A fridge is one of the most useful and essential appliances you can have in your home, RV, or campsite. It keeps your food and drinks fresh and cold, and saves you money and hassle from buying ice or eating out.
But what if you don’t have access to grid power or a generator? How can you power a fridge without electricity?
The answer is: with a Goal Zero product.
Goal Zero is a leading brand of portable power solutions and its high-performance solar panels, power stations, lithium batteries, and other products are designed to deliver reliable power to a variety of devices, including fridges.
In this post, we’ll show you how you can use a Goal Zero product to power a fridge, what factors you need to consider, and how long you can expect your fridge to run on a single charge.
The best type of Goal Zero product to use for powering a fridge would be a high-capacity solar generator, such as the Yeti 3000X. This generator provides a whopping 3000 watt-hours of power and can easily handle the power needs of a typical small- to medium-sized fridge.
How to power a fridge with a Goal Zero product
To power a fridge with a Goal Zero product, you need to follow these steps:
- Choose the right Goal Zero product for your fridge. You need to check the power consumption and size of your fridge and compare it with the output and capacity of the Goal Zero product. You can use a watt meter or an online calculator to estimate the power consumption of your fridge. Generally, the higher the capacity of the Goal Zero product, the longer it can run your fridge.
- Connect your fridge to the Goal Zero product. You can use either the 12V output or the AC output of the Goal Zero product, depending on the type of plug your fridge has. The 12V output is more efficient and will last longer than the AC output, but not all fridges have a 12V plug. You may need an adapter or an inverter to connect your fridge to the Goal Zero product.
- Turn on your fridge and set the temperature. You can adjust the temperature of your fridge according to your preference and the ambient temperature. The lower the temperature setting, the more power your fridge will consume and the shorter it will run on the Goal Zero product.
- Recharge your Goal Zero product when needed. You can use either solar panels or a wall outlet to recharge your Goal Zero product. Solar panels are more eco-friendly and convenient, but they depend on the weather and sunlight conditions. A wall outlet is more reliable and fast, but it requires access to grid power or a generator.
How long can a Goal Zero product run a fridge
The answer to this question depends on several factors, such as:
- The power consumption and size of your fridge
- The output and capacity of your Goal Zero product
- The temperature setting and frequency of opening your fridge
- The weather and sunlight conditions for solar charging
- The state of charge and health of your Goal Zero battery
As an example, let’s assume that you have a Dometic CFX3 55 fridge that consumes about 40 watts on average and has a capacity of 55 liters. You also have a Goal Zero Yeti 500X power station that has an output of 500 watts and a capacity of 505 watt-hours.
If you connect your fridge to the 12V output of your Yeti 500X, you can expect it to run for about 10 hours on a single charge (505 / 40 = 12.6 hours). However, this is assuming that your fridge is running at full power all the time, which is unlikely.
In reality, your fridge will cycle on and off depending on the temperature setting and the ambient temperature. It will also consume more power when you open it or when it’s exposed to direct sunlight or heat sources.
A more realistic estimate would be that your fridge will run for about 50% of the time on average, which means that it will consume about 20 watts on average (40 x 0.5 = 20 watts). In this case, you can expect your Yeti 500X to run your fridge for about 20 hours on a single charge (505 / 20 = 25.2 hours).
Of course, this is still an approximation and it may vary depending on other factors. To get a more accurate estimate, you can use an online calculator or monitor the power consumption of your fridge with a watt meter.
To extend the run time of your Yeti 500X, you can recharge it with solar panels or a wall outlet when possible. You can also reduce the power consumption of your fridge by setting it at a higher temperature, opening it less frequently, placing it in a shaded and cool place, and pre-cooling your food and drinks before putting them in the fridge.
Conclusion
A Goal Zero product can power a fridge, but you need to choose the right product for your fridge and use it properly. A high-capacity solar generator, such as the Yeti 3000X, can easily power a typical small- to medium-sized fridge for a long time. A lower-capacity power station, such as the Yeti 500X, can also power a fridge, but for a shorter time.
To power a fridge with a Goal Zero product, you need to connect your fridge to the 12V output or the AC output of the product, turn on your fridge and set the temperature, and recharge your product when needed. To extend the run time of your product, you can use solar panels or a wall outlet to recharge it, and reduce the power consumption of your fridge by adjusting the temperature, opening it less frequently, and placing it in a cool place.
We hope this post has helped you understand how you can use a Goal Zero product to power a fridge, what factors you need to consider, and how long you can expect your fridge to run on a single charge. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.
Happy cooling! ❄️
