About 7.1 hours. A 500 Wh power station has roughly 425 Wh usable, and a refrigerator averages about 60 W because the compressor cycles on and off. Depending on the model the range is about 4.2 to 10.6 hours.
- Runtime
- 7.1 hEstimate at average draw
- Usable energy
- 425 Wh85% of 500 Wh
- Average draw
- 60 W150 W while running
- Surge
- 2,200 WCheck the surge rating
The math
| Usable capacity | 500 Wh × 0.85 = 425 Wh |
|---|---|
| Average draw | 150 W running × 0.4 duty = 60 W |
| Runtime | 425 ÷ 60 = 7.1 h |
Things to check
- The power station's surge rating must cover the 2,200 W start-up surge, or it will shut off when the compressor kicks in. Many smaller units can't.
- Food-safety guidance says a closed fridge stays cold about 4 hours and a full freezer about 48 hours, so you can run it in shifts to stretch the battery.
Other battery sizes
Questions people ask
How long will a 500 Wh power station run a refrigerator?
About 7.1 hours (about 7.1 hours). A 500 Wh power station has roughly 425 Wh usable, and a refrigerator averages about 60 W because the compressor cycles on and off. Depending on the model the range is about 4.2 to 10.6 hours.
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
A typical full-size refrigerator draws about 150 watts while the compressor runs (roughly 100-250 W) and uses around 1.2-1.9 kWh a day. Expect a brief starting surge of up to about 2,200 watts.
How do you calculate power station runtime?
Hours ≈ capacity in Wh × 0.85 ÷ average watts. The 0.85 allows for inverter and battery losses.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR certified product: Kenmore 25.0 cu ft top-freezer refrigerator (425 kWh/yr)
- ENERGY STAR certified product: Maytag 25.2 cu ft bottom-freezer refrigerator (615 kWh/yr)
- ENERGY STAR: Refrigerators
- Honda Power Equipment: Generators guide with appliance wattage chart (PDF)
- Champion Power Equipment: Generator wattage chart (PDF)
- OPPD (Omaha Public Power District): Appliance guide (PDF)