What size power station do I need to run a refrigerator and a freezer?
Protecting both the fridge and a full chest freezer is the serious food-security scenario. Two compressors mean two surges and roughly double the energy, so this pushes into the larger station sizes — or a smaller one topped up by solar.
The load
- Refrigerator (full-size) — 300W running, 1500W starting
- Chest freezer — 250W running, 1200W starting
Field note: A full chest freezer holds temperature for around 48 hours if you keep it closed, so in a pinch you can power the fridge continuously and give the freezer battery time in blocks. Solar recharge is what makes covering both loads through a multi-day outage realistic without buying the biggest station on the shelf.
Right size: Expandable home backup (≈6,000Wh+) · 5,000W
Backing up whole circuits through a transfer switch; add battery modules for days of autonomy, especially with solar. A home-backup system, not a grab-and-go unit. For 240V loads or true whole-home coverage, compare against a standby generator.
See current prices on AmazonThis is a heavy or long load for battery power — plan on solar recharge or compare a fuel generator.
Adjust for your setup
Different loads or runtime? Uncheck and re-check below and drag the runtime slider — the plate recomputes live.
Capacity includes inverter loss (~15%) and a usable-charge margin, so the station isn't run flat. A solar panel or vehicle charge extends runtime past this number.
Power stations that fit
Right size: Expandable home backup (≈6,000Wh+) · 5,000W
Backing up whole circuits through a transfer switch; add battery modules for days of autonomy, especially with solar. A home-backup system, not a grab-and-go unit. For 240V loads or true whole-home coverage, compare against a standby generator.
See current prices on AmazonThis load is heavier or longer than portable stations cover well. Add solar recharge, shorten the runtime, or look at a fuel generator for sustained high-wattage loads.