Receiving Helpdesk

start up amps for refrigerators and freezers

by Khalil Kulas Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

How many amps do the most energy efficient & popular freezers draw

Freezer type Freezer model Freezer amps Freezer start-up amps Power supply requirement
Chest freezer GE FCM22DLWW 2 amps 4 – 6 amps 115 Volt AC, 60 Hz, 15- or 20-amp fused, ...
Chest freezer Whirlpool WZC3209LW 3.5 amps 7 – 10.5 amps (estimate) 115 V, 60 Hz, AC-only, 15 A or 20 A fuse ...
Compact chest freezer Avanti CF24Q0W 0.5 amps (estimate – see Source info) 1 – 4 amps (estimate – see Source info) 115 V AC, 60 Hz, properly grounded in ac ...
Deep freezer RCA RFRF-450-AMZ 1 amp (estimate – see Source info) 2 – 6.5 amps (estimate – see Source info ... 115 Volts [AC, 60 Hz], 15 amp outlet wit ...
Apr 22 2022

Amperage for most household refrigerators, is anywhere from 3 to 5 if the voltage is 120. A 15 to 20 amp dedicated circuit is required because the in-rush amperage is much higher. The average amperage is lower because the compressor isn't running all the time, this is often measured in kilowatt hours KWH.17-Nov-2016

Full Answer

How many amps does an upright freezer use to run?

A typical modern upright freezer uses 2.3 amps when running. Initial power surges during start-up for a typical upright freezer is expected to be approx. 7 amps. A 15 amp fuse / breaker is commonly recommended for upright freezers.

How many amps does a refrigerator use?

Refrigerator amps mean the amount of electrical energy used by a refrigerator compressor to cool down the compartment. For most domestic fridges, the amperage ranges between 3 and 5 in the case of 120 V. You need a dedicated 15 – 20 amp circuit as the starting amperage is significantly more.

What is the starting current of a refrigerator?

Refrigerator Starting Current It shows a maximum inrush current of about 13 amps which lasts only about one-half second. Also, the running current is significantly less than the nameplate value. Click to see full answer

What is a AMP draw on a freezer?

Amp draw is a measurement of power consumed to run an appliance. In other words, a it is a way to quantify how hard an appliance has to work in order to run. The larger the freezer, the more amps it will draw.

How many amps does a refrigerator use on startup?

Now, coming back to power usage, refrigerators require a starting wattage ranging from 800 to 1200 watts. Divide that by 120 volts, which is the amount of power that one outlet can produce, and you will get the amps the refrigerator needs. So, to bring it all together, refrigerators require 7 to 10 amps initially.

How many amps does a freezer pull on startup?

Upon start up, a 7 cubic foot freezer will use around 3 to 4.5 amps.13-Apr-2021

What size generator do I need to run a refrigerator and freezer?

For example, if you want a generator to run a refrigerator and a freezer, the wattage (table 2) of the refrigerator would be 800 and the freezer would be 1,000. To select the correct size generator, you decide if both refrigerator and freezer are to start at the same time. If so, you would need (1,800 X 4) 7,200 watts.

Can I run a refrigerator on a 15 amp circuit?

Most refrigerators run between 3 to 6 amps, with that said, a refrigerator can spike at peak usage up to 15 amps. It's best to take into consideration worst case scenarios. You should have refrigerators and freezers installed on a 15-20 amp dedicated 120 volt circuit.28-Apr-2020

Can you plug a freezer into a regular outlet?

An upright or chest freezer should always be plugged into its own individual electrical outlet which has a voltage rating that matches the rating plate. A 115 Volt AC, 60 Hz, 15- or 20- amp, fused, grounded electrical supply is required.

How many freezers can you have on a 20 amp circuit?

You should only assign one freezer to each circuit. You can operate a freezer on a circuit that also powers smaller less powerful appliances.

Can a 2000 watt generator run a fridge and freezer?

Most 2000 watt inverter generators can power a range of devices from hot plates, water pumps, deep freezers, light bulbs and electric stoves to small power tools - items common to camping, caravanning, and around the home.13-May-2021

Will a 2000w generator run a refrigerator?

It is perfectly safe to run a refrigerator on a generator as long as the generator has a higher watt allowance than the starting watt consumption of the refrigerator. The average starting watts of a fridge is between 800-1200 watts, so a generator with a 2000 watt capacity is sufficient.

How many starting watts does a refrigerator use?

Most home refrigerators need around 2,000 starting watts of power.

How many amps does a refrigerator freezer use?

A refrigerator-freezer will draw about 1.5 Amps to 2 Amps, translating to 180 Watts to 240 Watts of power consumption at 120 Volts.

Does a refrigerator require a 20 amp circuit?

A modern refrigerator requires a dedicated 20-amp circuit. You may currently have a smaller refrigerator plugged into a general lighting circuit, but during any major remodeling, install a dedicated circuit (120/125-volts) for the refrigerator.12-Sept-2021

Can freezer be on 15 amp circuit?

Upright and chest freezers require a 120 volt, individual, properly grounded branch circuit with a 3 prong grounding type receptacle, protected by a 15 or 20 amp circuit breaker or time-delay fuse. The freezer should be on a dedicated circuit.

Why is it important to have a freezer on a circuit?

If a freezer shares a circuit with another appliance, there is the potential for circuit overload. Should a circuit become overloaded, the freezer or other appliance will likely shut off.

How many cubic feet is a medium freezer?

Medium = 12 to 18 cubic feet. Large = 18+ cubic feet. It is important to remember that freezers will usually draw extra current when starting up. This “start up” draw is usually about 2 to 3 times higher than the draw of a freezer when running. With that known, let’s get into more specifics.

What is chest freezer?

Chest freezers are great ways to maximize your frozen food storage. Before buying one it’s good to understand how many amps a deep freezer uses.

What is amp draw?

Amp draw is a measurement of power consumed to run an appliance. In other words, a it is a way to quantify how hard an appliance has to work in order to run. The larger the freezer, the more amps it will draw. In order to provide an accurate answer to how many amps a freezer uses, you need to know the size of the freezer.

How many amps should a 120 volt circuit have?

More specifically, the circuit should be a 120 volt individual, properly grounded branch circuit with a 3 prong grounding type receptacle, protected by a 15 or 20 amp circuit breaker or time-delay fuse. This allows for the most possible power with the least amount of electrical strain.

Can chest freezers be used as a freezer?

Final Thoughts. Chest freezers can be wonderful supplements to your kitchen freezer. In general, they are relatively low energy provide a great means of long-term food storage. Be sure to practice proper safety precautions and, if needed, bring in a professional!

Do chest freezers use more amps?

Please note that the above numbers are approximates. Some chest freezers may use more amps, depending on their age. The older the chest freezer, the more likely it will utilize more electricity. The above numbers are approximations; your appliance may use more or less amps.

How many amps does a refrigerator take to start?

Amperage for most household refrigerators, is anywhere from 3 to 5 if the voltage is 120. A 15 to 20 amp dedicated circuit is required because the in-rush amperage is much higher. The average amperage is lower because the compressor isn’t running all the time, this is often measured in kilowatt hours KWH.

Can I run a refrigerator on a 15 amp circuit?

Most refrigerators run between 3 to 6 amps, with that said, a refrigerator can spike at peak usage up to 15 amps. You should have refrigerators and freezers installed on a 15-20 amp dedicated 120 volt circuit.

How many amps is a small microwave?

Typical wattage for microwave ovens ranges between 750 and 1,100, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Though utility companies such as Georgia Power estimate that amperage for most small appliances falls between 15 and 20, some microwaves have an amp rating as low as 10.

What appliances need a dedicated circuit?

Appliances that need a dedicated circuit include: Electric ranges. Wall ovens. Refrigerators. Large Microwaves. Freezers. Dishwashers. Garbage disposals. Toaster ovens.

Do mini fridges use a lot of power?

Therefore, a mini-fridge uses a lot less power than regular full-size refrigerators that use from 100 watts up to 400 watts per hour. Every fridge is measured in watts. It’s the number that is used when they are running and from it, we can calculate electricity consumption per hour, day, or month.

How do you reduce the starting current of a refrigerator?

Can I reduce the start current of a fridge compressor? a) use a start capacitor, 150uF, for the first 1000ms. b) use an NTC thermistor. c) power resistors, for the first 1000ms (similar effect as NTC) d) voltage transformation to a lower voltage, e.g. from 230V to 200V.

How many appliances can be on a 20 amp circuit?

One rule of thumb is to assign a maximum draw of 1.5 Amp to each receptacle, which will allow for 10 receptacle on a 20-amp circuit.

2 Major Types Of Freezers

When looking for a standalone freezer, the choices come down to two major types: chest freezers and upright freezers. Each comes with its own pros and cons, but is there any difference in the amp usage?

Amp Draw According To Size Of Freezers

As mentioned above, the actual amount of amps each freezer uses depends on its size. By size, we refer to capacity, calculated in cubic feet. Check out below the amp requirements for the most common chest and upright freezer sizes.

Does A Freezer Need A Dedicated Circuit?

You could get away without a dedicated circuit if you only need a small freezer and the circuit has enough amps to support it.

How Many Watts per Hour Does A Modern Freezer Use?

Like most modern appliances, modern freezers are very energy-efficient. The actual amount of watts per hour it uses varies based on size, efficiency (Energy Star rating), and indoor temperature, but most appliances won’t require more than 150 watts. On average, you can expect your new freezer to use about 30 to 100 watts per hour.

Related Questions

Finding out how many amps and watts per hour a freezer uses can help you decide whether you should buy the appliance or make do with the tiny space your fridge/freezer provides. However, you may have other questions, too. Find out the answers below.

Conclusion

Modern freezers are very energy efficient and don’t require too many amps to run properly. However, you should still install a dedicated circuit for them if you don’t have one already. We hope this guide can help you figure out whether you can add a new appliance to your home or if you should upgrade the electric part first.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9