Practical Examples
5. Putting It All Together
Let's walk through a couple of practical examples to solidify your understanding. Suppose you have a refrigerator with a running wattage of 150 watts. That's roughly 0.15 kVA (150 / 1000 = 0.15). To account for the starting surge, multiply that by 3: 0.15 3 = 0.45 kVA. So, you'd need a generator that can handle at least 0.45 kVA to reliably start and run that refrigerator.
Now, let's say you want to run that fridge along with a few lights (0.1 kVA total) and a small TV (0.2 kVA). Your total running kVA would be 0.15 + 0.1 + 0.2 = 0.45 kVA. But remember the fridge's starting surge! You still need to ensure the generator can handle that initial 0.45 kVA surge. So, a generator rated for at least 0.5 kVA would be a good choice, and larger if you wanted any wiggle room.
Consider another scenario: you have an older refrigerator that draws 3 amps at 120 volts. That's 360 VA (3 120 = 360), or 0.36 kVA (360 / 1000 = 0.36). The starting surge could be as high as 1.08 kVA (0.36 3 = 1.08). In this case, you'd need a generator that can handle at least 1.1 kVA to ensure the fridge starts reliably.
These examples highlight the importance of both finding the correct specifications of your fridge and knowing how to interpret them in order to select the appropriate generator.
FAQ: Your Fridge Power Questions Answered
6. Clearing Up Common Confusions
Let's tackle some frequently asked questions about refrigerator power consumption.
7. What happens if my generator is too small for my fridge?
If your generator is too small, it will likely overload when the fridge's compressor tries to start. This can cause the generator to shut down, potentially damaging the generator or the fridge's compressor over time. Continually overloading a generator significantly shortens its lifespan.
8. Is the kVA rating on my fridge the running or starting kVA?
The kVA rating listed on your fridge's nameplate is usually the running* kVA. You need to estimate the starting surge, which can be 2-3 times the running kVA. When in doubt, consult the refrigerator's manual for specific starting surge information or err on the side of caution and overestimate the surge.
9. Does a newer fridge use less kVA than an older one?
Generally, yes. Newer refrigerators are typically more energy-efficient and use less power than older models. They often have features like improved insulation and more efficient compressors. However, always check the nameplate to confirm the actual power consumption of your specific refrigerator.
