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Inverter to Run a Bar fridge
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:17 pm
by mlowe76
Hi all
I am wondering about the possibility of running my bar fridge off an inverter?
its a small Kmart module (the really tiny one about 60cm square)
We run this in our caravan which works fine at 'van parks where 240 is avail.
Just wondering if anyone knew what size inverter and wattage I require? or could assist me in deciphering what one to buy.
I'd like to buy something usable that will run the fridge without spending too much money.
Cheers
Matt
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:32 pm
by Dominator
you will need to look at the bar fridge and see its wattage or how many amps it will draw then go from there.
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:26 pm
by DamTriton
Dominator wrote:you will need to look at the bar fridge and see its wattage or how many amps it will draw then go from there.
May need to increase the wattage on the back of the fridge ~40% to allow for start up current surge when you are looking at inverter specs.
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 8:14 am
by festy
My Waeco CK-40 (240v) apparently only draws 60w while running, but I've measured over 600w on compressor startup

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:28 am
by mlowe76
DAMKIA wrote:Dominator wrote:you will need to look at the bar fridge and see its wattage or how many amps it will draw then go from there.
May need to increase the wattage on the back of the fridge ~40% to allow for start up current surge when you are looking at inverter specs.
So say it says 80watts , does this mean I + 40% which is 112watts.
I read somewhere i need about 6 times the watts to allow for startup, so do I need about a 672watt inverter? or an inverter that peaks to 672watts so say a 300watt continuous and 1000watt surge style one?
Also does it need to be modified sine wave? or the regular ones which dont seen to say much more than continuous watts + surge
Thanks
matt
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:56 am
by ausoops
you need a true sine wave inverter as it is running a motor, the cheaper inverters (which are sometimes also called modified sine wave) are usually a square wave output which will cook the motor in the fridge.