12V fridge and electric cooler battery calculator
- Average draw: 20 W (45 percent duty), about 486 Wh a day
- Runtime on 1000 Wh: 42 hours (1.7 days)
- For 2 nights without recharging you need about 1150 Wh of battery
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12V fridges and power stations
Every price below is the live Amazon listing price when this page was built; prices change often.
Ivation Portable Electric Cooler Bag$69.99Check price
BougeRV 12v refrigerator 23 Quart$169.99Check priceSpec sheet
EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station RIVER 3 230,230 Wh,550W Up to 600W$249.00Check price
EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station River 3 Max$319.00Check price
BougeRV 12V Refrigerator with 240Wh Battery CRD2 V2 43QT$446.49Check price
EF ECOFLOW GLACIER Classic 35L Portable Fridge Freezer with Battery$699.00Check price
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station$898.99Check price
Dometic CFX5 75L Dual Zone Electric Cooler$1,349.99Check price
How does this calculator work?
A compressor fridge does not run continuously. It cools to its setpoint, shuts off and restarts as heat leaks in, so its average draw is its running wattage times a duty cycle. The duty cycle rises with outside heat: roughly a quarter of the time on a 70F day, closer to half at 90F. Freezer mode adds about 15 points.
Thermoelectric coolers work differently. They run all the time at 40 to 60 W and can only pull the inside about 35 to 40F below the outside air, so on a 90F day the inside sits near 50F, above food-safe range.
Battery capacity is derated for what you can really use: about 85 percent of a power station rating (inverter and conversion losses), 90 percent of a LiFePO4 battery, and only half of an AGM battery if you want it to last.
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Frequently asked questions
How long will a portable power station run a 12V fridge?
A 500 Wh station runs a typical 45 W compressor fridge about one day in summer heat, and a 1,000 Wh station close to two days. Cooler nights, a shaded fridge and fewer lid openings stretch that. Solar input during the day can make a 1,000 Wh station close to self-sustaining for a fridge alone.
Will a 12V fridge drain my car battery?
It can. Most compressor fridges have a low-voltage cutoff to protect the starting battery, but running one overnight from the car battery with the engine off is a common way to need a jump start in the morning. A separate power station is the simple, safe option for a campsite weekend.
Is an electric cooler better than a regular cooler for camping?
For trips of three days or more, a compressor fridge ends the ice runs and soggy food, and it holds a steady temperature. For a weekend, a good ice cooler costs a fraction as much and needs no power. Thermoelectric plug-in coolers are only worth it for keeping already-cold food cool on the drive.
Get the car camping checklist
One printable page: the full packing checklist plus our three complete setups with current prices. No sales sequence.
Used only to send the list. You can also read every setup free on this site.Researched guidance, not professional advice. Figures are published specifications or clearly labelled conventions; check your own gear's manual and your campground's rules.