Protect Food First
The USDA says an unopened refrigerator keeps food safely cold for about four hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed, use an appliance thermometer, and follow official food-safety guidance rather than relying on smell or appearance.
Measure the Refrigerator’s Real Demand
A refrigerator cycles on and off, so its momentary wattage and energy used across a day are different questions. Use a plug-in energy meter when appropriate, or consult the appliance documentation. Confirm both normal running demand and compressor startup demand.
Keep the Communication Chain Simple
Your modem and router may use modest power, but home internet can still fail if the provider’s neighborhood equipment loses backup power. Keep phones charged and maintain an alternate communication plan rather than assuming Wi-Fi will remain available.
A Practical Operating Plan
- Pre-charge the power station before severe weather
- Connect only the priority loads
- Keep refrigerator doors closed
- Disable nonessential battery features
- Recharge by wall, vehicle, or compatible solar when safe
- Recheck remaining runtime regularly
Size the System Around Your Equipment
Use actual wattage and runtime figures, then compare them with the starting ranges in our capacity guide.
Estimate capacity