What size power station for a portable compressor fridge (12 V)?

It needs a station with at least 49 W of continuous output and a surge rating of at least 500 W to start it. At the default 85% efficiency it takes about 118 Wh of rated capacity for 8 hours of running, and 353 Wh for 24 hours of running. 53 of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it. The smallest one that keeps it going for 24 hours of running is the Goal Zero Yeti 500 (499 Wh).

Updated October 6, 2026

49W
Continuous output
500W
Surge to start it
118Wh
Capacity for 8 hours of running
353Wh
Capacity for 24 hours of running
53 of 54
Stations that power it

Watts

Typical figures for this type, from the sources at the foot of this page. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Running, typical: 49 W
Running, low to high: 45 W to 73 W
Starting: 500 W400 W to 600 W, 10.2 times running
Energy per day: 0.3 kWh0.26 to 0.45 kWh; the compressor cycles on and off
Typical use a day: 24 hthe calculator starts from this, and you can change it
Average draw while on: 12.5 W
Voltage: 120 V

Explained in: Watts vs watt hours, explained, How to read an appliance label for watts and Starting watts explained.

The math

Worked with the typical figure, as the calculator does it.

Output49 W running, so the station's continuous output must be at least 49 W.
Surge500 W to start, so its surge rating must be at least 500 W.
Average draw0.3 kWh a day × 1,000 ÷ 24 h = 12.5 W, because it cycles on and off.
A typical day12.5 W × 24 h = 300 Wh a day.
8 hours of running12.5 W × 8 h = 100 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 118 Wh of rated capacity.
24 hours of running12.5 W × 24 h = 300 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 353 Wh of rated capacity.
On the Goal Zero Yeti 500499 Wh × 0.85 = 424 Wh usable, ÷ 12.5 W = 33.9 h.

Stations that run it

Every power station in the data with this appliance alone plugged in, at 85% efficiency. Type the running watts from your own label and the table works it out again.

Running watts

Typical 49 W, from 45 W to 73 W. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

53 of 54 power stations run it at 49 W and 500 W to start.

Power stations for a portable compressor fridge (12 V) at 49 W
Power station	Can it power it	Running time	Output	Start surge
Jackery Explorer 240 v2	Runs it	17.4 h	300 W	600 W
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	Runs it	19.4 h	600 W	1,200 W
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2	Runs it	19.6 h	600 W	not published
Jackery Explorer 300 v2	Runs it	19.6 h	300 W	600 W
Goal Zero Yeti 300	Runs it	20.2 h	350 W	600 W
Goal Zero Yeti 500	Runs it	33.9 h	500 W	1,000 W
DJI Power 500	Runs it	34.8 h	1,000 W	not published
Jackery Explorer 600 v2	Runs it	43.5 h	500 W	1,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti 700	Runs it	46.0 h	600 W	1,000 W
BLUETTI Elite 100 mini	Runs it	2.8 days	700 W	1,050 W
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2	Runs it	2.9 days	1,800 W	3,600 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic	Runs it	2.9 days	1,800 W	3,600 W
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2	Runs it	2.9 days	2,000 W	3,000 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3	Runs it	2.9 days	1,800 W	3,600 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus	Runs it	2.9 days	1,800 W	3,600 W
Pecron E1000LFP	Runs it	2.9 days	1,800 W	3,000 W
DJI Power 1000	Runs it	2.9 days	2,200 W	4,400 W
Anker SOLIX C1000	Runs it	3.0 days	1,800 W	2,400 W
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2	Runs it	3.0 days	1,500 W	3,000 W
BLUETTI AC180	Runs it	3.3 days	1,800 W	2,700 W
ALLPOWERS R1500	Runs it	3.3 days	1,800 W	3,000 W
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus	Runs it	3.6 days	2,000 W	4,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti 1500	Runs it	4.3 days	2,000 W	3,600 W
Jackery Explorer 1500 v2	Runs it	4.4 days	2,000 W	4,000 W
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra	Runs it	4.4 days	1,800 W	3,600 W
ALLPOWERS R2500 V2	Runs it	5.4 days	2,500 W	4,000 W
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2	Runs it	5.8 days	2,200 W	4,400 W
Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2	Runs it	5.8 days	2,400 W	4,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max	Runs it	5.8 days	2,400 W	4,800 W
Pecron E2400LFP	Runs it	5.8 days	2,400 W	4,000 W
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2	Runs it	5.8 days	2,400 W	4,000 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus	Runs it	5.8 days	3,000 W	6,000 W
OUPES Mega 2 Pro	Runs it	5.8 days	2,500 W	not published
DJI Power 2000	Runs it	5.8 days	3,000 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2	Runs it	5.9 days	2,600 W	not published
Anker SOLIX F2600	Runs it	7.3 days	2,400 W	2,800 W
BLUETTI Apex 300	Runs it	7.8 days	3,840 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 300	Runs it	8.5 days	2,400 W	4,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra	Runs it	8.7 days	3,600 W	7,200 W
Anker SOLIX F3000	Runs it	8.7 days	3,600 W	7,200 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus	Runs it	8.7 days	3,600 W	7,200 W
Pecron E3600LFP	Runs it	8.7 days	3,600 W	7,000 W
ALLPOWERS R3500	Runs it	9.0 days	3,200 W	6,000 W
ALLPOWERS R4000	Runs it	9.8 days	3,600 W	6,000 W
BLUETTI Elite 400	Runs it	10.9 days	2,600 W	5,200 W
Anker SOLIX F3800	Runs it	10.9 days	6,000 W	9,000 W
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus	Runs it	10.9 days	6,000 W	9,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000	Runs it	11.3 days	3,600 W	7,200 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3	Runs it	11.6 days	4,000 W	8,000 W
OUPES Guardian 6000 V2	Runs it	13.1 days	6,000 W	9,000 W
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus	Runs it	14.3 days	7,200 W	14,400 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra	Runs it	17.4 days	7,200 W	10,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X	Runs it	34.8 days	12,000 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 10 Mini	Cannot power itNeeds 500 W to start; this station peaks at 300 W.	none	200 W	300 W

Add it to the runtime calculator with the rest of your list

What moves the number

These coolers run on 12 V. The daily figure, 0.3 kWh, converts the maker's 12 V consumption at 90 F outside and 39 F inside; a cooler in hot sun uses more and a shaded one less. The start of about 500 W is a generator maker's figure for small fridges; the cooler makers publish none.

Plugged into the station's 12 V car outlet, it skips the inverter and runs longer than the AC math here.

Questions

How many watts does a portable compressor fridge (12 V) use?

About 49 W while running, from 45 W to 73 W across the models in our sources. It needs about 500 W for a moment at start. Over a day it uses about 0.3 kWh, because it cycles on and off. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Can a portable power station run a portable compressor fridge (12 V)?

Yes. 53 of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it on its own. It takes at least 49 W of continuous output and a surge rating of 500 W.

How long will a power station run a portable compressor fridge (12 V)?

It depends on the battery. At 85% efficiency the smallest station that powers it, the Jackery Explorer 240 v2 (256 Wh), gives about 17.4 h. The largest, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X (12,288 Wh), gives about 34.8 days.

Why does a portable compressor fridge (12 V) need a high surge rating?

Its motor draws about 500 W for a moment at start, 10.2 times its 49 W running figure. A station whose surge rating is below that cannot start it, even when the continuous output is enough. 53 of the 54 stations pass that check.

Setups that include it

Sources

Researched from these pages, then checked against them a second time.

CFX5 45 Electric Cooler | Dometic maker product page, checked October 6, 2026
CFX5 25 Electric Cooler | Dometic maker product page, checked October 6, 2026
Dometic CFX3 100 | Dometic maker product page, checked October 6, 2026
Dometic CFX3 25 | Dometic maker product page, checked October 6, 2026
Generator Wattage Chart - Champion Power Equipment generator maker guide, checked October 6, 2026

We read published figures and do the math; we do not measure appliances. The methodology states every formula on this page. Capacities are rated watt hours: 1,000 Wh rated gives 850 Wh usable at the default.