Amount of Amperes in a Refrigerator

Refrigerator Differences

• A refrigerator, like an air conditioner, uses electricity in a different manner than other appliances, which use electricity the whole time they are on. Generally, an appliance draws a certain amount of power while it is running. Some appliances with a motor that needs to start will draw more power at the very beginning to get the motor running and then have a reduced power need after that. For example, a washing machine requires approximately 2,300 watts to get started but runs on only 750 watts.

Compressor

• A refrigerator also has a motor that powers a compressor, but the motor is only on part time even though the refrigerator is considered "on and running." When the compressor is not running, the motor is off, and the electrical needs drop just enough to power the electronic components. This is different from an appliance that is either "on" or "off."

Insulation

• The compressor does not stay on all the time because, when the refrigerator reaches a predetermined internal temperature, its insulation will keep it at that temperature without the compressor running. Only when the temperature begins to drop, after several hours, will the compressor need to run again. Continually opening the door forces the compressor to run constantly.

Required Power

• When the compressor starts, the wattage required is approximately 2,200 while its running wattage is about 600. When the compressor is not running, the wattage drops to about 5 watts or about two AA alkaline batteries. This varies with the size of the refrigerator and attached freezer. On a normal 120-volt household circuit that refrigerators are designed to run on, this means that they are drawing an amperage of 18 amps at start up and 5 amps while running.

Formula

• The formula for determining amperage is "watts divided by volts = amps." Appliances are required by law to list the amount of either watts or amps that they draw. When only one type of power measurement is listed, then it is easy to use the formula to find the other. Many appliances list the information near where the electrical cord plugs into the base. Smaller electronic appliances with detachable cords often list it on the cord itself.