Solar Appliances
Solar AC, geyser, lights, pumps and fans: how to power each one.
Solar appliances · Fridges and freezers
Solar Fridge and Freezer in Karachi
A fridge runs all day and all night, so it is the load that decides your battery. A few sums show what it takes to keep one cold through a cut.
- ✓ How much a fridge uses
- ✓ Surge and battery
- ✓ DC fridge option
Why the fridge matters
A fridge does not use much power at any moment. It uses some all the time, because it cycles on and off around the clock. That steady demand is what makes it the key load for a battery.
Food spoils fast in Karachi's heat, so a fridge is also the appliance people most want to protect in a long cut. Sizing for it first is a sensible way to start.
Fridge options we quote
Appliance only. Panels, inverter and battery are separate.
| Item | Detail | Price (PKR) |
|---|---|---|
| DC solar fridge | Runs straight from a battery or panels | Contact us for latest prices |
Prices change with the exchange rate and stock. Contact us for the latest prices.
Fridge types and what they draw
Typical figures. Read the energy label on your own fridge.
| Type | Typical running power | Typical energy per day |
|---|---|---|
| Standard AC fridge | 100 to 200 W while the compressor runs | About 1 to 2 kWh |
| Inverter AC fridge | Lower, with a variable speed compressor | Often below a standard fridge |
| Chest freezer | 100 to 150 W while running | About 1 to 1.5 kWh |
| DC fridge | Low, designed for 12 or 24 V | Often well under 1 kWh |
Sizing a battery for a fridge
An illustrative case. Use your own label.
- 1
Take the daily energy
Say 1.5 kWh a day for a standard fridge.
- 2
Choose the night share
The sun is down for about half of the day, so the battery must cover about half, around 0.75 kWh. Hot weather raises it.
- 3
Allow for losses and usable share
Divide by 0.9 for lithium, or by 0.5 for tubular. Lithium needs about 0.85 kWh. Tubular needs about 1.5 kWh.
- 4
Add the other night loads
Fans, lights and a router add to the figure.
The start-up surge
When a compressor starts, it draws a burst of current that can be several times its running current for a moment. The inverter must handle that surge or it will trip.
Check the surge rating on the inverter datasheet, and the starting current on the fridge label. A fridge on an undersized inverter will trip repeatedly, and the compressor suffers from the repeated restarts. Our inverter size guide shows how to allow for it.
Keep the door shut in a cut
A closed fridge holds its cold for hours. Every door opening lets warm air in, and the compressor works harder to cool it. In a long cut, open it as little as possible and group your visits. It cuts the battery use and keeps food safe.
DC fridges and freezers
A DC fridge runs on 12 or 24 V and can connect directly to a battery and panel. It avoids the loss in the inverter and is built to use little power. The trade-offs are a smaller choice of sizes and a different service route, so ask who repairs it and where parts come from.
For most homes, an ordinary inverter fridge on a hybrid system is simple and easy to service. A DC fridge suits a shop, a small clinic or an off-grid corner.
FAQs
Questions people ask us
Short answers. For your own property, send us your electricity bill and roof details.
Ask on WhatsAppYes. Size the inverter for the start-up surge and the battery for the night hours.
For a fridge using 1.5 kWh a day, about 0.85 kWh of lithium or 1.5 kWh of tubular covers the night, plus other loads.
Often yes, if the surge is within the unit's rating. Check the fridge label.
It uses less power and avoids inverter loss. A standard inverter fridge is easier to service.
Not always. It depends on the size, the insulation and how often you open it. Read the energy label.
Related pages
Solar UPS
Solar UPS: how it differs from a hybrid system, sizing and battery choices.
Lithium Batteries
Lithium LiFePO4 batteries: capacity maths, compatibility and safe placement.
Inverter Sizes
Inverter sizes from 1 kW to 10 kW and what each can run.
Want your fridge on solar backup?
Send the fridge label and the other loads you want in a cut. We will size the battery and give a free estimate.