What size generator do I need to run a refrigerator?
One of the important indicators of modern refrigeration units is the amount of power consumption. It determines the operating costs and the value of your electricity bills. The costs of its continuous operation account for more than 30% of all electricity consumed in your home. So when choosing a generator for your house, first of all, you need to understand how much your fridge consumes.
Today you can find several technical terms in the instructions for refrigerators: energy consumption, energy efficiency. They are determined by the amount of electricity that is required for the normal operation of all systems of the device. This amount of energy is called the power consumption of the refrigerator. It is measured in watts.
The refrigerator runs continuously so the annual power of the refrigerator in kilowatts (kW) is indicated in the technical documentation for a particular device. Typically, minimum and maximum power levels are indicated.
The most commonly used indicators are class and energy efficiency index.
The capacity of modern refrigerators ranges from 100 to 200 watts per hour. For example, a Class A refrigerator consumes approximately 100 watts per hour. When the engine or compressor is working, it consumes more, but we should remember that the refrigerator turns off after it reaches the set temperature.
The average energy consumption of a refrigerator also depends on the set mode and ambient temperature (in summer, the device turns on more often to cool the food inside), the frequency of opening the doors, using the freezer.
The larger the volume, the more electricity is required. However, even large-sized equipment can be quite economical and belong to a high class of energy consumption.
Special systems for freezing products without ice formation: No Frost, Frost Free, Total Frost require additional electricity consumption. In accordance with established international standards, manufacturers use a single classification system for energy consumption from A to G. The lowest, that is, the most energy-consuming, is the class G.
Now let’s move to generators to run our fridge. There is a big choice of generators on the market now. They differ in the type of engine, the fuel used and in the capacity. For the needs of a typical but not very large house, a generator with an output of 1.5 – 2 kW will be enough.
2-stroke generators are suitable mainly for short-term use on vacation, for example. For permanent use, you need a stationary 4-stroke device, which is more powerful, but safer. For such devices, up to 2 kW is enough.
Can a 2000 watt generator run a refrigerator?
Yes, for sure.
A 1 kW generator is also quite suitable, if only the refrigerator is not from the middle of the 20th century. Modern models are quite economical. The best option is to calculate the total maximum power consumption of all possible appliances and add 25% – 30% to this. You will definitely know how much power the generator needs.
How many watts does a fridge freezer use?
The freezer is designed for cooling, freezing and also for storing frozen foods at medium and low temperatures The freezer usually has two modes of operation: “freezing” and “storage”. The “freeze” mode is used when freezing fresh products; a day after loading fresh products, you switch to the “storage” mode.
One of the main indicators of a freezer performance is its freezing power – the number of products in kilograms that the freezer is able to freeze within 24 hours from room temperature to the working temperature of the chamber. Modern freezers are more economical, have a high class of energy consumption. The technical documentation indicates the power consumption for the year. Again, the energy consumption depends on the class, the volume of the chamber, the number of products, environmental conditions.
Since the freezer first operates at full capacity for about half an hour, at this time there will be maximum power consumption. When the compressor motor is turned off, only the fan works, the energy consumption is minimal. The class of energy significantly affects the freezer’s consumption of electricity, the higher the class of energy, the more economical the appliance is. On average a freezer consumes 150 – 300 Watts per hour depending on the class, size and characteristics, so take it into account when choosing the one for your home.
Most people are price- and brand-conscious, when choosing white goods. Always pay attention to the class marks of energy consumption and other specifications of the unit to make the best choice, enjoy the use for a long time and never regret your purchase.
