How Long Do Portable Fridges Last?

Portable fridges are great for camping, road trips, and power outages. You can connect a portable fridge to any 12V power source, including your car battery. I’ve used portable fridges for road trips and camping plenty of times, so I’ll explain how long they last in my experience.

Portable fridges last between 5 to 10 years, depending on maintenance routines, refrigerator quality, and where it’s stored. A 12-volt fridge usually lasts up to 18 hours on a single 12-volt battery, but you can charge the battery to make the fridge last indefinitely.

Throughout this article, I’ll break down what you need to know about how to maintain a portable fridge, whether or not you can leave it plugged into the power source, and so on. All of these answers are from my personal experience with portable fridges, so your results may vary.

How Long Will a 12V Fridge Last?

A 12V fridge will last for half a decade. It can operate between 16 to 18 hours on a 12-volt battery before it runs out of power. This means that you shouldn’t use a 12-volt fridge on your car battery for longer than 14 hours to avoid running the battery dry.

Choosing a high-quality portable fridge can make a big difference in terms of how long it lasts. I got the Dometic CF18 12V Fridge when I traveled in my van. The thermostat goes down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, letting you choose if you want a fridge or a freezer. It has a 19-quart interior with a removable divider, too.

Remember, you should never use a fridge without a fan because it can severely hinder the fridge’s performance. The same rules apply to portable 12V refrigerators because all of the cold air stays at the bottom of the container.

Much like how tower fans don’t blow cold air, a portable fridge relies on an external source to reduce the temperature. If the fan doesn’t work, the cold air will settle and your food and drinks will spoil.

Can You Leave a Portable Fridge On All the Time?

You can leave a portable fridge on all the time if the 12-volt battery has a renewable power source. These power sources include solar panels or driving the vehicle to charge the battery. Keep in mind that portable fridges only run for a few minutes per hour to maintain the thermostat’s temperature.

Here’s what you should know to determine how long you can leave your portable fridge on:

• How many 12-volt batteries are connected to a portable fridge? Off-Road Aussie explains that a 100Ah 12-volt battery can last up to 7 hours longer than an 80Ah 12-volt battery. Adding multiple batteries in a series greatly increases the portable fridge’s runtime, but so does improving the amp hours.
• Do the 12-volt batteries have solar panels to power them? I used two 100-watt solar panels to power my 12-volt portable fridge and it never had to turn off. The fridge ran for several months without any issues because the electrical draw was so low compared to the solar panels’ input.
• What is the portable fridge’s temperature compared to the outside temperature? A portable fridge won’t have to work as hard if the temperature difference is within 10 degrees or so. However, most 12-volt fridges won’t last as long if they’re set to 32 degrees Fahrenheit on a 100-degree day.
• How often does the 12V fridge’s compressor turn on? It should only run for a few minutes per hour. If the compressor turns on more often, it’s likely because there’s a broken seal, the thermostat is faulty, or it’s way too hot outside (or in the vehicle). Most fridges need compressors to work, and portable fridges are no exception.

When I got my portable fridge, I wanted to be able to use it without ever turning it off. I was traveling for a couple of weeks at a time, and I had to test how long the 12-volt fridge could last.

After plugging the fridge into a 12V battery through a charge controller and an inverter (the charge controller was connected to two 100-watt solar panels on the roof of the van), the fridge never turned off.

How to Maintain a Portable 12V Fridge

To maintain a portable 12V fridge, follow these suggestions:

1. Test the thermostat annually to ensure it’s working properly. A fridge can work without a thermostat, but it’ll end up sending the temperatures all over the place. One day the food will be frozen, the next it’ll thaw. Use a multimeter to test the thermostat’s terminals.
2. Clean the fridge vents and fans monthly. If the vents get clogged, they’ll make the compressor work harder than it should. This process can damage the compressor while requiring more electricity, which drains the battery or other power source. Use a soft sponge to remove debris from the vents.
3. Keep ice in the portable fridge to reduce how often the compressor has to turn on. According to Forbes, adding ice to a portable fridge will allow it to maintain its temperature without having to rely on the 12-volt battery too often. You can greatly extend a portable fridge’s longevity with this ice trick.
4. Mount the fridge on a stable, level surface to prevent the compressor from getting damaged. I used four metal corner brackets and drilled them into the surface below. If you don’t want to use power tools, you can also use multiple two-inch thick Velcro strips to secure the portable fridge.
5. Make sure the portable fridge has a steady, secure electrical connection. There should always be a fuse between a portable fridge and a battery. Furthermore, the plug needs to be secure in the electrical outlet. Arcing, loose terminals, and many other electrical problems can cause a short circuit in the portable fridge.

In my experience, portable 12V fridges are much easier to take care of than full-sized kitchen refrigerators. Not only are all of the parts much more accessible, but you also don’t have to deal with circuit breakers, oversized compressors, and high-voltage wiring.