Kegerator Power Requirements at a Glance#
A kegerator is a small refrigerator for a beer keg, so electrically it is featherweight: 120 volts, 1 to 3 amps, and 90 to 240 watts on a standard 15-amp circuit through a 5-15R outlet. The pressurized gas cylinder that pushes the beer uses no electricity at all. The table above lists the single configuration.
Kegerator Electrical Specifications#
| Configuration | Voltage | Amps | Watts (max load) | Breaker | Outlet (NEMA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undercounter or freestanding kegerator | 120 V | 1–3 A | 90–240 W | 15 A | 5-15R |
A kegerator is a small refrigerator built to keep a beer keg cold and pour it through a tap tower, so electrically it is nothing more than a compressor sipping the same trickle a wine cabinet does. The pressurised gas cylinder that actually drives the beer up the line needs no electricity at all, which leaves the outlet requirement as light as any beverage appliance in the house.
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Circuit and Breaker Sizing for the Kegerator#
The compressor is the only load, and it sips. At 1 to 3 amps a kegerator barely registers on a 15-amp branch wired in standard 14-gauge copper, leaving enormous headroom, so it never needs a circuit reserved for it alone. It shares a general-purpose bar or garage branch with other light appliances without any risk of overloading the breaker — the same trickle any small beverage cabinet draws.
Installation and Safety Notes for Kegerator Wiring#
A kegerator plugs into a grounded 5-15R outlet behind or beside the cabinet, and that is the entire electrical install. The gas side is not wiring at all: the carbon-dioxide cylinder and regulator that drive the beer up the line are pressurized plumbing, so they carry no shock risk and need no power. Because it is a simple plug-in on an existing branch, no permit is typically required unless you are adding a new receptacle, which is inspector and electrician territory. In a wet bar area, confirm the outlet is grounded and, where required, protected.
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