How Many Amps Does a Refrigerator Pull?

Knowing how many amps a refrigerator pulls is the first step to a successful purchase. You must know the energy consumption specification to ensure that you have a suitable circuit outlet for your newcomer appliance. 

Wattage Rating for Common Household Appliances

Usually, the refrigerator is the highest energy-consuming appliance in your household. If the refrigerator is old, it makes the situation worse because the older the appliance, the more power it consumes.

Are you looking for battery backup to supply your refrigerator or want to reduce power consumption? Read on. In this blog, we will highlight ways you can supply your refrigerators and keep the electricity bills to your budget simultaneously.

What are Refrigerator Amps?

Refrigerator amps are a count of the current that your refrigerator pulls to keep the compressor working. The compressor keeps working to maintain the optimal temperature in both the compartments of your refrigerator. Generally, the amperage for most household refrigerators ranges between 3 to 5 Amperes when the outlet voltage is 120V. 

For refrigerators with a 3A to 5A current requirement, a circuit of 15-20 amperes should be dedicated. This is because the rush-in amperage requirement of a refrigerator can vary greatly. Their requirement can sometimes be higher than the ordinary devices. However, the average daily ampere needs of a refrigerator are comparatively less because the compressor isn’t working all the time.

When the refrigerator is idle or on standby, the ampere requirement is minimal. It is maximum during the initial freezing hours, whereas the ampere count plummets at the active cooling phase.

What Factors Affect the Refrigerator Amperage?

The ampere consumption by your refrigerator can vary with several factors like size, type, and model of the refrigerator. Refrigerators of smaller sizes consume less electricity than massive ones. While those with advanced features pull more amperes than the simpler refrigerators. Here is a deeper dig into such factors: 

• Size

Mini Refrigerators: Mini-fridges consume fewer amperes because they have less storage. Capacity. They also come with a smaller compressor that needs fewer amperes to function.

Moderate or Standard sized Refrigerators: They use slightly more amperes than the mini-refrigerators but less than the large size or multiple-featured refrigerators. On average, their ampere consumption ranges between 3A to 5A.

Large, double-door refrigerator:  These double-door refrigerators have larger compressors and consume more ampere than medium-sized fridges. The ampere usage of these refrigerators can go as high as 15A.

• Type

Top-Freezer Refrigerators: Such refrigerators are energy-efficient appliances, and they can use amperes between 3 and 6A.

Bottom Freezer Refrigerators: Such refrigerators usually draw more current compared to top-freezer refrigerators.

French door refrigerators: They may use more electricity than the simpler refrigerators.

• Model

Older Model:  The refrigerators of older models are less energy efficient because they are technology-deprived. The new refrigerators come with better insulation, advanced compressors, and design improvements.

Energy Star Rated Model:  The energy efficiency certified refrigerators consume less energy than the non-certified ones with similar storage volume.

How Many Amps Does a Refrigerator Pull?

Do you want an answer to how many amps does a refrigerator pull? Using the formula, you can calculate the amount of amperes your refrigerator draws from your main circuit. Here are the simple steps you can follow to calculate the amperage:

1. Get the Power Rating:

Get the power ratings of your refrigerator from the manual of your refrigerator. The power rating is mentioned in watts in the refrigerator manual or the label. 

2. Determine Voltage:

In the US, the power voltage of a household is, by standard, 120 Volts, whereas it can range between 220V and 240V in other geographical areas. Determine the exact voltage of your area.

3. Calculate the amperage: 

Once you have noted the wattage from the manual, you can now calculate the amperage of your refrigerator using the formula: 

I=Watts/Voltage.

If your refrigerator uses 600 Wattage at an outlet source of 120V, the ampere count will be:

I= 600/120 = 5A

Thus, here is the answer on how to find how many amps does a refrigerator pull.

Related articles: Selecting Right Refrigerator Sizes for Maximum Efficiency

How Many Watts Does a Mini Fridge Use?

The Best Battery Powered Generator For Refrigerator When There’s Outage

Tips to Reduce Ampere Consumption

    1. Energy Efficient: 

In order to reduce ampere consumption in your household, try to purchase energy-efficient appliances. Go for refrigerators that are labeled Energy Star.

    2. Optimal Refrigerator Placement:  

You must keep your refrigerator in an area with optimal room temperature. Keep the refrigerator away from sunlight, microwave oven, and other kitchen appliances that are hot. 

Furthermore, your fridge should be kept in a spatial area. It should have free space behind and beside it for proper ventilation.

    3. Using Renewable Sources of Energy: 

You can use products that generate solar energy and reduce your electricity bills for you. For instance, you can use BLUETTI PV200 solar panel. These monocrystalline solar panels have the highest efficiency of 23.4%. It means these solar panels can convert 23.4% of the solar energy into electrical energy. These are long-lasting panels with ETFE coating and are easily fordable.

You can equipped with BLUETTI's portable power station or home backup, you can store the electricity generated by solar panels, ensuring a continuous power supply for your refrigerator. Below are two highly recommended devices for your consideration:

• BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station 

This BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station is an eco-friendly, quiet battery that can provide you energy as much as 2000 watts. This cost-effective battery can be charged in seven ways. Here are some of the key features of the product:

2000W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (4,800W Surge):  This battery is capable of supplying a steady flow of 2000W Alternative Current. However, if you need a transient surge of 4800W to start a device, this device can help you in this case as well. Pure sine wave means you will get a smooth flow of electricity just like your main power. 

2,000Wh Capacity: The device can store as much as 2000 watts of energy every hour. With this amount of stored energy, you can supply a device that consumes 100 watts per hour for 20 hours.

LiFePO4 Battery with 3,500+ Life Cycles to 80%: This LiFePO4 battery serves you for a long time. You can charge and discharge the battery for 3500 cycles, and it will still lose only 20% of its efficiency. After you have used this battery 3500 times, the battery works at 80% of efficiency.

17 Outputs For Multiple Devices: You can charge or supply 17 devices at your home simultaneously with these devices.

7 Ways to Recharge: This device gives you the flexibility to charge in seven ways. You can charge the battery through your main circuit, solar panel, the battery, the car, and many other ways.

700W Max. Solar Input: When you charge the battery through a solar panel, it only needs 700 watts of energy to store wattage to its full capacity.

• BLUETTI AC300 + 2*B300 Home Battery Backup

This BLUETTI AC300 + 2*B300 can supply your refrigerators at the time of power outage or when you are in an off-grid region. 

3,000W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (6,000W Surge):  

This device can supply you with a smooth flow of electricity because of the pure AC sine wave. It has the capacity to continuously supply 3000 watts of power to your appliances. In cases where you need an electrical surge to start up the device, it can give a surge of as much as 6000 watts.

3,072Wh Capacity (Expandable w/ up to 4 × B300 for 12,288Wh): 

This BLUETTI battery has the capacity to store 3,072 Wh of energy for later use. You can charge the battery through solar panels and even store the energy for the night when solar energy production is impossible. 

Furthermore, you can also expand this device’s storage capacity by adding up to four B300 batteries. It will make it capable of storing almost 12,288 Wh of energy.

LiFePO4 Battery with 3,500+ Life Cycles to 80%: 

The BLUETTI battery is LiFePO4, which means it will keep functioning for a longer period of time. Even if you have charged and discharged the battery for more than 3500 cycles, it will still be functioning at its peak efficiency. This usage will only reduce the efficiency to 80%.

240V Split Phase Bonding:

When you add two AC300 AND two B300 devices,  this power station can provide you with 240 volts of electricity. The standard voltage in the US is 120 volts but there might be some refrigerators that require 240 volts of electricity outlet. In that case, you can opt to go with this device and supply your refrigerator with an apt energy source.

24/7 UPS Home Backup: 

If you want an energy source that can backup all your household devices, you should go with this one. It has the capacity to provide you with enough energy for 24 hours during power outages. Find more in this video.

Wrapping Up

When buying a new refrigerator, you must know how many amps a refrigerator pulls. It is necessary to do the math before purchasing the product so that your power supply matches the power specifications of the product. If you are wondering how many amps does a refrigerator pulls, you can simply follow some steps. 

These include reading out the power specifications on the product label or the manual. Next, use the formula and find out how many amps a refrigerator pulls. You can further follow certain tips to reduce ampere consumption at home. By using energy-productive power stations, you can reduce your amperage consumption and hence your electricity bills.