.8 W, shown here as 60 W. The 8,760 represents the hours in a standard year. Use your own appliance's EnergyGuide figure to calculate its average and enter that number in our runtime calculator.

The EnergyGuide figure is a planning estimate. Your refrigerator's actual consumption may differ with operating conditions and usage, and a direct measurement of average consumption, when you have one, makes a more specific input.

Worked example with a 1,024Wh battery

Take a refrigerator averaging 60W and a power station rated at 1,024Wh. Outlet Powered assumes 80% to 90% of rated battery capacity reaches AC appliances, so the estimated available energy is 1,024 × 0.80 = 819.2Wh at the low end and 1,024 × 0.90 = 921.6Wh at the high end. Divide each by the refrigerator's average consumption:

• 819.2 ÷ 60 = 13.7 hours
• 921.6 ÷ 60 = 15.4 hours

That's an estimated runtime of approximately 14 to 15 hours. It's a calculation, not a physical test, and it doesn't guarantee that a particular refrigerator will run that long or that the power station can start its compressor. The runtime table above shows the same calculation for every model in our database.

Why compressor startup matters

A refrigerator motor can need more power to start than to keep running, and your power station has to support that starting demand. Three specifications are relevant:

• Refrigerator running power
• Refrigerator startup requirements
• Power station continuous and surge output

Our available appliance sources don't publish a verified startup surge figure for the reference refrigerator, so we don't assign a universal refrigerator starting wattage. A power station with plenty of stored energy may still be unable to start an incompatible refrigerator. Check your refrigerator's documentation and the power station maker's appliance compatibility information.

Surge ratings can also come with operating conditions and duration limits. Don't treat a manufacturer's boost mode as equivalent to its full surge rating.

Running a refrigerator and freezer together

A refrigerator averaging 60 W and a chest freezer averaging 24 W draw 84 W together. At that load, a 1,024 Wh station has a calculated runtime of 9.8 to 11.0 hours. The 2,042 Wh Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 provides 19.4 to 21.9 hours for the same combined load.

With a 50 W upright freezer instead, the refrigerator and freezer total 110 W. On a 1,024 Wh station, the calculated runtime is 7.4 to 8.4 hours. These calculations assume 80% to 90% of rated capacity reaches AC appliances.

Both the running demand and the start-up demand of the appliances must fit the station's output. A freezer's own EnergyGuide figure takes precedence over the typical value used here, so use your own appliances' figures when planning the combined load.

Food safety during an outage

A power station can help keep food cold, but it shouldn't be your only food safety plan. FoodSafety.gov provides these guidelines:

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed when possible. These are food storage guidelines, not battery runtime figures. If the power station runs out of energy, the refrigerator stops getting electricity, so plan for that before an extended outage.

Choose a power station for refrigerator backup

Start with the refrigerator's average power consumption and its startup requirements. Then compare the models in the table above on:

• Rated battery capacity
• Continuous AC output
• Stated surge capability
• Expansion options
• Available charging sources

For longer outages, recharging becomes part of the plan. A compatible solar panel, vehicle charging, or another supported source may help replenish stored energy, though maximum solar input isn't a guarantee of daily solar production.

If you need to power other appliances too, include them in the total load instead of calculating refrigerator runtime alone. Our size calculator estimates the battery capacity your household needs. Size the battery from your appliances' requirements, not a fixed refrigerator runtime claim.