how do i work it out?

[NorthernWoody]

Feeling a bit dim, sorry.
Can someone please tell me how to work out what size/power generator I will need to run just my fridge and freezer from?

Confused - and for some reason it doesn't take much atm!

[Plymtom]

You need a generator rated well above the power rating of the appliance(s) for your purposes Watts (P) = Voltage (V) X A..Current (Amps) so 2 amps at 250 volt = 500W which would also be referred to as KVA in generator/transformer terms, the thing is as you may well know fridges and freezers don't run all the time, I don't have the space or the intentions of having one, it would make us a target if the lights go out, but if I did and could afford to run one I would alternate appliances because a couple of hours in any 24 may well be enough to keep a freezer at an adequate temperature depending on how often you open the door, same goes for a fridge which may only need to be on a third of the time, so I'd get a rugged one designed for more constant use, probably no smaller than 2KVA and work out a rota.

[jansman]

What Plympton said. So true about keeping fridge/freezer doors shut. In fact, In a short term power cut(I won't say 'outage', this is UK preppers ), this will be your best strategy IMO. Top tip; if you have space, put one or two litre pop bottles 3/4 full of water(allows for expansion) and put 'em in the freezer. If the power goes you can put those bottle(s) in the TOP of the fridge, and the cold air sinks. Keep the door shut as much as possible. That should hold for 24 hours-plus you have a drop of emergency water too!
I do have a generator,an animal of a machine to be honest. However, I have changed my mind about gennies. Short term, a useful tool. Long term, I think it will be a noisy liability. But that, of course is only my opinion.

[grenfell]

A friend called me the other day and said he was in two minds about buying a generator. He said he picked one up and started walking towards the checkout and then changed his mind not sure wether he really needed one or not and what was my opinion on the matter. As I said to him the only real reason would be to power a freezer should we have the threated power cuts this winter. I can't see any cuts lasting for days on end it'll be more like a few hours(*) so a genny wouldn't have to run for very long, it certainly wouldn't need firing up as soon as the power went off.
However, the bad news was that he was looking at a genny currently being sold at Aldi but they are only rated at 800Watts which I can't help thinking is a bit feeble for anything really. I did look at the plate on one of our freezers, an under counter one. Pretty easy to do as it's sitting in the living room at the moment but couldn't see any markings to say what it's power consumption is , so I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to work out what size genny I would require.


*Going off topic here but viewing this alongside the blackout thread I can't but think a few short hour long power outages may actually help the populous come to terms with there not being always available power. Many who lived through the 70's can remember power cuts and know the first thing to do is not to go rioting.

[unsure]

i have two gennie`s .one is a small 850 watt and thats enough to run my small freezer and has done in the past . the last time the power went off for 15 hours .
the other is a 5 kva and ive not needed to use it yet , i do run it up from time to time but as for what it will keep going [fridge freezer ect ] i don`t know .

[NorthernWoody]

Thank all, re not needing an alternative energy supply for fridge and freezer for a few hours, this I think I can cope with. But longer term I am stuck between the reality of using it because it may attract attention and on the flip side, losing all the produce I have lovingly prepped if I don't!

Hmmm, expensive too.

[Plymtom]

Unsure - 5 KVA is the same as 5KW or 5000W, I can't remember why it is put that way, like the equation I posted earlier KiloVoltAmps are the same as Kilowatts 1 of which for one hour is one unit of electricity KWH, by figuring out how much fuel your genny uses you can then figure out just how much more it costs you than the mains... you'll be shocked

[Survivalist85]

I have also been debating this one lately and have come accross Goal Zero solar generators. Bit of cost to them but silent and rechargeable without any major issue. Worth a look and its one i will be picking up when i get that long awaited pay rise!!! Good way to cut power costs too. Use it once a week to charge up your laptop or run your fridge for a few hours.