Fridges
How Long Will a Power Station Run a Refrigerator?
A 1 kWh station: about 12–13 hours for an average US fridge. A 2 kWh station: about a day.
A fridge cycles on and off, so use its yearly kWh, not its label watts. The average US fridge used 617 kWh in 2020 (EIA): 70.4 W averaged. Your EnergyGuide label gives yours; divide kWh a year by 8.76 for watts.
- Efficient 18 cu ft: Frigidaire FFHT1820V, 18 cu ft top freezer, 368 kWh a year = 42 W (ENERGY STAR)
- Average US fridge: The average most-used US fridge, 617 kWh a year = 70.4 W (EIA)
- Large 26 cu ft: LG LFXS26566, 26 cu ft bottom freezer, 708 kWh a year = 80.8 W (ENERGY STAR)
| Station | Capacity | Efficient 18 cu ft | Average US fridge | Large 26 cu ft | Maker price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 | 288 Wh | 4.8 h | 3.1 h | 2.7 h | $289.99 |
| Jackery Explorer 600 v2 | 640 Wh | 13 h | 7.7 h | 6.7 h | $499 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 Wh | 21.7 h | 12.9 h | 11.3 h | $499 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | 1,024 Wh | 20.7 h | 12.4 h | 10.8 h | $599.99 (Oct 13) |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | 2,042 Wh | 41.3 h | 24.7 h | 21.5 h | $899 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus | 2,048 Wh | 41.4 h | 24.7 h | 21.5 h | $1,199 |
| Anker SOLIX S5000 | 5,024 Wh | 4.2 days | 2.5 days | 2.2 days | $3,599.99 |
Can it start the compressor?
Some compressors start at 2–4 times their rated power (BLUETTI manual). Check the surge rating.
| Station | Output | Surge, per maker |
|---|---|---|
| BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 | 600 W | not in spec table |
| Jackery Explorer 600 v2 | 500 W | 1,000 W |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,500 W | 3,000 W |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | 2,000 W | 3,000 W |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | 2,200 W | 4,400 W |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus | 3,000 W | 6,000 W |
| Anker SOLIX S5000 | 4,500 W | 8,000 W |
BLUETTI’s product summary mentions 1,500 W surge for the Elite 30 V2, but the spec table and manual list only Lifting Power, for heaters and kettles.
Stretch the hours
- Keep the door shut. Food stays safe up to 4 hours in a closed fridge, about 48 in a full freezer (FoodSafety.gov).
- Run it in shifts and check it stays at 40°F or below.
- Switch the station off when nothing needs it; it uses power itself.
- Add solar. See the solar guide.
Chest freezer
An ENERGY STAR 10.1 cu ft model: 213 kWh a year, 24 W (ENERGY STAR), about 35 hours on 1 kWh. Older freezers average 570 kWh (EIA).
Quick answers
How long will a Jackery 1000 run a refrigerator?
About 13 hours for an average US fridge: 1,070 Wh × 0.85 ÷ 70.4 W.
What size do I need for a fridge?
About 1 kWh for a night, 2 kWh for a full day.
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