MyReelSells

Generator for a chest freezer in a power outage

Deer season freezer, side of beef, whatever you do not want to lose. We add the running watts and the startup surge, then show you the unit that fits.

A full chest freezer holds cold for about 48 hours unopened, so this is not about the first day, it is about day three. A freezer runs at 500 watts but only cycles a few minutes an hour, which is why a 1,000Wh battery unit can carry it 10 to 12 hours quietly and a gas generator only needs to run a couple of hours a day. Add the kitchen fridge and a second freezer and the 6,500W dual fuel is the easy answer.

Step 1What has to stay on
OptionalHow big is the house?

Square footage is a rough guide. What sets the size is the biggest motor (pump, furnace, AC) and whether the fridge and freezer are on the list.

Showing essentials. Add coffee maker, microwave, washer, space heater, garage door, well pump, window AC →

Fits your numberThree ways to buy it
Storm season

Peak is the second week of September.

Statistically the busiest stretch of the Atlantic season lands around September 10. The units people want sell out in the three days before a storm, not after — that's the whole reason to size it now.

14days to peak
That load is standby-generator territory. Central AC or electric heat on top of everything else means a permanently installed unit and an electrician — or uncheck the biggest load and run it in shifts with a portable.
Sizing forA specific use
CampingTailgatingCPAP / medicalRV & van lifeHome office outageFishing & hunting campBackyard party & movie nightSump pump in a stormWell pumpChest freezer full of meatFood truck & farmers market
For thisWhat else you need
Freezer thermometer with alarm
Know the number, not the guess.
Amazon →
Chest freezer, 7 cu ft
The second freezer for the second deer.
Amazon →
12-gauge extension cord, 50 ft
Garage freezer to the generator outside.
Amazon →
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
Overnight quiet on the freezer, no gas.
Amazon →
Don't forgetEverything you need to get through the night

Safety, the short version: generator outside only, 20+ ft from windows, exhaust pointed away. Never plug into a wall outlet ("backfeeding") — it's illegal and can electrocute utility workers. Panel connections go through a transfer switch or interlock installed per code. Wattages above are typical; your appliance's nameplate is the truth — check it for anything critical like medical equipment or a well pump.

Every one of these is an affiliate link. Same price to you.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases — product links on this page are commissionable.
Typical wattages compiled from manufacturer data; always verify against your own equipment. · myreelsells.com

Peak
See it