What is the startup surge current on a 230V 100W fridge?

Question

I have a 230V 100W compressor driven fridge. Does anyone know what the approx startup surge current might be?

Answer 1

The type of motor you are discussing most likely has a starting capacitor. The size of the capacitor will have great impact on the starting current. The larger the capacitor, the greater the starting current.
It is not uncommon to have a starting current that is 4 to 5 times the operating current.
For sizing the wire, that surge can be ignored because it won't last long enough, under normal circumstances, to overheat the wiring. (Don't use that as an excuse to use wire that is too small.) See the manufacturer's recommendations.
Current protection devices such as circuit breakers and fuses must be sized to permit the surge, but still protect during normal operation.
Professional advice regarding their selection is recommended. Installation instructions from competent manufacturers usually include that information.

Answer 2

About 3 times the running current.

Answer 3

Steady state current from P = V * i --> 100/230 = 0.43 amps.

Startup currents are usually in the range of 10 times the steady state current, so approximately
4 to 4.5 amperes in your case.

Answer 4

Well the steady current would be 1/2.3 amps.
But we can't work out the surge current without knowing the inductance of the motor .But it will certainly be more than the steady current.

Answer 5

0.78 amps