If your home loses power, the fridge becomes a big concern. Without power, your refrigerator can’t maintain a safe temperature, meaning all the food inside it could spoil.
Power outages happen when we least expect them. But a solar generator is a great way to prepare for the unexpected.
Solar generators come in all sizes and capacities, so it’s essential you find one that can power your refrigerator long enough for the electricity to come back on.
Here’s a breakdown of what sizes you should look for so that you’re never in the dark — and hungry — for too long.
Can You Run a Refrigerator on Solar Power?
The short answer: yes!
Refrigerators require a lot of power to run, but not nearly as much as you may think. According to a study by The U.S. Energy Information Administration, refrigeration makes up only 3% of all household energy use. That’s less than lighting and air conditioning and far less than heating.
Most fridges use between 300 and 800 watts of electricity to run, depending on the age and energy rating of the device. With solar power devices on the market today that can capture and store far more energy than that, you should have no problem powering your fridge with solar power.
How Many Solar Panels to Run a Refrigerator?
Simply put, the number of solar panels required to run a fridge depends on a few key factors.
- The power rating of the solar panel
- The energy consumption of your refrigerator
- The solar generator capacity
- The amount of sunlight where you live
Say you have an energy-efficient fridge that uses about 400 watts of electricity. You would need enough panels to match or exceed that energy demand.
However, the solar panels themselves don’t operate independently. You need the panels to route the energy to a portable power station. The whole setup creates a solar generator. When you plug your refrigerator into the generator, voila! You have power and cold food once again.
EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel
The EcoFlow 220W Portable Solar Panel gives incredible flexibility without sacrificing power. This innovative design means the panel can collect energy on both sides, letting you capture double the rays in one compact footprint. To run a 400W fridge continuously, you’d only need two of these excellent panels — and you’d even have some energy to spare!
By purchasing an EcoFlow solar generator or pairing your solar panels with a portable power station, you can create the ultimate energy-generating machine.
What Size Solar Generator to Run a Refrigerator?
Choosing the right solar generator to ensure reliable energy when you need it to power a fridge can be tricky. The size you need for your refrigerator will depend on the solar generator capacity, the fridge’s energy demands, and how long you need the generator to run the refrigerator.
An average 500W fridge will use about 167 watts. That’s because they cycle on and off throughout the day. To power your fridge for one whole day, you’ll need around 4 kWh (or 4000 Wh) of electricity.
Luckily, EcoFlow offers a variety of generators — especially those in the DELTA product line — that are perfect for powering a refrigerator and more!
EcoFlow DELTA Solar Generator
One great example of a generator to keep your perishables cold for the long haul is the EcoFlow DELTA Solar Generator.
With the EcoFlow DELTA, you can power a 120W fridge continuously for 7.5 hours. And that’s from battery storage alone!
With a high capacity of 1260Wh, this compact yet mighty product is a highly efficient solution to a sudden power outage.
A great way to increase efficiency is to pair the EcoFlow DELTA with three 160W EcoFlow Solar Panels. With these panels, you can fully recharge the power station in as little as 3.5 hours! For convenience, you can also charge up with AC power from a wall socket in as little as 1.6 hours or even use a car adapter.
EcoFlow DELTA Max Solar Generator
Are you looking for even more peace of mind? The EcoFlow DELTA Max can keep a 120W refrigerator running for 14 hours. With a capacity of 2016Wh, you can rest easy and trust that you can feed your family with no problem until the grid power returns.
Charge from 0 to 80% in as little as 65 minutes, or up your game with a DELTA Max Smart Extra Battery. When paired with this additional battery, DELTA Max has an expandable capacity of a whopping 6kWh, allowing you to power your fridge for close to 2 days.
Can a Solar Generator Damage a Refrigerator?
Generally, it is perfectly safe to power your fridge with a solar generator. However, there are a few specific risks to know.
First, the generator must have a high enough watt allowance to run the refrigerator. It’s also important to note if your fridge has a smart control panel and sensor technology. If so, your fridge was likely built with microprocessors.
If that’s the case, you’ll need to choose an inverter generator compatible with microprocessors to avoid damage.
The good news is that the EcoFlow solar generators have built-in smart inverters, ensuring smooth, safe conversion of DC into AC. You never need to worry about damaging your refrigerator when you’re just trying to run it!
Conclusion
Losing power is frustrating, especially if it makes your refrigerator unusable. Minimize the damage by thinking ahead. Invest in a solar power generator to keep your fridge running, your family fed, and your stress level low in case of a power outage. EcoFlow offers a variety of robust and intuitive solar power generators to help you keep your cool.