If you are wondering what is the best solar generator for a refrigerator then you are at the right place.
Green energy is safer for the environment and cheaper for the owner. This is why battery-powered generators are getting more and more popular every day. However, choosing a battery-powered generator for refrigerators is quite difficult. Because not every solar generator is suitable for a refrigerator.
So, how would you know which solar generator to get? Well, this is where we come in.
In this simple guide, you will learn how to calculate the perfect size of solar generator that you need. Furthermore, at the end of the article, we have the best solar generator for refrigerators list (Go ahead).
Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Refrigerators Wattage that You Need to Know Before Choosing a Solar Generator
When buying a solar generator for a refrigerator, it is crucial to know the wattage or power usage of that refrigerator.
Generally speaking, the refrigerators available in the market offer 3 different modes; preservation, freezing, and refrigeration. These different modes affect the power consumption of the refrigerator as well.
Usually, the rated power or the power usage of a refrigerator does not exceed 300W. In terms of a small refrigerator, the power usage is around 70-90W. And for medium size refrigerators, the power rating is around 90-110W.
Here is the general power rating of various refrigerators available in the market:
- Portable Refrigerators: 35W
- Energy Star Refrigerators: 30-100W
- 10-15 cu ft. Non-Frost Free Refrigerators: 300W
- 15 cu ft. Free Refrigerators: 335W
- 20 cu ft. Chest Refrigerators: 350-450W
- 16-18 cu ft. Frost Free Refrigerators: 400W
What Size Battery-powered Solar Generator Do I Need to Run the Refrigerator?
Are wondering what solar generator you need to run your refrigerator? If yes, then we have got you covered. Finding the right size generator for a refrigerator involves multiple steps. And only when you follow these steps correctly you can get a solar generator that is right for your individual needs.
Here are these steps in order.
#1. How much power does your refrigerator use?
You already know the general wattage and power consumption of different types of refrigerators. However, that is not enough. To ensure the purchase of a perfect battery-powered solar generator for the refrigerator, it is necessary to know the exact wattage and power consumption of your refrigerator.
You can find the wattage your refrigerator needs in the product description, instruction manual, and sometimes behind the fridge as well. Note down this value somewhere so you don’t forget it.
#2. How long do you need to run your refrigerator?
The next step is to calculate how many hours you need to run the refrigerator on the solar generator every day. The number of hours varies from person to person so sit down and think for a second.
For instance, if you are going on camping then you might need to run the refrigerator for 10 hours. Or if you just want a solar generator that can provide energy to your refrigerator in times of emergency.
#3. Buying a solar generator that can provide enough wattage for your refrigerator
Now that you have the refrigerator wattage and hours figured out, it is time to buy the best solar generator for the refrigerator. However, how much solar generator power wattage do you need which is perfect for your refrigerator?
Well, we have a simple formula that would help you find that out.
Best Solar Generator Size = (Fridge Wattage x Hours Per Day x Safety ratio 120%) ÷ conversion rate 90%
For example,
You have a mini-fridge that requires 100 running wattage that you want to run on a solar generator. Refrigerators in homes are run 24/7, however, the cycle turns on and off, and hence the refrigerator is actually only running for around 8 hours every day.
By using this information, you can come up with the perfect size solar generator.
100W x 8 hours = 800Wh
That is also the starting wattage total or required to run a mini generator on a solar generator. However, to be on the safe side, get an (800Wh x 120%) ÷ 90% = 1066Wh solar generator for a 100W running refrigerator.
Considering the result that we came with, a 1100Wh to 1200Wh solar generator would be perfect to run a 100W refrigerator.
Can a 100 Watt Solar Panel Generator Run a Refrigerator for Several Days?
The short answer is no, a 100-watt solar panel generator cannot run a refrigerator for several days.
The reason behind this is simple. Most of the refrigerators require around 1500W per day to run properly. A 100-watt solar panel can only produce 100W of electricity per hour. And on average, solar generators get 5 hours of direct sunlight every day.
This means that a 100-watt of solar panel can only produce 500W electricity every day. This amount is ⅓ (one-third) of the total energy requirement of a regular fridge and hence not enough to run a refrigerator for even a whole day.
TOP 5 Best Battery Powered Generators for Refrigerator
As we promised, here is the list of the 5 best solar generators for refrigerators. Choose the one which suits your needs the most to ensure the best experience.
Ecoflow 1300 Most Powerful Solar Generator for Refrigerator
Ecoflow is one of the most renowned names in the solar generator industry. None of its products have ever disappointed its customers. And Ecoflow 1300 solar generator is nothing different.
To start with, this battery-powered solar generator for the refrigerator offers a 1260Wh battery capacity. Secondly, the Ecoflow 1300 solar generator wattage output is 1800. However, the surge wattage output for this generator is 3300W which is more than enough to power a refrigerator.
Ecoflow solar generator line is famous for its fast charging and the Ecoflow 1300 solar generator also features the same quality as its counterparts. This solar generator can charge within only 4 hours via solar panels.
Isn’t it amazing?
But that is not it. The Ecoflow 1300 solar generator takes only 1.5 hours to charge from 0 to 100% via the wall outlet.
Test on Ecoflow 1300 solar generator powering refrigerator
To test the runtime of the Ecoflow 1300 solar generator, we used this device to run a 7 cu. ft. chest refrigerator. The said refrigerator had a 130W power rating.
We connected the refrigerator to the solar generator and turn it on to the coldest setting.
The solar generator was 100% charged and after running the refrigerator for 15 hours the solar generator still had 12% charging left.
In conclusion, the Ecoflow 1300 solar generator can run a 130W rated refrigerator for around 15-20 hours.
EcoFlow solar generator runtime on different types of refrigerators
| Refrigerators Type | Watts | EcoFlow generator Runtime (Hours) |
| Portable Refrigerators | 35W | 36.0 |
| Energy Star Refrigerators | 30-100W | 42-12.6 |
| 10-15 cu ft. Non-Frost Free Refrigerators | 300W | 4.2 |
| 15 cu ft. Free Refrigerators | 335W | 3.8 |
| 20 cu ft. Chest Refrigerators | 350-400W | 3.15-3.6 |
| 16-18 cu ft. Frost Free Refrigerators | 400W | 3.2 |
| Energy Star Refrigerators | 1200 starting/ 130-150 running | 8.4-9.7 |
Why EcoFlow 1300 solar generator is good for your refrigerator?
The top reason to get Ecoflow 1300 solar generator for your refrigerator is that it offers fast charging (1.5 hours to charge 100%) and high runtime (15-20 hours).
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Jackery 500W Solar Generator for 12V Fridge
When it comes to budget-friendly battery-powered solar generators for fridge, there is nothing better than Jackery. But being cheap is not what Jackery is all about.
First of all, this Jackery solar generator features a 500W AC outlet. This makes it perfect for portable size fridge. The fact that Jackery 500 is itself portable makes it a good companion for camping trips.
This solar generator for the fridge has a 518Wh li-ion battery pack. Not only this battery is long-lasting in terms of the battery cycle, but can also run a portable fridge for approximately 6-7 hours.
When the battery gets to 0%, just connect it with solar panels and charge it to 100% within 7.5 hours. Or you can use the wall outlet to charge it faster (within 5.5 hours).
Test on Jackery 500W solar generator powering fridge
To test the Jackery 500W solar generator we used it to run a 12V fridge on three different modes. The battery was charged to 100% before each time and here are the results that we got.
- Dual-mode ( 0 and 35 degrees): Jackery 500W solar generator ran the 12V fridge for 15+ hours.
- Refrigerator mode ( 35 degrees): Jackery 500W solar generator ran the 12V fridge for 37+ hours.
- freezer mode ( 0 degrees): Jackery 500W solar generator ran the 12V fridge for 14+ hours.
Jackery 500W solar generator runtime on different types of refrigerators
| Refrigerators Type | Watts | Jackery generator Runtime (Hours) |
| Portable Refrigerators | 35W | 14.8 |
| Energy Star Refrigerators | 30-100W | 17.3-5.18 |
| 10-15 cu ft. Non-Frost Free Refrigerators | 300W | 1.7 |
| 15 cu ft. Free Refrigerators | 335W | 1.5 |
| 20 cu ft. Chest Refrigerators | 350-400W | 1.3-1.5 |
| 16-18 cu ft. Frost Free Refrigerators | 400W | 1.3 |
| Energy Star Refrigerators | 1200 starting/ 130-150 running | 3.45-4 |
Why the Jackery 500W solar generator is good for your 12v fridge?
The reason why you should invest in the Jackery 500W solar generator is that it is lightweight, travel-friendly, and offer up to 37 hours of runtime.
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EGO Power 3000 Watt Solar Generator for Refrigerator
A battery-powered generator with 500W output is perfect for a portable refrigerators. However, for a full-size refrigerator, you need a solar generator that can take the load. And this is where the EGO Power 3000 comes into play.
The EGO Power solar generator 3000 offers a 2000W continuous and 3000W surge output. With a battery-powered refrigerator this powerful, you can run any fridge on it. This solar generator for the refrigerator features a 5.0 Ah battery that can easily run your fridge for around 7-8 hours.
Unlike most of the other best solar generators for refrigerators on this list, the EGO power 3000W Nexus has a robust metal body. And the steel handles make the unit feel more secure during transport.
This solar generator does not offer as fast charging as the Ecoflow. However, it gets 100% charges in 7 hours which is better than a number of its competitors in the market.
Test on EGO Power solar generator powering refrigerator
For testing the runtime of the EGO Power 3000W solar generator we ran a full-size refrigerator on it. The starting wattage of full-size refrigerators is 1200W and the running wattage is 150W.
When we connected the refrigerator to the 100% charged EGO Power 3000W the screen showed that it will be able to run the refrigerator for 2.5 hours. However, as the fridge foes through multiple cycles of turning on and off, the EGO Power 3000W solar generator ended up running the refrigerator for 9 hours.
EGO power solar generator runtime on different types of refrigerators
| Refrigerators Type | Watts | EGO Power generator Runtime (Hours) |
| Portable Refrigerators | 35W | 85.7 |
| Energy Star Refrigerators | 30-100W | 30-100 |
| 10-15 cu ft. Non-Frost Free Refrigerators | 300W | 10.0 |
| 15 cu ft. Free Refrigerators | 335W | 9.0 |
| 20 cu ft. Chest Refrigerators | 350-400W | 7.5-8.6 |
| 16-18 cu ft. Frost Free Refrigerators | 400W | 7.5 |
| Energy Star Refrigerators | 1200 starting/ 130-150 running | 20-23 |
Why the EGO Power 3000W solar generator is good for your refrigerator?
So, why should you get the EGO Power 3000W solar generator? Well, other than offering a good runtime, this solar generator is robust and features a durable body.
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Bluetti AC200P 2000 Watt Solar Generator for Refrigerator
Bluetti solar generator is another beloved brand in the market and has launched several top-notch battery-powered solar generators for refrigerators. One of those generators is the Bluetti AC200P 2000W.
As the name suggests, this solar generator offers a 2000W running output wattage. However, the surge wattage output of Bluetti AC200P can reach up to 4800W. And this high wattage output makes the AC200P solar generator a good candidate for running a full-size refrigerator.
One of the best things about this portable solar generator is that it features fast charging. This unit can charge from 0 to 100% within 3 to 3.5 hours via solar panels. The secret behind this fast charging is the built-in MPPT which allows this solar generator to charge 40% faster than other solar generators.
Bluetti AC200P 2000W solar generator Test on refrigerators
To test the Bluetti AC200P 2000W solar generator we connected it with a full-size fridge. With a 100% charged battery, this solar generator ran the full-size fridge for about 5+ hours before shutting down.
Bluetti AC200P solar generator runtime on different types of refrigerators
| Refrigerators Type | Watts | Bluetti generator Runtime (Hours) |
| Portable Refrigerators | 35W | 57.1 |
| Energy Star Refrigerators | 30-100W | 20-66.7 |
| 10-15 cu ft. Non-Frost Free Refrigerators | 300W | 6.7 |
| 15 cu ft. Free Refrigerators | 335W | 6.0 |
| 20 cu ft. Chest Refrigerators | 350-400W | 5-5.7 |
| 16-18 cu ft. Frost Free Refrigerators | 400W | 5.0 |
| Energy Star Refrigerators | 1200 starting/ 130-150 running | 13.3-15.4 |
Why this solar generator is good for your refrigerator?
One of the best things about the Bluetti AC200P is that it offers faster charging. The charge time is not as fast as the Ecoflow solar generator, but it is still better than other solar generators on this list.
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Goal Zero Yeti 1000X Indoor Generator for Refrigerator
The last product on our best solar generators for refrigerators is the Goal Zero Yeti Generator. After being in the industry for more than 10 years, the company has created some of the most portable and high-quality solar generators for emergency use.
This solar generator offers 1500W output wattage which is appropriate to run a number of refrigerators from small to large. Furthermore, the Goal Zero Yeti 1000X comes with a 1000Wh battery that is capable of running a refrigerator for hours.
Just like Bluetti AC200P, the Goal Zero Yeti 1000X solar generator for the refrigerator is also equipped with a built-in MPPT. As you already know, the MPPT allows the unit to charge faster via solar panels. ANd hence, this solar generator also charges relatively faster.
Goal Zero Yeti 1000X solar generator test on refrigerators
We used a Dometic 12V refrigerator and refrigerator combo to test the runtime of the Goal Zero Yeti 1000X solar generator. The test started with a 100% charged solar generator and after running the refrigerator for 24 hours, the charging had only come down to 69%.
So, it is safe to say that the Goal Zero Yeti 1000X can run a 12V refrigerator for around 2 to 3 days with one charge.
Goal Zero Yeti solar generator runtime on different types of refrigerators
| Refrigerators Type | Watts | Goal Zero generator Runtime (Hours) |
| Portable Refrigerators | 35W | 28.6 |
| Energy Star Refrigerators | 30-100W | 10-33.3 |
| 10-15 cu ft. Non-Frost Free Refrigerators | 300W | 3.3 |
| 15 cu ft. Free Refrigerators | 335W | 3.0 |
| 20 cu ft. Chest Refrigerators | 350-400W | 2.5-2.8 |
| 16-18 cu ft. Frost Free Refrigerators | 400W | 2.5 |
| Energy Star Refrigerators | 1200 starting/ 130-150 running | 6.6-7.7 |
Why this solar generator is good for your refrigerator?
Goal Zero Yeti 1000X is one of the most famous similar generators in the market. However, other than its popularity, the 2-3 days runtime is a good reason to invest in this solar generator for your refrigerator.
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Conclusion
With that, we are at the end of our article. Hopefully, now you know how to calculate the size of a suitable battery-powered generator for a refrigerator. Just follow the simple steps stated in the guide and use the formula.
However, if you found out the right size of solar generator for your needs but do not know which brand or product to go for, use the help of our best solar generator for refrigerator list.