Replies

1. 
   user-200870 | Sep 10, 2006 03:27am | #1

   fwiw

   My fridge is typical over/under about 5 yrs old.. about 22 cu/ft.   Running watts were 420w at 123v or there abouts... was checking a  power controller and it dropped  running current to slightly under 200 watts.     My little tester was a kill-a-watt unit and I or it are both not fast enough to catch peak starting currents.

   St Pete, FL
2. 
   junkhound | Sep 10, 2006 06:12am | #2

   Typical startup is 10 to 13X running current on a fridge compressor, but for less than a second, so the breaker does not trip. Many tool induction motors carry a rating called LRA (locked rotor amps) but your fridge likely does not have that on the nameplate.

    

   Without a current probe and oscope, you can go watch your kW-hr meter spin; have the fridge unplugged for awhile.  Turn off most loads in the house. , and plug the fridge in while watching the meter - you can get a rough idea by how fast the meter spins, but it misses the first few high current cycles.

   There have been schemes to 'steal power' that take advantage of the inertia of the meter wheel.

3. 
   Boats234 | Sep 10, 2006 07:19am | #3

   Start crank amps is usually about a 50% increase to run amps.

   Junkhound mentioned a 10 to 13x increase--- this may be so, but for only a fraction of a millisecond so I don't see it being pertinent to a generator load.

   So figuring your 6.5A run--- that would put you just under 10A at start---varies on capacitance provided.

   Transferring that info to your generator load and it means aprox. 1100 Watt at start up and 750Watts running.

   So if your trying to figure if you can still watch TV and keep your beer cold at the same time just use 1100 watts to subtract from total generator capacity to figure how much power you got left.

1. 
   junkhound | Sep 10, 2006 05:59pm | #4

   amp load would it put on a generator

   I missed reading that line - thanks for bringing it back up. 

   You are right, the 10-13X is for only when connected to a stiff source like the power company, a small generator itself limits the current also, plus the speed droop of the generator helps provide a 'soft start' for the compressor. 

1. 
   edwardh1 | Sep 10, 2006 11:56pm | #5

   whirlpool reconsidered their answer after I complained.
   they said the nameplate 6.5 amps is worst case-
   a failure mode when the defrost strips, fans (2) and compressor are all on. they said the comp and heat defrost strips do NOT run at same time ever and comp pulls only 1-2 amps + some startup surge. the defrost strips tho higher in wattage have no startup surge.

1. 
   maddog3 | Sep 11, 2006 12:12am | #6

   what was your complaint. ?....I would still use the nameplate amps.

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   .Wer ist jetzt der Idiot

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1. 
   edwardh1 | Sep 11, 2006 12:23am | #7

   complaint was that they answered first that they (whirlpool) did not know anything about start up amps but as a general rule use x2.
   2x 6.5 is 13 ampsthen they gave the true answer in a second e mail.

2. 
   maddog3 | Sep 11, 2006 01:16am | #8

   oh man,:( ...did they at least speak English...?anyway, resist the temptation to keep the genny small.

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   .Wer ist jetzt der Idiot

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4. 
   PatchogPhil | Sep 12, 2006 05:59am | #9

   I do not recall where I got this from,  but I always figured on 3 times amperage pull for startup on compressors.

    

1. 
   edwardh1 | Sep 12, 2006 02:29pm | #10

   thats in the ball park as whirlpool said surge is 2 x running amps..3 times bothered me as I have a 20 amp generator and the nameplate amps was 6.5 (3x6.5 is getting close to the 20 amp generator capacity) but startup surge is only with motors and the 6.5 amps nameplate amps has only 1-2 amps of motor current included in it.They also said the 6.5 was a worst case/failure case in which the defrost strips and the compressor both were on (which they are not supposed to be)
   so I am looking at either :
   -compressor surge startup of 2 amps x 2 surge= 4 amps or
   - or 3-4 amps for the defrost heaters if they were on
   either way OK on my 20 amp generator
   hurricane season you see.

1. 
   maddog3 | Sep 15, 2006 12:56am | #11

   you're probably ok with starting the fridge with your generator, just make sure the gauge of the extension cord you use is not too small OR the cord too long.
   you not only need the amps, you also need full voltage .are you going to be running anything else with that generator ?.

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   .Wer ist jetzt der Idiot

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1. 
   edwardh1 | Sep 15, 2006 05:11am | #12

   thanks
   maybe a fan and a few light "bubs" plus the refrig.