Can A 2000 Watt Generator Run A Refrigerator?
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We only endorse products that we have researched thoroughly and will be of use to our readers.
A refrigerator uses a lot of electricity. How much does a fridge consume? Is it possible to power a refrigerator using a 2000-Watt generator? It is also possible to generate enough electricity to power a refrigerator. In fact, it is possible to generate more electricity than a refrigerator requires.
How Many Watts Does It Take To Run a Refrigerator
Refrigerators consume about 100-200 watts when they’re turned on. A refrigerator with a freezer consumes more than 400 watts. However, they can range from 900 to 1200 watts.
Before buying a generator to run your refrigerator, make sure that the power specifications of your refrigerator match those of the generator.
Managing Power Consumption
This is the most important part of this article in my opinion because if you have a few appliances run on your generator, you should make sure that you manage your consumption properly. You need to know what the wattage of each appliance is before you start using them.
Running Multiple Appliances On One Generator
Your fridge uses about 400 watts (0.4kWh) of energy per day. So if you run your fridge continuously, then it will use 0.4 kWh per day. You should be aware that this is an average figure, and that some fridges may consume more or less than this amount.
You should always start with the lowest wattage possible. This will save money and prevent damage to the equipment.
Running Only Your Refrigerator On The Generator
Most refrigerators have a maximum wattage of 1200 watts. You can get generators that are 2000 watts or higher. If you want to run only your fridge, then you should not exceed 1200 watts.
If you do not have a way to measure the wattage of your fridge, then you can estimate the wattage by measuring the size of the compressor motor. Most compressors have two wires: one for the current draw and another for the voltage.
The current draw wire has a resistance of about 1 ohm. If you divide the voltage by the current, then you get the wattage of the compressor.
However, The fridge is not going to draw much more than say 100 watts and the rest of your house will be fine with that.
What Can You Run On A 2000-Watt Generator?
Generators can provide electricity for a wide variety of devices. A 2000-Watt generator can support a refrigerator, air conditioner, lights, computers, TV, radio, and even a hot tub!
Most people use generators to provide backup power when the electricity goes out. You can also use them to power your refrigerator, freezer, microwave oven, dishwasher, washer/dryer, and other major household appliances. Some of these appliances require more than 1000 watts, while others need less.
Generators will come with an instruction manual, so you should check this before using any appliance. I have one that runs my air conditioner and lights, but not sure if it will run the fridge.
Starting And Running Watts
A 2000 watt inverter generator is a great choice for powering your home. You’ll need about 1000 watts to power a typical house. That means you’ll need two generators or one large 12,000-watt one to power your entire house.
Generators usually start with more than the stated amount of watts. To make sure that the generator starts, check the wattage of each device connected to the generator. Add the wattage of all the devices together, and compare this number to the generator’s wattage. If the total wattage is less than the generator’s starting wattage, then the generator won’t start.
There should be no more than 2 devices running at any given time. Devices that use multiple power modes should be noted.
A 2000 watt / 2kva inverter generator can run most household appliances including a deep freezer, an electric stove, a microwave oven, a few lamps, and possibly a refrigerator.
A 2000 watt generator can provide power for many different uses around your house. Inverters of this size are often used as home generators because of their long run time, low cost, and easy maintenance. However, the most important consideration when choosing a generator is the amount of power you need.
A microwave oven requires about 1,000 watts of electricity. A coffee maker uses about 600 watts. A toaster needs about 800 watts. A refrigerator uses about 500 watts. A chest freezer takes up about 600 watts. A laptop computer draws about 20 to 75 watts. Speakers draw about 200 watts.
TV (e.g. 40″ LED) 240. A great size for camping applications. Commonly used for charging car batteries. Backup to solar power. A reliable source of power to run many appliances directly from, like a kettle, washing machine, air conditioner, blow dryer, microwave. Important to note extra attention to watts usage if you are considering using several appliances simultaneously.
Generally, a 2000-watt generator is sufficient to run many of the standard camping appliances at once. However, it pays to be certain before you invest. For some camping appliances, the starting power requirements can be as much as 3x higher than the continuous running power. So thorough research of the product manuals or data plates is recommended.
We have estimated the power consumption of each appliance based on the information provided by the user. For example, we know that an electric skillet requires 1500 watts while a hairdryer requires 1875 watts. We then use this information to estimate the total power consumption of the device.
For example, most houses are often equipped with large appliances, including an air conditioner and freezer. On average, a refrigerator consumes 650 watts of power and 1,000 watts when you first plug it in. Consideration should also be given to the total watts of all these items plugged into the generator simultaneously. Except when working with lower wattage items such as laptops, light, or phone chargers, their drain on the generator will be extremely low.
How Do You Prioritize?
A 2000-watt generator with a high initial surge level can start a refrigerator. But if the generator runs continuously, it won’t last long.
This kind of unit needs 2200W of starting power but then settles down to 1500W. Once this happens, you can safely turn on some lights for example, or give a laptop or smartphone a charge while doing so. Your power has gone out due to an unexpected snowstorm, then your primary concern should be getting a heat source running to keep your family comfortable. A 2000-Watt generator is more than enough to handle a 1300-Watt radiant heater which you can be running at the same while also keeping a fridge running.
Refrigerators drop down significantly to 200 watts. At this point, you can turn on your microwave, and listen to music on your stereo. You should be using your refrigerator and your microwave as much as possible. Your fridge should be set at 200 watts and your microwave should be set at 600 watts. This will help you save electricity.
Conclusion
Refrigerators use a lot of electricity. A 2000-watt generator could power a fridge, but it might not be enough if you run other appliances at the same time. After all, You need to check your fridge’s rating before buying a generator.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.