Whether you’re planning an outdoor event, gearing up for harvest season, or need extra cold storage over the busy summer months, a single phase refrigerated shipping container could be exactly what you’re looking for. Kiwi Box – New Zealand’s largest refrigerated container supplier in the South Island – offers flexible leases from as little as one month, making it easy to get sorted before demand peaks. Here’s everything you need to know.
What electrical setup do you need for a single phase refrigerated shipping container?
A Kiwi Box single phase refrigerated shipping container is designed to run off a normal domestic household 10-amp power socket. You don’t need any special electrical setup – a standard power point is all it takes.
A 3 phase refrigerated shipping container, by contrast, requires a power supply you’d typically find in an industrial or factory setting. For most homes, farms, event venues, and small businesses, single phase is the simpler, more accessible option.
Why hire a single phase 20ft refrigerated container over a 3 phase refrigerated container?
Single phase refrigerated containers are significantly cheaper to run on chill operation. Running a 3 phase 20ft refrigerated container on chill mode costs 3 to 4 times more in electricity.
Here’s why: manufacturers typically install the same large 3 phase refrigeration system into their 20ft containers as they do in their 40ft containers. That means in a 20ft 3 phase unit, you’re running a very large compressor motor – far more power than the job requires, and your power bill reflects it.
If your needs are chilling rather than heavy-duty freezing, a single phase container is the more economical choice.
How much electricity does a single phase refrigerated container use?
Running costs vary depending on:
- How often you open the doors to load or unload product
- The temperature of the product when it enters the container
As a general guide, a Kiwi Box single phase 20ft refrigerated container running on chill operation costs roughly the same per month as running a medium heat pump. For most businesses and event operators, that’s a very manageable cost.
Can a single phase refrigerated shipping container freeze goods, or does it just chill them?
Yes – a Kiwi Box single phase refrigerated container can freeze goods down to as low as -20°C.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind:
- Single phase containers take longer to freeze chilled goods than 3 phase containers, because they operate with a smaller refrigeration motor.
- If you need to freeze down a large tonnage of product quickly, a 3 phase container would be more suitable.
- If the product is going in already frozen, a single phase container will hold it at temperature with no issues.
What size single phase refrigerated containers are available for lease?
Kiwi Box single phase refrigerated containers are available in the 20ft (6 metre) size only. These are well-suited to a wide range of uses from events and weddings through to farm harvests and commercial kitchen overflow.
Does a refrigerated container require a flat surface or special site preparation?
No special site preparation is required. The four corner posts on the container are engineered to carry the full weight, which means different-sized blocks can be placed under each corner post to keep the container level – even on uneven ground.
Kiwi Box containers can be placed on:
- Concrete
- Gravel
- Grass
This makes them highly versatile for rural properties, event sites, and backyard setups alike.
Can I use a generator to power a refrigerated shipping container if I’m off-grid?
Yes. Generators can be used to power both single phase and 3 phase refrigerated shipping containers. Single phase containers are considerably more flexible here — the lower power draw means you don’t need a large or expensive generator to run one.
For reference, 3 phase containers typically require a 16 KVA generator.
What are single phase refrigerated containers typically used for?
Single phase containers are suited to a surprising range of situations. Here are some of the most common uses Kiwi Box sees across New Zealand:
Events, festivals & concerts
The low power requirements make single phase containers ideal for outdoor events where only standard power is available. Kiwi Box has supplied containers to:
- Akaroa French Festival
- Electric Avenue — one of New Zealand’s largest music festivals
- The Lakes Festival
- Rhythm & Alps
Weddings & large private events
Catering companies and event organisers rely on them for mobile refrigeration. Flying Trestles, a catering company, uses Kiwi Box containers for events like Warbirds Over Wanaka.
Charities & food rescue organisations
Kiwi Box leases single phase containers to several Christchurch-based charities at a significantly discounted rate, including:
Harvest season — farms, orchards & flower growers
For small farms, orchards, and flower-growing operations, a single month’s lease during harvest is often all that’s needed to keep produce in peak condition.
Seasonal business surges
When demand spikes — summer sales, busy trading periods, peak hospitality season — a short-term lease (minimum one month) gives businesses the extra cold storage capacity they need without a long-term commitment.
Commercial kitchen renovations
When a kitchen is out of action during a fit-out or renovation, a refrigerated container on-site keeps operations running with minimal disruption.
Is there an easier way to access the container if staff are in and out all day?
Yes. Some Kiwi Box single phase refrigerated containers are fitted with an easy-access cool room door cut into the left-hand container door. Instead of swinging open the large main doors every time, staff can use this smaller door to step in and out quickly.
These containers also have internal lighting fitted, so staff can easily find what they need without needing to prop the main doors open — which helps maintain temperature and keeps running costs down.
Where can I lease a single phase refrigerated container in New Zealand?
Kiwi Box is the South Island’s largest refrigerated container supplier, with containers available across a wide range of locations including: Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru, Nelson, Blenheim, Greymouth, Cromwell, Alexandra, Queenstown, Dunedin, and Invercargill.
Leases start from as little as one month — perfect if you just need short-term cold storage for an event, a harvest run, or a seasonal peak.
Ready to sort your cold storage before the summer rush? Call Kiwi Box on 0800 222 906 or get in touch online to talk through your requirements