Appliance · Outdoor
How many watts does an electric cooler use — and what can run it?
A 46 L compressor cooler (Dometic CFX3 45): 52 W AC input rating, 12.4 W average on 12 V DC per Dometic. Which power stations run it, and for how long.
The representative cooler is the Dometic CFX3 45, a 46-litre compressor cooler. Dometic's product page gives two figures that do different jobs: a rated AC input power of 52 W, used as the running figure, and an average consumption of 1.03 Ah per hour at 12 V DC with 32 °C outside and 4 °C inside, which the site turns into a 12.4 W average. That average is a DC figure; through the AC adapter the draw is somewhat higher, so the average-draw column leans long.
What changes the draw
The compressor cycles to hold the set temperature. A hotter day, a colder setting, warm drinks going in and a lid opened often all make it run longer; Dometic's average is for one stated condition. The page assumes 24 hours a day.
The starting figure is generic
Dometic publishes no starting figure. The 600 W on this page is the top of the generic "mini fridge/cooler" row (400–600 W) on the Champion chart, not a Dometic number. It is the only reason the two smallest stations fail here: both cover 52 W continuously, but their peaks are under 600 W. The rule is on the methodology page.
Reading the tables
"Runtime at 52 W" assumes the compressor never stops; "At average draw" uses 12.4 W. Example: the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus record has no maker factor, so the default 0.85 applies: 286 Wh × 0.85 ÷ 12.4 W = 19.6 hours.
Power stations that can run it
Pass = continuous output ≥ 52 W and peak output ≥ 600 W. Runtime = capacity × maker's factor ÷ 52 W, nothing else plugged in. Method.
| Model | Fits | Runtime at 52 W | At average draw | Capacity | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARBERO 88Wh Portable Power Station (M82) | No | — | — | 89 Wh | $119.99 |
| DARAN R100 (89.6Wh) | No | — | — | 90 Wh | $149.99 |
| Bluetti EB3A | Yes | 4.2 h | 18 h | 269 Wh | $219 |
| EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus | Yes | 4.7 h | 20 h | 286 Wh | $299 |
| Anker SOLIX C300 | Unclear — no peak figure | — | — | 288 Wh | $429.99 |
| Anker SOLIX C300 DC | No | — | — | 288 Wh | $349.99 |
| Jackery Explorer 300 | Unclear — no peak figure | — | — | 292 Wh | $289 |
| Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Yes | 8.2 h | 34 h | 499 Wh | $499.95 |
| Bluetti AC70 | Yes | 13 h | 2 d 5 h | 768 Wh | $359 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | Yes | 17 h | 2 d 22 h | 1,024 Wh | $499.99 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 | Yes | 17 h | 2 d 22 h | 1,024 Wh | $699 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic | Yes | 17 h | 2 d 22 h | 1,024 Wh | $599 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | Yes | 17 h | 2 d 22 h | 1,024 Wh | $799 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000X | Unclear — no peak figure | — | — | 1,056 Wh | $469.99 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | Yes | 17 h | 3 d 1 h | 1,070 Wh | $559 |
| Bluetti AC180 | Unclear — no peak figure | — | — | 1,152 Wh | $499 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus | Yes | 21 h | 3 d 15 h | 1,264 Wh | $699 |
| Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | Yes | 25 h | 4 d 7 h | 1,505 Wh | $1,499.95 |
| Goal Zero Yeti 1500X | Yes | 25 h | 4 d 8 h | 1,516 Wh | $1,124.89 |
| EcoFlow DELTA Max (2000) | Unclear — no peak figure | — | — | 2,016 Wh | — |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | Yes | 33 h | 5 d 20 h | 2,042 Wh | $999 |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus | Yes | 33 h | 5 d 20 h | 2,043 Wh | — |
| Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 | Yes | 33 h | 5 d 20 h | 2,048 Wh | $899.99 |
| Bluetti AC200L | Yes | 33 h | 5 d 20 h | 2,048 Wh | $899 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max | Yes | 33 h | 5 d 20 h | 2,048 Wh | $1,299 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max | Yes | 33 h | 5 d 20 h | 2,048 Wh | $1,199 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus | Yes | 33 h | 5 d 20 h | 2,048 Wh | $1,599 |
| Bluetti Elite 200 V2 | Unclear — no peak figure | — | — | 2,074 Wh | $899 |
| Jackery HomePower 3000 | Yes | 2 d 2 h | 8 d 19 h | 3,072 Wh | $1,499 |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus | Unclear — no peak figure | — | — | 3,840 Wh | $2,599.99 |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 | Yes | 2 d 19 h | 11 d 17 h | 4,096 Wh | $3,299 |
Generators that can run it
| Model | Fits | Load | Published run time | CO sensor | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 100396 3400W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter | Yes | 2 % (gasoline) | 7.5 h @ 25 % | No | — |
| Champion 201241 13,500W Electric Start Tri Fuel Generator | Yes | 0 % (gasoline) | 8 h @ 50 % | Yes | — |
| Champion 201319 4500W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 14 h @ 25 % | Yes | — |
| DuroMax XP13000EH | Yes | 0 % (gasoline) | 17 h @ 25 % · 8 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,299 |
| DuroMax XP9500iH | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 21 h @ 25 % · 11 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,999 |
| Generac GP8000E (with COsense, model 7715) | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 10 h @ 50 % | Yes | — |
| Generac iQ3500 (with COsense) | Yes | 2 % (gasoline) | 14.1 h @ 25 % · 8.9 h @ 50 % | Yes | — |
| Honda EU2200i | Yes | 3 % (gasoline) | 8.1 h @ 25 % · 3.2 h @ 100 % | Yes | $1,199 |
| Honda EU3200i | Yes | 2 % (gasoline) | 8.6 h @ 25 % · 3.3 h @ 100 % | Yes | $2,799 |
| Honda EU7000iS | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 16 h @ 25 % · 6.4 h @ 100 % | Yes | $4,899 |
| WEN DF680iX | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 6.1 h @ 50 % | Yes | $803.40 |
| WEN GN400i | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 7 h @ 50 % | No | $479.99 |
| Westinghouse WGen7500DFc | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 11 h @ 25 % | Yes | $1,299 |
| Westinghouse WGen9500DF | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 12 h @ 25 % · 8 h @ 50 % | No | $1,249 |
| Westinghouse WGen9500DFc | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 12 h @ 25 % · 8 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,399 |
| Westinghouse WGen9500DFc EFI | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 15 h @ 25 % · 10 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,549 |
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a compressor cooler use?
Can I run a Dometic cooler from a power station's 12 V port?
How long can a power station run a compressor cooler?
Sources
- Dometic — CFX3 45 product page, electrical and performance specifications (accessed 2026-10-31)
- Champion Power Equipment — Generator Wattage Chart (generator maker's chart, not the appliance maker) (accessed 2026-10-31)
Page updated 2026-10-31.