What Size Refrigerator Is The Biggest I Can Run On An RV Solar Battery Bank?

RV can be a great way to explore the great outdoors and enjoy a more mobile lifestyle. But, while you're on the road, you still need to power your appliances and keep your food fresh. So, one of the questions that many RVers ask is: what size refrigerator is the biggest I can run on an RV solar battery bank?

In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at this question and provide some insights into how to choose the right size refrigerator for your RV, given your solar battery bank's capacity. We'll also explore some related topics, such as how to calculate the power needs of your RV appliances and the benefits of using a portable power station.

Calculating The Power Needs Of Your RV Appliances:

Before we dive into the specifics of what size refrigerator you can run on an RV solar battery bank, it's important to understand how to calculate the power needs of your RV appliances. This will help you determine the right size battery bank and solar panel system for your needs.

To calculate the power needs of your RV appliances, you'll need to determine the following:

The wattage of each appliance:

This information can usually be found on the appliance's label or in the owner's manual. Let's take a look at an example to better understand how to calculate the power needs of your RV appliances:

Suppose you have a 12V refrigerator that consumes 5 amps per hour, and you plan to use it for 8 hours per day, seven days a week.

• First, we need to convert amps to watts by using the formula: Watts = Amps x Volts. In this case, the voltage is 12V, so the total wattage used per hour is 5 x 12 = 60 watts.
• Next, we need to calculate the total watt-hours used per day by multiplying the wattage per hour by the number of hours used per day. In this example, the total watt-hours used per day would be 60 x 8 = 480 watt-hours.
• Finally, we need to calculate the total watt-hours used per week by multiplying the daily watt-hours by the number of days per week. In this example, the total watt-hours used per week would be 480 x 7 = 3,360 watt-hours.

By following these steps for each of your RV appliances, you can calculate the total watt-hours needed per day and week, and use this information to determine the size of your solar panel system and battery bank.

It's important to note that you'll want to add a buffer of around 20-30% to your calculations to account for energy loss and unexpected power needs. This will ensure that you have enough power to meet your needs and avoid running out of power when you need it most.

The number of hours per day you plan to use each appliance:

For example, if you plan to use your refrigerator for eight hours per day, you'll need to factor in the total wattage needed for those eight hours.

The number of days per week you plan to use each appliance:

If you plan to use your RV appliances every day, you'll need to factor in the total wattage needed for seven days.

Once you have this information, you can add up the total wattage needed for all your appliances and use this to determine the size of your solar panel system and battery bank.

What Size Refrigerator Can You Run On An RV Solar Battery Bank?

Now that you have a basic understanding of how to calculate the power needs of your RV appliances, let's take a closer look at what size refrigerator you can run on an RV solar battery bank.

The answer to this question depends on the size of your solar panel system and battery bank. Generally, the bigger your solar panel system and battery bank, the bigger your refrigerator you can run.

Here are two portable power stations of OUPES that are often used for RV travel as examples: OUPES 1800W and 2400W portable power stations

OUPES 1800W Portable Power Station: 350W Refrigerator for 10 Hours

The OUPES series offers a range of portable power stations with varying capacities to cater to different user needs. These capacities include 600W, 1200W, 1800W, and 2400W. When it comes to the 600W and 1200W power stations, they can support 60W refrigerators for 9 and 17 hours respectively

This power station boasts an impressive 1800W output and 1488Wh capacity, utilizing EV-class lifepo4 batteries. With such a high capacity, it is an ideal choice for meeting the daily electrical needs of an RV.

It can support the normal power supply of a 350W Refrigerator for up to 10 hours. Moreover, you can buy a power station and solar panel in combination on OUPES. In this way, you can extend the usage time of your solar battery through solar charging, and save electricity bills.

OUPES 2400W Portable Power Station: 150W Refrigerator for 17~30 Hours

In addition to the 1800W capacity option, OUPES also has a larger capacity 2400W solar battery station. With a whopping 2232Wh capacity, this device is incredibly powerful and can last up to three days during emergencies on a single charge.