Wondering what size inverter you need to run your small 12v or a full-size kitchen fridge? Then my friend you have come to the right place.
In this short guide, you'll learn everything that you need to consider before buying an inverter for your fridge.
These are a few things to keep in mind before selecting a suitable inverter size for your refrigerator
- Refrigerator power consumption (watts)
- Refrigerator Surge wattage
- Inverter input voltage should match the battery volts
What Size Inverter To Run A Fridge? in short, you would need around a 500-watt pure sine wave inverter with surge power of 1000 watts to run a small 12v RV fridge and 1500 watt inverter to run an old technology full-size kitchen fridge
Now let me elaborate on the 3 factors which I have mentioned so you can understand better
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
A fridge/refrigerator uses about 200-800 watts of input power. The power consumption will depend on the size of the fridge and its type (inverter or non-inverter)
For Example, a 12v mini fridge will require less power than a large-size kitchen fridge or a commercial freezer.
Here's a chart with different sizes of fridge and their input wattage consumption
| Fridge Size | Wattage Consumption |
|---|---|
| 12v mini fridge | 100-150 watts |
| Medium-size kitchen fridge | 400-500 watts |
| Full-size kitchen fridge | 600-800 watts |
Note! This chart is the average wattage consumption of any size fridge, To get the exact wattage consumption of your fridge do this
Check the product description or specs sheet on your fridge (usually located on the backside). There will be energy consumption mentioned in watts or in volts and amps.
So to calculate the number of watts use this formula
(watts = amps*volts)
115*1.1 = 126 watts
This will give you the input wattage consumption of your fridge. which refers to the highest energy consumption of your fridge at a time.
Note! this is the highest amount of energy a fridge will consume at a time, But the total power consumption throughout the day or month will be much less because as we know that fridge only runs about 30-40 minutes in an hour
Video - Tips to decrease the power consumption of your fridge
Surge Wattage
Surge wattage is the initial spike of power to start the appliance which lasts for a few seconds. The surge wattage of a fridge is usually between 3-4 times higher than its wattage consumption
For Example
126*4 = 504 surge wattage
luckily most of the inverters are designed to handle this spike. which is generally 2 times higher than its continuous wattage
For an instant, this Renogy 1000-watt inverter has a maximum surge wattage rating of 2000 watts. Which can handle most of the medium size kitchen fridge
So make sure to check the surge power rating of your inverter which should be 4 times higher than the fridge wattage consumption.
What kind of inverter do I need to run a refrigerator?
you need a pure sine wave type inverter with a surge power rating to run a refrigerator or fridge
There are two types of inverter available, Modified sine wave and pure sine wave. Make sure to check if it's a modified or pure sine wave inverter before making a purchase.
- Modified sine wave inverter: can be used to power lights or other small appliances which are less sensitive to power fluctuations. But is not recommended to run sensitive appliances like fridges, microwaves, etc with a modified sine wave inverter
- Pure Sine Wave: Provides the purest form of power output. This makes it ideal for power-sensitive appliances like fridge and microwave
Related: 1500 Watt Inverter What Can It Run? (Fridge, Microwave…?)
What size inverter do i need to run a fridge?
A rule of thumb is to multiply the wattage consumption of your fridge by 2 when selecting the inverter size for your fridge
Easy, Right? this is all you need to do.
But as I have mentioned earlier, The inverter input voltage should match the battery volts.
For example, This Renogy 2000-watt inverter has an input voltage rating of only 12 volts, which means it'll only work if you have a 12v battery but for a 24v battery, you'd need an inverter that can handle 24 volts.
To check the input voltage of the inverter, read the specification or product description part of the inverter on Amazon, Walmart, or if you're buying it from the store.
Here's a chart with different sizes of fridges and the inverter you'd need to run your refrigerator on solar power.
| Fridge Size | Wattage Consumption | Suitable Inverter Size |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Fridge (4.5 Cu. Ft.) | 80 watts | 200 watt |
| Mini RV Fridge (10 Cu. Ft.) | 130 watts | 400 watt |
| Medium Size (13.8 Cu. Ft.) | 200 watts | 750 watt |
| Full size (20 Cu. Ft.) | 450 watts | 1000 watt |
| Large size (24 Cu. Ft.) | 600 watts | 1500 watt |
| Extra Large size (30 Cu. Ft.) | 700 watts | 2000 watt |
Summary
- You would need around 500 watts of pure sine wave inverter to run a small RV fridge (up to 10 Cu. Ft.)
- You would need around 1000 watts of pure sine wave inverter to run a Medium-sized fridge (between 10-20 Cu. Ft.)
- You would need around 2000 watts of pure sine wave inverter to run a large fridge (between 20-30 Cu. Ft.)
Related post: Calculate Battery Size For Any Size Inverter
What Size Cable To Use Between Inverter and Battery?
you would also need the right size cable and fuse for your inverter in order to run the system smoothly. Becuase every cable size is designed to handle a specific amount of current.
If the wiring calculation stuff makes you confused like me (xD) then use the bellow chart to figure out the right size cable, fuse, and circuit breaker between the inverter and battery
Related FAQ's
Will a 2000-watt inverter run a fridge?
The continuous power consumption of the fridge is between 150-800 watts and the surge wattage is between 600-3200 watts. Which 2000-watt inverter can easily handle, So yes a 2000-watt inverter will run a fridge
Will a 1000-watt or 1KVA inverter run a refrigerator?
The power usage of the refrigerator is between 150-800 watts (depending on the size of the fridge) which a 1000-watt or 1KVA inverter can handle. So yes, a 1000W inverter will run a fridge
What size inverter for mini fridge
To run a mini-fridge you would need around 500-watt pure sine wave inverter
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I hope this short guide was helpful to you. still, have any confusion? LEAVE A COMMENT or contact us. Thank You!
