Can a Mini Fridge Share an Outlet? Power and Safety Considerations - House and Home Online (2023)

FAQs

Can you share outlet with refrigerator? ›

You can and it will work. Some people discourage it because if you trip the circuit breaker and aren't aware of it, you can spoil a refrigerator/freezer full of food worth hundreds of dollars. They prefer that the refrigerator has its own circuit.

You can, but I would recommend checking the amperage draw of everything plugged into the power strip beforehand. If, say, you have a 2 amp minifridge plugged into a 10 amp power strip with nothing else, it should be completely fine.

Yes you can do that and as well the other way round, mini fridge on top of microwave and plug them into same socket.

You should have refrigerators and freezers installed on a 15-20 amp dedicated 120 volt circuit. This will avoid an electrical overload due to your current wiring not being capable of handling the additional power.

A modern refrigerator requires a dedicated 20-amp circuit. You may currently have a smaller refrigerator plugged into a general lighting circuit, but during any major remodeling, install a dedicated circuit (120/125-volts) for the refrigerator.

A standard rule of thumb is that you can plug in two to three devices at a time into a single socket. To begin with, there are a few things you need to think about before adopting this rule. The most important factor is the amperage of the circuit breaker.

Yes, you can run a mini fridge on a 15-amp circuit. Most mini fridges use less than 2 amps of electrical power, which is less than the stipulated 80% threshold of 15 amps, that is, 12 amps.

How Many Watts Does a Mini-Fridge Use? Mini-fridge wattages vary based on cooling capabilities and manufacturer, but most products require somewhere between 50 and 100 watts of power.

Can you run a mini fridge on an extension cord? Yes, but you should be aware of possible issues. If the extension cord is longer than 20 meters, it should have more capacity than a 14 AWG cord. Longer extension cords deliver lower voltage, which can eventually damage the motor running the compressor.

On average, mini-fridges use 55 to 85 watts per hour. But in some cases, they can run up to 240 watts. So to determine refrigerator amps, we need to divide the number of watts by voltage, which we know is 120 on average. That means an average mini fridge uses no more than 2-amps, although they can use less.

Can a microwave and small refrigerator be on the same circuit? ›

If you put a microwave and fridge in the same electric circuit on the wall, it could overload the circuit and cause a fire. So it's best to keep them on separate circuits.

Our understanding of the NEC is that both freezers and refrigerators must have GFCI protection in every situation other than in a kitchen of a dwelling unit.

A GFCI is not needed for a refrigerator in a kitchen so long as that refrigerator is not plugged into one of the general usage wall outlets, like what's above the counter. Some people may feel it's nice to have that protection, but it is not required.

Without proper ventilation, heat will build up around the unit, leading to decreased performance and eventual failure. A fridge works by pumping heat from inside the unit, to cooling elements on the back of the unit. This heat must be able to dissipate so that the fridge can operate efficiently.

The National Electrical Code requires that every large appliance be served by a separate, dedicated circuit, not shared with any other appliance. Breakers that are constantly tripping are a good indication of appliances in need of a dedicated circuit. If it has a motor, it typically requires its own circuit.

There are a lot of different ways that a refrigerator can cause a circuit breaker to trip. A tripped breaker isn't a bad thing (unless it leads to everything in your fridge spoiling). Breakers are designed to trip to make sure surges and overloads don't damage your appliances.

The freezer should be on a dedicated circuit. This is recommended for best performance and to prevent the overloading of house wiring circuits.

NEC 210-52 states the following (abbreviated for easier digestion): Receptacles are needed in every room of a home such that no point on a wall is over 6′ from an outlet. This means that you need an outlet within 6′ of a doorway or fireplace. A long wall, however, may have up to 12′ between outlets.

Piggybacking is common when dealing with electrical outlets, especially where multiple outlets are required. This wiring technique involves jumping from one junction box to another. The technique is safe as long as the maximum amperage per circuit and overall electrical safety at home is maintained.

Does a 12v mini fridge use a lot of electricity? ›

A 12 volt fridge uses between 30 and 55 Ah (amp hours) per day on average.

The 20A rating on the circuit is a max limit. The 15A is what the mini fridge needs.

Side Clearance – Plan for between one-half inch to one-inch of clearance on both sides of the unit. Rear Clearance – Allow between one to two inches of space at the rear of the refrigerator for proper airflow. Top Clearance – Ensure there is a minimum of one-half inch to one-inch of clearance on top of the unit.

This is to allow any oil that may have flowed into the coolant lines to have enough time to return to the compressor and clear the coolant lines. For example, if the unit was on its side for two hours, it must sit upright for at least two hours before you plug it into the wall outlet.

In reality your mini fridge is at most a 12 amp draw or designed for a 15 amp circuit. A 14 gauge cord will be fine in this case.

This consumes more energy, leading to higher operating costs. For example, it takes less energy to run a mini fridge than a standard-sized refrigerator. A mini fridge uses between 233 and 310 kWh, while a full-size fridge consumes about 404 to 613 kWh.

If you're using a 12V 100Ah lead acid battery, you can expect the fridge to run for about 30-50 hours because lead acid batteries can only be discharged to 50%. Keep reading for my full test results.

Large appliances such as dishwashers, air conditioners and ovens typically exceed 1,000 watts on their own. Therefore, these appliances should have their own dedicated circuit, and you should avoid plugging anything else into the same outlet.

When all these electrical appliances connected to the single socket are switched on at the same time, the electric fuse of circuit blows off.

Does a microwave or mini fridge use more electricity? ›

This is usually caused by multiple appliances being plugged into the same circuit. To avoid this happening, make sure that your refrigerator has a dedicated circuit, which you can do by plugging your refrigerator into an alternative power outlet and seeing if it still trips.

But don't plug big appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and sump pumps into a a GFCI outlet or circuit. It's also not a good idea to put lights on GFCI circuit – you don't want to be left in the dark if the circuit trips.

Water Has Pooled Around the Fridge

If there's a pool of water under your refrigerator, it's likely the GFCI will trip to prevent a surge. Clean up the water and then see if the device still trips. If it does, you need to identify where the moisture is coming from and address this problem.

Refrigerator – Most refrigerators work with a standard 100-120 volt electrical plug and outlet. You will notice that the electrical plug is made up of three prongs; this means you will need an electrical outlet that has three inserts.

You can and it will work. Some people discourage it because if you trip the circuit breaker and aren't aware of it, you can spoil a refrigerator/freezer full of food worth hundreds of dollars. They prefer that the refrigerator has its own circuit.

Refrigerators are considered noncontinuous duty loads. Loads that draw current for less than three hours at a time are allowed to be on the same circuit with other noncontinuous loads, as long as the total load does not exceed the circuit breaker rating.

Don't use the mini fridge outdoors or anywhere it is likely to come into contact with the elements. Don't place a mini fridge near cookers, radiators, or in direct sunlight, as this will result in it having to work harder to maintain the required internal temperature.

These appliances have a higher power capacity and must be plugged directly into a wall outlet. How many amps does a mini fridge use? A mini fridge typically uses between 50 and 100 watts of power. So, the rated current is about two amps.

Can a fridge and washing machine be on the same circuit? No. Each is supposed to be on a dedicated circuit.

Can you run AC and fridge on same outlet? ›

As long as that circuit is rated for the combined amperage of both, and the circuit breaker's trip point is above the combined current draw, you should be fine. Otherwise, you're likely to trip a breaker (best, and most common case), or start a fire due to overheating the wires (worst, and least common case).

We strongly recommend that an extension cord not be used with any refrigeration appliances (refrigerator, freezer, compact refrigerator, ice machine, beverage center, etc.) due to the potential safety hazards under certain conditions.

Generally you should not. Indeed, it's wise to have your fridge on a dedicated circuit so that a failure of some other device does not shut off the power to the fridge.

A 115-volt or 120-volt, individual, properly grounded branch circuit with a 3-prong grounding type receptacle, protected by a 15 or 20 amp circuit breaker or time-delay fuse. Should be on a dedicated circuit. This is recommended for best performance and to prevent overloading house wiring circuits.

The primary rule is what's known as the 6'/12′ rule. NEC 210-52 states the following (abbreviated for easier digestion): Receptacles are needed in every room of a home such that no point on a wall is over 6′ from an outlet. This means that you need an outlet within 6′ of a doorway or fireplace.

Portable heaters, refrigerators or large electrical draw appliances should never be plugged into the power strip, but rather a dedicated electrical wall outlet.

All commercial buildings/kitchens are required to have GFCI for refrigerators. See NEC 210.8(B)(2). In a Dwelling Unit (house or apartment) refrigerators located inside the kitchen do NOT have to have a GFCI.

Extension cords can overheat and cause fires when used improperly. Overheating is usually caused by overloading or connecting appliances that consume more watts than the cord can handle.

GE strongly recommends that an extension cord not be used with a freezer due to the potential safety hazards under certain conditions.

If your refrigerator trips often, then it is likely due to the compressor. Every time your compressor turns on to run the cooling cycle, it will trip the breaker. When this happens, it is typically due to a grounding issue with the compressor that is causing the part to essentially become overloaded with electricity.

How many amps does a small refrigerator use? ›

Different mini fridge models use different amounts of power, but most compact fridges require less than 2 amps when connected to a 120-volt outlet. The wattage rating usually runs from 50 to 100 watts, although some models may need up to 240 watts.

This is usually caused by multiple appliances being plugged into the same circuit. To avoid this happening, make sure that your refrigerator has a dedicated circuit, which you can do by plugging your refrigerator into an alternative power outlet and seeing if it still trips.

Probably yes - A freezer typically draws less than 5 amps. So 2 freezers on a 15 or 20 amp circuit is not a problem. The question is what other loads are plugged into different outlets on that same circuit. If the total comes out less than the breaker's rating, you are fine.