Runtime by power station size: Mini fridge
| Power station size | Typical runtime | Realistic range |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Wh | 8 h 30 min | 6.4–12.8 h |
| 500 Wh | 14 h 10 min | 10.6–21.3 h |
| 1,000 Wh | 28 h 20 min | 21.3–42.5 h |
| 1,500 Wh | 42 h 30 min | 1.3–2.7 days |
| 2,000 Wh | 2.4 days (57 h) | 1.8–3.5 days |
| 3,000 Wh | 3.5 days (85 h) | 2.7–5.3 days |
Mini fridge vs full-size fridge
A mini fridge has a much smaller compressor. It typically runs at 50–100 W and, like any fridge, switches on and off, so it averages 20–40 W over a day. That is about half a full-size fridge's average. The startup surge is smaller too, which matters more than the running watts on small stations.
| Mini fridge | Full-size fridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Average draw | about 30 W | about 60 W |
| Startup surge | about 400 W | 600–1,200 W |
| On a 1,000 Wh station | about 28 hours | about 14 hours |
| Works on a 300 W station? | Usually | Usually not |
For the full-size figures, see how long a power station runs a refrigerator.
Dorm fridge or 12 V camping fridge?
If you're buying a fridge for camping, a van or an RV, a 12 V compressor fridge (the kind sold as a car or camping fridge) is the better match for a power station. It plugs into the 12 V car socket, skipping the AC inverter, and its insulation is usually much thicker than a dorm fridge's. Many average well under 30 W, though they vary a lot with the outside temperature.
Avoid thermoelectric coolers (the cheap "fridges" with no compressor) on battery power. They run constantly at 40–60 W and only cool to a fixed amount below the room temperature.
Make it last longer
- Pre-chill it on grid power and fill empty space with bottles of water: thermal mass holds the cold.
- Open it as little as possible, and keep it out of direct sun and away from heaters.
- Leave a few inches of space behind it so the coils can shed heat.
- Measure your own fridge with a plug-in watt meter for 24 hours, then use that average in the calculator above.