Miscellaneous / Off-topic: Can 2000 watt inverter handle 2 fridge and 1 chest

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Can 2000 watt inverter handle 2 fridge and 1 chest

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Forum Name: Miscellaneous / Off-topic
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15787
Printed Date: 03 May 2025 at 7:38am
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Topic: Can 2000 watt inverter handle 2 fridge and 1 chest

Posted By: nicklee
Subject: Can 2000 watt inverter handle 2 fridge and 1 chest
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2023 at 5:26am

I have 3 fridges I want to hook up to a 2000watt/4000w max inverter (pure sine wave). Since the surge is only momentary to start the compressor, do you think there's any risk? Once they're running, even at the same time, then the load is well under 2000w.

Replies:

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2023 at 8:46am

The bigger question is the size of the wire to feed that inverter and the battery drain. A 2000 watt inverter is going to draw ~~ 18 amps on the AC side, which will translate to ~~ 180 amps on the battery side. It's going to take a huge battery to deal with that. Ampacity charts say you'll need 4/0 wire, which is almost 1/2 inch diameter.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2023 at 8:48am

What is the startup surge of the refrigerators? It is possible that the three would want to start at the same time, but probability is very low. More likely is two at once, but the possibility is also low. When you are talking refrigerators and chest, what type are they? Are they high efficiency compressors with variable speed? Are they household models? What about the chest? What do the manufacturer's instructions say?

With the chest, if it has a power block that plugs in, does it also have the option for 12V input? If so, you could run the chest on that and then you would be down to just the two refrigerators. That would make it easier. However, there is too much that is unknown to know whether the inverter would handle what you want it to.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2023 at 7:01pm

Running just the on-board fridge on battery will run the battery down very quickly. A 2000 watt inverter might work if it has enough input. Without probably going beyond reasonable effort, you won't have enough input by a long shot to do what you want for more than a few minutes. Aside from needing a 4/0 cable from the battery.

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2010 176
FJ Cruiser

Posted By: hank*pod
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2023 at 11:00pm

Originally posted by StephenH

It is possible that the three would want to start at the same time, but probability is very low. More likely is two at once, but the possibility is also low.

Every time the inverter is switched on without shore power anything connected will start simultaneously unless they're switched off ahead of time.