Can 120v AC outlet run a refrigerator?

Hi all. Can the 120v AC outlet be used to power an average size home refrigerator? We’re 30 hours into a power outage. Would be great if I can cool off everything in our fridge/freezer.

 

A fridge needs +1000 watts and the outlet is only 400.

 

Not even close. Need a gas generator for that wattage/length of time.

 

You can barely power a hair dryer or laptop off the 120v outlet. I don't even think a small fridge could be powered?

 

From what I can find, most refrigerators draw anywhere from 100 to 800 Watts. Unless you have a very big refrigerator, you might be fine.

 

Seriously, refrigerators do not draw that much power. They are much more energy efficient than you would think.

A hair dryer draws way more power than a refrigerator, due to the powerful heating elements.

If you're a laptop draws more than 400 W, that is one heck of a powerful laptop.

 

You have to consider start-up current surge.

 

Also, @DirtyHairy , If you have to use an extension cord ( Which I assume you will), use the heaviest duty extension cord, you have. The smaller the wire is, the more voltage drop you will experience, and the more likely you will be to overload the inverter.

 

Yes, but if the refrigerator only draws 200 W, the start up might only be 400 Watts. Plus, it's possible that our inverters have a little buffer for startup surge.

 

When compressor kicks it's more than 400.

 

30 hours the food is junk anyways.

 

Yeah, I just looked at that. But it's also possible that our inverters can handle a little bit of a start up surge. I was able to run a small air compressor off of mine, I think 1/3hp, which calculates out to around 245 Watts. So, it most likely has a higher start up current than a refrigerator.

Worst case scenario, he can try it, and if the fuse blows, then he knows he can't do it.

 

Lot of the hybrid models offer 1500W inverters optional - that sure would be neat to have in a hybrid 4R. I think the LC will have a 2400W one available but you could surely buy a generator for the price difference.

 

You can run a 12v cooler or anything under 400watts, a super tiny microwave is about 700watts for example also your engine has to be running for you able to draw power back in your 4Runner

 

My 2023 Prius Prime has a 1500W inverter in the trunk. Never had a case to use it but maybe one day during an extended power outage.

 

Curious but why don't people go guy a good inverter if you really need to run these types of stuff?

 

@DirtyHairy , any updates?

Did you try it? Is the power back on?

 

Snomaster at 60w

 

Because you will also need a good deep cycle battery to go with it. Running an invertor off you vehicle battery is a good way to kill your vehicle battery. 2000W gas generators can be had for a few hundred dollars these days. Something like a Champion brand.

 

Agreed. Get a 2400. A little extra power cushion is always good. It will run for hours on a gallon of gas. I got mine on Amazon, and spread the payments over several months.Get a good extension cord so you can put the generator outside somewhere, and a surge protector so you can run a couple of things at once.

 

If you decide to get a generator and if you RV you might want to spring for a 3000+ watt unit as a 2,000 watt will be on the ragged edge to run a microwave and forget the AC.
I had a 2K Champion “suitcase” and it ran great but definitely was tested by the microwave.
Sold it and got a 3.2K Champion and that can run the AC. A bit larger and heavier (~100# gassed) but gets the job done and has wheels/handle kinda like luggage does.
Or eventually get a second 2k and run them in parallel.
The 3.2 has been upgraded to 3.4.
https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100269-3400-watt-inverter/
Just noticed this is a Canadian model, but the same idea.

 

I still see no reason why people are trying so hard to stretch the weak factory inverter. If you need that much power you need a generator.

Or like you said battery or 2 and good inverter.