What size inverter do I need to run a fridge off-grid?

The inrush thing's genuinely mental — I learned this the hard way in my van conversion when I thought a 2kW Victron would handle everything. Spoiler: it didn't.

Here's what actually matters though: most domestic fridges pull about 600W running, but that initial startup surge can hit 3-4kW for a fraction of a second. Your inverter needs to handle that spike without dropping offline.

With 48V, I'd honestly recommend a 3kW minimum if you're running anything else alongside it (kettle, microwave, whatever). In my shepherd's hut setup, I went 5kW and haven't regretted it — gives you headroom and means the inverter isn't constantly sweating.

Real talk: check your fridge's nameplate. Some modern ones are efficiency-rated and won't hit the older spike levels. Equally, cheap Chinese units can be absolute power hogs. If it's a caravan fridge (like a Dometic), the draw's usually more predictable.

What capacity battery bank have you got? That's where it gets interesting — a monster inverter without

Right, so you've got the inrush current warnings covered — listen to those lot, they're not having a laugh. The actual running watts are often half what the startup demands are, which is why everyone's first instinct undershoots it.

For a standard fridge in a shepherds hut, you're looking at maybe 150-200W continuous, but the compressor kick-in can pull 800W+ depending on the unit. I'd honestly suggest a 3kW Victron Pure Sine minimum if you want headroom for anything else running simultaneously — kettle moment and all that.

Before you buy though, what's your battery capacity at 48V? That's the real constraint. A fridge cycles on/off, so it's not pure drain, but if you're undersized on storage you'll be thrashing your batteries anyway.

Cheapest solution: get a proper camping fridge (Fogstar or similar) rated for 12/24V DC operation. Cuts out the inverter nonsense entirely and they're shockingly efficient. Bit more upfront but your future self at 3am will thank you.

The inrush thing's crucial — most fridges pull 3-5x their running watts on startup. What's your battery capacity and existing Victron setup? A 5kW would comfortably handle most domestic fridges, but if you're space/budget-constrained, a 3kW works if you're not running other kit simultaneously. What voltage are you at?

For a shepherds hut fridge, you're looking at 3-5kW minimum to handle inrush — @BlownFuse's point about that 3-5x startup spike is spot on. What's your battery bank size though? A proper fridge'll drain you quick without serious capacity. I've got a Fogstar chest model in mine and it's genuinely transformed things, but paired it with additional panels to keep up with summer draw.

Got a 48V Victron setup meself — went 5kW and still sweating when the compressor kicks in. Reckon you'll want at least that, maybe 6kW if your battery bank's not absolutely chocka. Cheap inverters hate fridges more than I hate generators at 5am.

Are you looking at a standard compressor fridge or considering one of those lower-power absorption models? I'm running a Dometic absorber in my van and it's barely a blip on the inverter, though obviously different beast to a proper kitchen fridge. What's your actual battery bank capacity? That'll matter more than the inverter size if you're planning extended off-grid stretches.

@GazAllen - Worth checking your fridge specs first, mate. What's the actual running wattage and inrush current? That'll tell you what you actually need rather than guessing. A proper modern compressor fridge can be thirsty, but absorption models sip power if you've got the space. What capacity battery bank are you working with?

Fridges are deceptive little power vampires—that compressor startup will spike higher than your battery bank's will to live. Grab the manual, check the inrush current, then add 30% for good measure. My Fogstar runs fine on 3kW but I've seen folks regret undersizing within a month.

Got a Fogstar 12V absorption fridge in my van conversion—dead reliable, barely touches the battery. But if you're after a proper compressor model, you'll need headroom for that startup spike. With your 48V Victron setup, a 3kW inverter should handle it without drama. What's your battery capacity looking like?