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to run a fridge overnight with no 240 electricity

by John murphy
(Morden london)


Just purchased a trailer will be running the trailer all day off a generator 240v but overnight I need the freezer to stay frozen can I use a leisure battery with a inverter to do this or if I buy a fridge freezer is this possible

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Jan 14, 2025
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by: David-

Running a freezer overnight on a leisure battery with an inverter is possible in theory, but there are some important things to consider before deciding if it’s the best option. Let’s break it down step by step:

1. Understanding Power Needs
To figure out if a leisure battery and inverter can power your freezer overnight, you need to know:

How much power your freezer uses (in watts or kilowatts).
How long you need the power to last (typically 8–12 hours overnight).
Example:
A small chest freezer or fridge freezer might use 60–100 watts per hour when running (check the label or manual for exact power consumption).
Let’s assume it uses 80 watts per hour.
Energy needed overnight:

If the freezer runs for 10 hours, it will use:
80 W × 10 hours = 800 watt-hours (Wh).
2. Can a Leisure Battery Handle This?
Leisure batteries store energy in amp-hours (Ah), so you need to convert the freezer’s energy needs into Ah to see if the battery can handle it.

Step 1: Convert watt-hours to amp-hours.
The formula is:
Ah = Wh ÷ Voltage.
For a 12V leisure battery:
800 Wh ÷ 12 V = 66.7 Ah.

Step 2: Account for inverter efficiency.
Inverters are about 85–90% efficient, so you lose a bit of power. Add 10–15% more:
66.7 Ah × 1.15 = 76.7 Ah.

3. Choosing a Battery

To power the freezer overnight, you’d need a leisure battery with at least 77 Ah usable capacity. However, most leisure batteries are not designed to be fully drained, so you should only use about 50% of the battery’s total capacity to avoid damage.

This means you’d need a battery with:
77 Ah ÷ 0.5 = 154 Ah total capacity.

4. Can a Fridge Freezer Work Instead?

A fridge freezer might use less power than a standard freezer because it cycles on and off depending on the temperature. However:

You still need to check the wattage on the appliance.
The calculations above would apply the same way. If the fridge freezer uses less power, you might get away with a smaller battery, but the difference may not be huge.

5. Alternative Options

If a leisure battery system seems too complicated or expensive, here are other options:

Run the freezer on a generator overnight: Small generators can be fuel-efficient and keep your freezer powered.

Use LPG-powered freezers: Some freezers run on bottled gas, which could be more convenient for overnight use without needing electricity.

Upgrade to a solar-powered setup: Combine solar panels with a leisure battery to charge during the day and power the freezer overnight.

6. Summary

Yes, a leisure battery with an inverter can run a freezer overnight, but you’ll need the right size battery. For example, you’d need a 154 Ah leisure battery or larger.
A fridge freezer might save some energy, but the difference isn’t huge.
Think about other options like using a generator, LPG freezer, or adding solar power. You may find this range of Portable Power Products helpful

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