A new mini fridge can be a decadent addition or a necessary lifesaver, depending on your circumstances, but what do you do when the cord doesn’t reach the outlet. You can either move the mini-fridge or use an extension cord with it instead. It may sound simple, but don’t grab the first cheap knockoff cord you see just yet. Not all cords work with all mini fridges. You will need to check the draw of your appliance first. Then check the cord packaging to see how much it can handle. Mismatching cords with items that pull more power than they should run can be a dangerous accident waiting to happen. Rather than risking a housefire, a few seconds of reading the specifications can save you many problems. I’ll walk you through what you need to know about mini-fridge power, so you don’t melt any cords or burn out your new fridge.
Can you use an extension cord with a mini fridge? You can use an extension cord with a mini fridge. However, you should always make sure your extension cord can handle the current your fridge uses. It’s important not to overload a cord since it can heat up, melt or even cause a fire. Choose a heavy-duty cord to be safer.
How Many Amps Is A Mini Fridge?
Whether you use an extension cord with your mini-fridge or not, it’s important to understand its electrical needs. Amps, volts, and wattage are all different units of measurement. Naturally, this varies slightly based on how large your mini fridge is and how much power it uses. For example, a fridge with a freezer uses more than one made for a few drinks.
According to Quora, Watts measure power. Meanwhile, volts measure the potential difference. Most mini-fridges have a listing on them to indicate power in wattage. Amperage= watts/voltage.
The average mini-refrigerator runs around two amps. Any mini that has less than two-hundred and forty volts falls into this category. That means they are low power enough to put in a dorm room. This small refrigerator style is economical and great for keeping a few smaller items in a convenient-to-reach location.
Your standard mini-fridge runs eighty to a hundred watts per hour. The average electricity price is around thirteen cents per kilowatt, though your area may charge more or less. Hence, the cost for running a mini-fridge for a year is about thirty to a hundred dollars in the US.
The Yellow Jacket Heavy-Duty Extension Cord from Amazon can handle fifteen amps. That’s far more than our mini-fridge would need. Moreover, it has light-up ends making it easy to find your sockets in dark corners. This UL and CUL listed cord is made for big jobs, so it can also handle your small refrigerator. Best of all, it’s more temperature and abrasion-resistant than standard vinyl compounds. Read hundreds of five-star reviews for yourself when you click here.
How Long After Plugging In A Mini Fridge Can It Be Used
All fridges, regardless of size or features, have coolant. Whether you place your mini-fridge close to an outlet or use an extension cord to reach further, it won’t change the pre-cooling time. You might expect this to be less than a full-size fridge, but it’s not.
It tasks about a day, twenty-four hours before it’s safe to use your mini-fridge. While some of this has to do with it reaching the right temperature, it’s also a coolant safety issue. Often in transit, a fridge gets tipped or even laid down.
When any fridge tilts, the coolant tends to move up or down in the lines. Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent this, and it can mess up the cooling system. Only time and gravity will fix the problem.
By setting up and plugging in your mini-refrigerator, you are starting a complex internal cooling process. If any of the coolant is out of place, it will take a while to move back down to where it belongs. During this time, your fridge is also getting ready to maintain the right internal temperature. In short, wait a day to avoid food spoilage.
Some fridges say you can plug them in for as little as three hours. However, it’s better to wait than risk wasting a bunch of food. Moreover, it can be difficult to tell if food has gone off right away.
Since mini-fridges see a lot of use, that can mean bad bacteria in your body without any warning. To avoid getting food poisoning, you should wait the extra time.
Can You Plug A Mini Fridge Into A Regular Outlet
American homes have a standard hundred-twenty-volt power source. When you plug a mini fridge into an extension cord or wall socket, this is more than enough power for the fridge to run properly. The only time you should not do this is when your mini has three prongs, and the wall outlet only has two.
Not only is it physically impossible, but a fridge that needs that third prong isn’t safe without it. The third prong is a ground. That means it is there to give electricity another place to go in case of a problem. Typically, you see these on machines that draw more power to help prevent overheating and electrical fires.
Check out the Clear Power 50 ft Heavy Duty Extension Cord will reach your regular outlets easily. Not only is this cord weather and water-resistant, but it’s also flame retardant. Certified and tested in Canada and the USA, this cord is flexible in temperatures from -40°F to 140°F. Wherever you live, you’ll appreciate a Clear Power Cord. To learn more about it, click here.
Can A Mini Fridge Share An Outlet
Your mini-fridge can share an outlet, but you shouldn’t do it. Even a large residential refrigerator doesn’t require a dedicated plug. That said, it is a larger appliance. Just because you can do something, that doesn’t mean it’s an innovative idea.
I recommend using a dedicated outlet, just for safety’s sake. If the other thing you plug into the outlet is too high powered, running both will trip your circuit breaker. Not only is that annoying, but it can cause problems keeping the food in your fridge cool enough to prevent food poisoning.
If you must use a plug for the fridge and another item, use a surge protector. While this is always a good practice, an outlet at or near-maximum output is more at risk for problems. Sure, a quick power outage is no big deal, but if it happens often, your food won’t stay cold, and you could get sick. Plus, it will damage the wiring over time.
Best Type Of Extension Cord For Plugging A Refrigerator Into An Outlet
Choosing the right extension cord is always about safety. If you can plug your mini-fridge directly into the socket, that’s great, but using an extension cord will give you the distance you need if you can’t quite reach it. So how do you know which cord is the right one?
When you pull more power through a small cord than it can handle, the cord will still try to give your appliance the power it needs. However, the wires inside that conduct the electricity will eventually overheat. If you’ve ever had a cord overheat, then you know it can be scary. In worst-case scenarios, the wrong cord can melt and potentially start a fire.
When in doubt, always choose more instead of less. It would be best if you picked a heavy-duty extension cord for a mini-refrigerator. It’s better to have more power capacity than you need. Doing this won’t harm the cord or the appliance to run less than the maximum amount of electricity possible from the wall.
The lower the gauge number on your extension cord, the higher their capacity to deliver power. A ten- or twelve-gauge extension cord is heavy-duty or extra-heavy-duty. These make ideal cords for running a refrigerator.
Though your mini-fridge isn’t as demanding in terms of power as a full size, it’s better to take extra precautions. Using a better-quality extension cord can help you avoid any accidental outages. Plus, a larger extension cord often means it’s less likely to wriggle or fall out of a socket.
A high-quality Amazon Basics Vinyl Outdoor Extension Cord is great for your mini-fridge. Available in fifteen to a hundred feet, there’s a good length for any stretch. More importantly, this ten-amp cord can handle most small refrigerators easily. Abrasion, moisture, and sun resistant, Amazon cords can handle most smaller appliances. Have yours delivered to your door by clicking here.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right extension cord is like picking the tool for any other job. Sometimes you can improvise safely, and other times you need an exact match, like when you plan to use an extension cord with your mini-fridge. Even if some people get lucky and never encounter a problem, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Using the wrong power cord is a fire waiting to happen.
Interesting Thoughts
If you to place a mini fridge in a small area, learning what are the dimensions of a mini fridge as soon as possible.
Another topic is can a mini fridge sit on carpet or not.
Extension cords are meant to be a temporary measure. These cords extend the reach of an outlet, but they were never meant to be a forever solution. As soon as possible, it would be best if you relocated your mini-fridge to a safer spot where it can reach the outlet alone.
Hopefully, you will be able to relocate your fridge soon. If not, then remember to unplug it from time to time to avoid overusing your extension cord and burning it out.
