How Long Will Anker SOLIX F3800 Run a Refrigerator?

Short answer: About one day per charge for a full-size fridge. In CNET's 2026 lab test, an Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus (3,840Wh, the same capacity as the base F3800) ran a standard Whirlpool refrigerator for 25.68 hours before it was empty. Your runtime depends on your fridge's average draw, the heat around it, and how often the door opens. Expansion batteries or solar recharge stretch it further.

Many Las Vegas homes have a second fridge or a chest freezer in the garage, full of drinks, bulk meat, and holiday food. In an outage, those are often the first things people want to save, and they are also the easiest to forget, because they sit away from the main house. Here is what the numbers say, how to estimate your own runtime, and how to set up an F3800 so a garage fridge or freezer keeps running.

Why the answer is "about a day," not "3,840 hours of watts"

A fridge does not draw power all the time. The compressor cycles on and off, and between cycles the power station's inverter still uses some energy just to stay on. CNET's test found that the F3800 Plus lost a large share of its stored energy to that overhead (46.63% in their measurement), which is why a 3,840Wh battery delivered about 26 hours instead of much more. Anker's own guide points out that hot weather, frequent door openings, and other connected devices also raise a fridge's energy use. A garage in a Las Vegas summer is exactly that kind of hot spot, so plan for less runtime there than in an air-conditioned kitchen.

How to estimate your own F3800 runtime in 6 steps

1. Find your fridge's watts. Check the label or manual. If it lists only volts and amps, multiply them (Anker's example: 120V × 3A = 360W running watts).
2. Measure the real average. A plug-in power meter left on the fridge for 24 hours gives you daily watt-hours, which is far more accurate than the label. Divide by 24 to get average watts.
3. Add the power station's own use. The station draws power just to keep its inverter on. Do not assume the full 3,840Wh reaches the fridge.
4. Run the formula. Anker's rule of thumb is battery Wh ÷ average fridge watts = backup hours. Then trim it for inverter losses, heat, and door openings.
5. Check the startup surge. Compressors pull a brief spike on start. The F3800 is rated 6,000W continuous and 9,000W peak, so one fridge or freezer is well within its output.
6. Do a planned test. Run the garage fridge on the F3800 for a few hours on a normal day and watch the battery percentage in the app. That tells you more about your setup than any chart.

F3800 fridge runtime: the numbers in one place

The CNET runtime was measured on the F3800 Plus. The base F3800 shares the same battery capacity and inverter rating, but CNET did not test the base model, so treat that number as a guide for both, not a guarantee.

Garage fridge and freezer outage checklist

• Keep the F3800 indoors or in a shaded, ventilated spot, not in direct sun, and follow Anker's operating temperature range in the manual.
• Use one heavy-duty, properly rated extension cord from the station to the fridge. No daisy-chained power strips.
• Plug in only the fridge or freezer first. Add other loads after you see how fast the battery drops.
• Keep doors closed. Grab what you need from the garage fridge in one trip.
• Fill empty freezer space with frozen water bottles before outage season. A full freezer holds temperature longer.
• Keep an appliance thermometer in each unit. Food above 40°F for more than 2 hours should be checked against the FoodSafety.gov chart.
• Never plug a power station into a wall outlet to feed the house. Connecting it to home circuits is a job for a licensed electrician.
• Recharge between uses. Our guide to fall and winter solar recharge covers what to expect from panels this time of year.

When one F3800 is not enough

If you want the kitchen fridge, a garage freezer, Wi-Fi, and lights all running for more than a day, you have two choices. You can add BP3800 expansion batteries to multiply the stored energy, or you can recharge with solar during the day so the battery refills while the sun is up. For a fixed setup that powers selected home circuits, Anker offers home connection options such as the Home Power Panel or a transfer switch. Any connection to your electrical panel should be designed and installed by a licensed electrician.

For whole-home planning beyond one appliance, see how long a home battery lasts in a power outage and what size home battery you need for a fridge and Wi-Fi. Not sure which F3800 model fits your home? Our F3800 vs F3800 Plus comparison lays out the outlet and solar differences side by side.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an Anker SOLIX F3800 last on one charge?

It depends on what you plug in. For a full-size fridge alone, plan on about a day: CNET measured 25.68 hours on the F3800 Plus, which has the same 3,840Wh battery. Smaller loads like Wi-Fi and lights last longer. Bigger loads drain it faster.

Can the F3800 run a chest freezer in a garage?

Yes. A typical freezer's running and startup draw is well within the F3800's 6,000W continuous and 9,000W peak output. Runtime depends on the freezer's average draw and the garage heat, so measure it with a planned test.

Will a full freezer stay cold without any backup power?

According to FoodSafety.gov, a full freezer holds a safe temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half full) if the door stays closed. A refrigerator keeps food safe for up to 4 hours.

Can I run my fridge and other things at the same time?

Yes, as long as the total stays under the station's output, but every extra load shortens the fridge's runtime. Start with the fridge, then add essentials like Wi-Fi and lights.

How do I make the F3800 run my fridge longer?

Add BP3800 expansion batteries, recharge with solar during the day, keep the fridge door closed, keep the station out of the heat, and turn off anything you do not need.