Can a portable generator run a refrigerator?

Can a portable generator run a refrigerator? Generators are generally purchased to power two major classes of appliances: refrigerators and HVAC equipment. Most of us know that you can run a refrigerator, heater and other heavy-duty appliances when running a backup generator designed to provide power for your home.

Can a portable generator run a refrigerator? A generator with 3000 watts must have enough starting watts to handle the compressor load as the refrigerator turns on. This means that you can run a generator to keep the refrigerator going if it has at least 3000 watts and 3300 starting watts.

Let us get into the detail and ensure you purchase the best generator to run your refrigerator in an emergency or power outage.

Can a portable generator run a refrigerator?

Can a portable generator run a refrigerator? The short answer is yes, if you use a powerful enough portable generator. For example, you cannot run a generator with 2000 watts and keep the average large refrigerator going.

A generator with 3000 watts must have enough starting watts to handle the compressor load as the refrigerator turns on. This means that you can run a generator to keep the refrigerator going if it has at least 3000 watts and 3300 starting watts.

Below is an example of a suitable generator to run a refrigerator

Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How do I know how large of a generator I need to supply power to my refrigerator?

The wattage required by the refrigerator should be on the nameplate. If the refrigerator only shows the voltage and amperage, multiply these two numbers to get the watts required to power it.

However, refrigerators require an extra “jolt” or surge of power when the compressor motor starts up. The generator must be able to supply this surge power if the fridge is to come on. If it can’t, you’ll either kill the generator or the fridge will fail to start up.

How much power does the refrigerator need when starting up? Multiply the running wattage or the wattage listed on the nameplate by 1.5. If your fridge needs 2000 watts to run, play it safe by connecting it to a 3000 watt generator.

A small 1000 watt refrigerator only needs 1500 watts of surge power. That means a 2000 watt generator could support the small 1000 watt fridge both at startup and continual operations, but you can’t connect two 1000 watt fridges and turn them on if you want them to stay on.

See our Wattage Calculator Guide here! It will help you work out the size of portable generator you’ll need.

What is the power draw of the average refrigerator?

The average household refrigerator needs 1500 to 2000 watts of power to run once it has started up. This means the average refrigerator needs 2000 to 2500 watts of power to start up. It also means that a 2000 watt generator will supply the average refrigerator once it is running.

However, your generator either needs to be more powerful than this or have an inverter capable of delivering several hundred watts of surge power long enough for the compressor to start up.

Our Choice of Generator to run a refrigerator?

Last update on 2024-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

What do you need to run a freezer?

A 2000 watt portable generator can easily support a 500 watt deep freezer, though the load at startup is closer to 700 watts. This means a standard portable generator could support two small freezers, though it may support a small freezer and mini-fridge.

An Energy Star rated freezer requires around 1200 watts of power at startup and less than 1000 watts of continuous power.

Read our TOP 10 BUDGET GENERATOR review for more options before purchasing a portable generator.

How long will a generator support my refrigerator?

Let’s use a mid-sized refrigerator that needs 1200 starting watts and 700 watts of continuous power. We’ll assume you have a 3000 watt portable generator. The extra power capacity means you can run lights or other small appliances in addition to running the refrigerator.

More importantly, the generator can support the refrigerator’s continuous load in energy saving “eco-mode”. A 3000 watt portable generator will produce 500 watts for ten hours at quarter power. And it would support a 700 watt baseload.

Given this rate of fuel consumption, the generator will run eight to nine hours on a single tank of gas.

Can I run both the refrigerator and air conditioner from the same generator?

The average household air conditioner isn’t going to be supported by a portable generator. However, a window AC requires about 1500 watts of continuous power and 2200 watts of surge power.

You could run the window AC or a refrigerator from the average 2000 watt inverter generator. Or you could run both with a 3500 watt or better generator. Always balance the peak load and continuous load with the safe limits for the generator.

See our Wattage Calculator Guide here! It will help you work out the size of portable generator you’ll need.

What features should I look for in a portable generator intended to run a refrigerator?

A die-hard camper may not care about a pull-cable to start the generator. However, homeowners trying to set up a generator to keep a fridge full of food from going bad can’t risk a broken pull cable.

Many homeowners lack the physical strength to get the generator to start with a single pull. This makes electric push-button starters essential for this application.

Another factor to consider is noise. If you’re camping, you’ll be able to set the generator twenty or thirty feet from the RV or campsite. Noise ordinances can be met by moving the generator further away from others’ campsites.

A portable generator intended to power a refrigerator would ideally run all night. And since it is being run in the average suburban neighborhood, the noise is going to bother someone, no matter where the generator sits. Consider looking for relatively quiet generators.

The difference between a 60 dBa and 70 dBa generator will be your quality of sleep. It may also allow you to run the generator though the power is out, though many jurisdictions suspend noise ordinances when there is an emergency.

Buy the smallest generator that will meet your baseline power needs. For example, if you plan on running a refrigerator that requires 1500 watts, get a generator with at least 2000 watts of baseline power. Then you can run the refrigerator plus a few lights and other little items. And you won’t accidentally kill the generator because you turned on a fan.

However, there’s no need to buy a 4000 watt generator if your baseline load would be around 2000 watts. Not only is this a waste of money, but the larger generator will burn through fuel faster.

Wattage Guide for household appliances

Appliances	Running Watts	Start Up Watts
Clock Radio	3 W	5 W
Phone Charger	3 W	5 W
Google Nest	5 W	5 W
Tablet Computer	10 W	15 W
32 In LED TV	20 W	60 W
Air Purifier	25 W	30 W
Humidifier	35 W	40 W
Cooling Fan	40 W	60 W
Freezer	40 W	60 W
PS4 or Xbox	50 W	120 W
Lightbulb 60 W	60 W	60 W
Water Dispenser	100 W	100 W
Refrigerator	150 W	300 W
American Style Refrigerator	200 W	500 W
Garden Strimmer	300 W	500 W
Submersible Water Pump	350 W	500 W
Music Stereo	400 W	400 W
Vacuum Cleaner	400 W	1000 W
Toaster	700 W	1900 W
Electric Drill	800 W	1100 W
Coffee Maker	800 W	1000 W
Washing Machine	800 W	800 W
Lawn Mower	1000 W	1500 W
Air Fryer	1400 W	1400 W
Air Compressor	1500 W	4800 W
Oven	2000 W	2000 W
Home Air Conditioner	1200 W	4000 W
RV Air Conditioner	1300 W	4500 W
Belt Sander	1400 W	2400 W
Hairdryer	1400 W	1400 W
Hammer Drill	1700 W	1600 W
Air Compressor – 1 HP	1600 W	4800 W
Welding Rig	2500 W	3000 W

Take a look at our GENERATOR SIZE CALCULATOR to work out what wattage generator to buy.

Do I need an inverter generator to run a refrigerator?

No, not if the generator’s peak load can handle the surge power demand by the refrigerator. However, inverters do have a number of advantages.

You could charge handheld devices like smartphones and tablets from the inverter without putting much of a load on the generator, assuming the generator isn’t exactly matched to the refrigerator’s load. And the inverter acts as a backup power source.

When the generator is off, the inverter can still power LED lanterns and other small devices for an hour or more.

Another alternative for running smaller devices and charging phones and laptops would be a power station or power bank. Read our complete guide on these portable power sources here.

We hope that we have answered the question: Can a portable generator run a refrigerator?

Here’s the TOP 5 BEST SELLING GENERATORS on Amazon

Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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