How long will a power station run a refrigerator?
Divide the station's usable watt-hours by the fridge's average draw, not its label watts, because the compressor only runs part of the time. A modern full-size fridge averages about 41 W, so a 1 kWh station keeps it cold for roughly 16 to 17 hours, provided its surge rating covers the compressor's startup.
A full-size ENERGY STAR fridge on the Explorer 1000 v2 (1,070 Wh) runs for about 17 h 1 min before the battery is empty. That figure comes from the fridge's average draw of 41.0 W, not the 123 W it pulls while the compressor runs, plus the station's own conversion loss and idle draw. A small station can have enough energy and still fail at the first compressor start, so check the surge rating before the capacity.
Average watts decide runtime, surge decides whether it starts
A fridge compressor switches on and off to hold temperature. Virginia Cooperative Extension, using DOE figures, puts a fridge's running time at about a third of the day (Virginia Cooperative Extension (DOE figures)). The GE top-freezer model we use as the reference fridge is rated at about 359 kWh a year, which works out to the same 41.0 W average (GE GTE18GTNRWW spec page (359 kWh a year)). The yellow EnergyGuide label on your own fridge gives its estimated yearly kWh; divide it by 8.76 for average watts.
Starting is a different number. Champion's wattage chart lists 800 W or more to start a refrigerator (Champion generator wattage chart), and BLUETTI's manual says motors and compressors can draw 2 to 4 times their rated power at startup (BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 manual). That peak lasts a moment, but the inverter has to cover it every time the compressor kicks on.
Worked example 1: full-size fridge on a 1 kWh station
Inputs: the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 at its published 1,070 Wh, and the reference fridge at 123 W running. Jackery doesn't publish usable share, inverter efficiency or idle draw, so the labelled defaults on the methodology page fill in.
| Usable energy | 1,070 Wh × 90% = 963 Wh |
|---|---|
| Average draw | 123 W running × 33% duty cycle = 41.0 W |
| Pulled from the battery | 41.0 W ÷ 88% inverter efficiency + 10 W idle = 56.6 W |
| Runtime | 963 Wh ÷ 56.6 W = 17 h 1 min (cautious 14 h 57 min, optimistic 17 h 29 min) |
| Startup check | 800 W startup against a 3,000 W surge rating: yes |
Worked example 2: chest freezer on a small station
Inputs: the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus at 286 Wh, and a 7 cu ft chest freezer at 71 W running with its compressor on 40% of the time (Frigidaire FFFC07M1TW spec sheet (250 kWh a year); OUPES freezer wattage guide).
| Usable energy | 286 Wh × 90% = 257 Wh |
|---|---|
| Average draw | 71 W running × 40% duty cycle = 28.4 W |
| Pulled from the battery | 28.4 W ÷ 88% inverter efficiency + 10 W idle = 42.3 W |
| Runtime | 257 Wh ÷ 42.3 W = 6 h 5 min (cautious 5 h 13 min, optimistic 6 h 14 min) |
| Startup check | 500 W startup against a 1,200 W surge rating: yes |
A small station covers an evening outage for a freezer. Anything longer needs a bigger battery or a recharge.
Worked example 3: enough energy, not enough surge
The Explorer 300 v2 has 288 Wh and a 300 W continuous rating, which covers the fridge's 123 W running draw. The startup peak of about 800 W is above its 600 W surge rating, so the calculator marks it as one that may trip when the compressor starts. A mini fridge with a 400 W start fits the same station.
Fridge and freezer runtime by power station
Typical runtimes on AC with each station's published capacity and the same labelled assumptions as the examples. "Starts a full fridge" compares the 800 W startup with the published surge rating.
| Station | Capacity | Surge | Full-size fridge | Mini fridge | Chest freezer | Starts a full fridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus | 286 Wh | 1,200 W | 4 h 32 min | 6 h 30 min | 6 h 5 min | Yes |
| Jackery Explorer 300 v2 | 288 Wh | 600 W | 4 h 34 min | 6 h 33 min | 6 h 7 min | May not start |
| BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 | 1,024 Wh | 3,600 W | 16 h 17 min | 23 h 18 min | 21 h 48 min | Yes |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 Wh | 3,000 W | 17 h 1 min | 24 h 21 min | 22 h 46 min | Yes |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 | 1,056 Wh | 2,400 W | 16 h 47 min | 24 h 1 min | 22 h 28 min | Yes |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | 1,024 Wh | 3,600 W | 16 h 17 min | 23 h 18 min | 21 h 48 min | Yes |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max | 2,048 Wh | 4,800 W | 32 h 34 min | 46 h 36 min | 43 h 36 min | Yes |
To see two of these side by side, compare the DELTA 3 Plus and Explorer 1000 v2 or the Anker SOLIX C1000 and BLUETTI AC180. For more than a day on one charge, the DELTA 3 Max doubles the capacity of the 1 kWh class.
What changes the answer
- Using label watts as the average. Running example 1 at the full 123 W instead of the 41.0 W average gives about 6 h 25 min, less than half the real figure, because the compressor is off most of the time.
- Ignoring the inverter. At a fridge's light average load, the station's own idle draw is a large share of what leaves the battery. In example 1 it is 10 W of 56.6 W.
- Older or bigger fridges. The reference fridge is a 17.5 cu ft ENERGY STAR model. Use the kWh a year from your own EnergyGuide label instead.
- Door openings and a warm room. Both make the compressor run longer than a third of the time, which raises the average draw directly.
- Sizing for capacity alone. A station that can't cover the startup surge will shut off the moment the compressor kicks on, whatever its watt-hours.
Related power stations
Product images: official brand websites (Jackery, EcoFlow, Anker SOLIX).