Best portable power station for a refrigerator: picks ranked by value

Which portable power station for a refrigerator is the best value?

The Elite 400 is the best value in this roundup, ranked #1 of 7 at 2.74 Wh/$. It holds 3840 Wh and sells for $1,399.00 at BLUETTI.

Divide that battery by the Whirlpool WRT311FZD's 49.8 W average draw and the ceiling is 77.1 hours, before losses. A higher figure buys more battery per dollar.

At a glance

Product	Best current price	Watt-hours per dollar	Value rank
BLUETTI Elite 400	$1,399.00 at BLUETTI	2.74 Wh/$	#1 of 7
BLUETTI AC180 Solar	$449.00 at BLUETTI	2.57 Wh/$	#2 of 7
BLUETTI Elite 300	$1,199.00 at BLUETTI	2.51 Wh/$	#3 of 7
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2	$899.00 at BLUETTI	2.31 Wh/$	#4 of 7
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Series	$1,349.00 at EcoFlow	2.28 Wh/$	#5 of 7
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2	$489.00 at BLUETTI	2.09 Wh/$	#6 of 7
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic	$499.00 at EcoFlow	2.05 Wh/$	#7 of 7

How much power does a home refrigerator use?

The Whirlpool WRT311FZD has 20.5 cubic feet of space and uses an estimated 436 kWh a year. That is an average draw of 49.8 W. The LG LHTNS2403S averages 47.6 W, and the Frigidaire FFTR1835V averages 46.8 W.

Real draw varies around the average. GE Appliances notes that start-up amps and watts are usually 3 times the running amps or watts. Whirlpool gives a lower figure: doubling the running wattage is recommended for motor start-up.

So pick a power station whose output sits well above the running figure, not just near it.

How long could the Elite 400 run a fridge?

Battery size divided by the Frigidaire FFTR1835V's 46.8 W average draw gives the Elite 400 a ceiling of 82.1 hours. Real time is shorter once losses are counted. It also puts out 2600 W of steady AC power, with 3900 W listed as power lifting.

It weighs 85.98 lb, which is heavy (over 50 lb), and it moves on a pull-out handle and wheels. Its listed UPS switchover time is at most 15 ms. At the 1000 W solar maximum, the fastest full solar refill is 3.8 hours.

Keep in mind that it cannot add batteries and does not charge below 0 °C.

How does the AC180 Solar rank on value?

The AC180 Solar sells for $449.00 at BLUETTI and still ranks #2 of 7, at 2.57 Wh/$. On paper, its 1152 Wh battery tops out at 23.1 hours against a 49.8 W draw. It weighs 36.16 lb, and solar panels plug into a dc7909 connector.

Output is 1800 W continuous, with a 2700 W surge rating. Its fastest full solar refill is 2.3 hours, at the 500 W solar limit. A smaller battery runs out sooner in a long outage.

What does the Elite 300 offer for solar input?

The Elite 300 accepts up to 1200 W of solar, and its fastest full solar refill at that input is 2.5 hours. Its 3014 Wh battery sets an upper limit of 60.5 hours at a 49.8 W draw. BLUETTI lists it at $1,199.00, a value of 2.51 Wh/$ and a rank of #3 of 7.

The box measures 14.41 in long, 12.01 in wide and 11.71 in tall. At 57.98 lb, it is heavy (over 50 lb). You get 4 AC outlets and a switchover of no more than 10 ms if the grid fails.

How fast does the Elite 200 V2 recharge from the wall?

The Elite 200 V2 can refill from the wall in 1.4 hours in turbo mode or 1.6 hours in standard mode. Silent mode is slower at 3 hours. A shorter wall charge time helps when power returns only briefly.

The math for its 2073.6 Wh battery gives at most 41.6 hours at 49.8 W, before losses. It costs $899.00 at BLUETTI, which earns a value of 2.31 Wh/$ and a rank of #4 of 7. Continuous output is 2600 W, and the unit weighs 53.35 lb.

What surge rating does the DELTA 3 Ultra Series list?

The DELTA 3 Ultra Series has 3600 W of continuous AC output and 7200 W of surge. With a 46.8 W average draw, its 3072 Wh battery works out to no more than 65.6 hours. EcoFlow sells it for $1,349.00, which works out to 2.28 Wh/$ and a rank of #5 of 7.

It is heavy (over 50 lb), standing 24.6 in tall and weighing 72.1 lb. Solar comes in through 2 ports, up to 800 W. The warranty is 5 years, and that is 3 years as standard, plus 2 more when you register it in the EcoFlow app.

It can discharge down to -10 °C but does not charge below 0 °C.

How heavy is the Elite 100 V2?

The Elite 100 V2 weighs 25.3 lb, which makes it easy to carry (under 30 lb). It holds 1024 Wh, which sets a ceiling of 20.6 hours at a 49.8 W draw, before losses. With 1000 W of solar at the maximum, its fastest full solar refill is listed at 1.0 hours.

AC input is 1200 W, and continuous output is 1800 W, which matches the AC180 Solar and the DELTA 3 Classic at 1800 W each. At $489.00 from BLUETTI, its value is 2.09 Wh/$, which ranks #6 of 7. A light unit is easier to carry, but a smaller battery runs out sooner.

Where does the DELTA 3 Classic fall short?

The DELTA 3 Classic sits at #7 of 7 on value, at 2.05 Wh/$ for $499.00 at EcoFlow. Against a 46.8 W draw, its 1024 Wh caps the math at 21.9 hours. EcoFlow lists the AC charge time as 1 hours.

It weighs 26.6 lb, so it is easy to carry (under 30 lb), and its surge rating is 3600 W. Solar is capped at 500 W, which gives a fastest full solar refill of 2.0 hours. The unit cannot add batteries.

How should you choose a power station for your fridge?

Start with the running watts or amps for your own fridge. GE Appliances says running amps are stated on the rating plate of the appliance. Then leave room for the start-up surge, not just the average draw.

Next, decide how many hours of backup you want and match the battery size to it. The Fisher & Paykel RF178 guide says food stays safe for up to 4 hours with the door kept closed. That same guide says portable power supplies are not to be placed at the rear of the appliance.

Whirlpool's manual says extension cords and adapters are not to be used. Weight matters if you plan to move the unit between rooms, carry it to a vehicle, or bring it along on a camping trip. For a cold garage, check the charging limit: the Elite 400 does not charge below 0 °C, and the DELTA 3 Ultra Series also does not charge below 0 °C.