Can A Solar Generator Run A Refrigerator?

You’ll need to consider how many watts your refrigerator uses while it’s running.

To determine how many watts your refrigerator uses, simply look for the sticker inside your fridge and locate the numbers listed for volts (v) and amps (a).

Multiply those numbers together to determine how many watts your refrigerator uses.

For example, the sticker inside the door of our our new Energy Star certified full-size refrigerator lists 120v (120 volts) and 3.5 A (3.5 amps). Multiplying 120 times 3.5 equals 420 watts… our refrigerator needs a solar generator with at least 420 watts to run.

You’ll need to think about how many additional small appliances you’d like to use with your solar generator at the same time your refrigerator is running. Some devices like a medium sized LED television use less than 100 watts, while other devices like a toaster oven require 1,800 watts – 2000 watts.

So, if you plan on just using your LED tv and the refrigerator at the same time, then you can probably get away with using a 1,000-watt solar generator.

However, if you’d like to use your toaster oven and your refrigerator at the same time, then you should consider looking for a 2500-watt to 3,000-watt solar generator.

You’ll need to consider how long you think you’ll need the solar generator to provide power to the refrigerator. Running a refrigerator on backup power for a couple of hours during a temporary power outage is one thing. However, running a refrigerator on a solar generator for several days after a hurricane or a major snowstorm is another thing altogether.

Larger solar generators can power a full-size Energy Star certified refrigerator for up to 36 -48 hours, while a solar backup generator can run for an entire week on a single charge of the storage battery is large enough.