What Does an Inverter Do In an RV?  + Types of Inverters, How to Install, and More

What Does an Inverter Do In An RV?

An inverter is an energy converter, allowing you to take battery or “DC” power and convert it into the 120-volt AC power necessary for powering most household appliances such as your fridge, AC, or microwave. 

Without an inverter, you’re limited in terms of what you can power in your RV. You can use an AC generator for the same purpose, but being too dependent on your generator can lead to issues and they tend to be much louder and less energy efficient.

In addition to this, when comparing standard generators vs. inverter generators, inverter generators are also much quieter and easy to port. 

How Does an Inverter Work?

Inverters are a type of power converter, something virtually every RVer needs in one way or another.

Converters are important because they take the DC power that is stored in your batteries and converts it to AC power, which is necessary for powering most devices and appliances.

Without a converter of some kind, you wouldn’t be able to power most electric appliances and other devices. 

An inverter isn’t the only way to get AC power, an AC generator can do that and all generators can independently power devices up to a certain threshold, but inverters tend to be much quieter than generators so they’re great for ongoing daily use. 

With that said, generators can be better at powering larger devices depending on the generator you have.

Learn more about how to calculate your power needs and RV power generation: How Much Solar Power Do You Need to Run an RV Fridge?.

Types of Inverters

There are two primary types of inverters typically used in RVs:

Sine wave inverter

A sine wave inverter is the most expensive type of inverter but also powers the largest range of devices due to their high output. 

Modified sine wave inverter

A modified sine wave inverter is more affordable but offers similar power output. However, they’re less fuel efficient than sine wave inverters and tend to be louder. 

Square wave inverter

Lastly, square wave inverters are more limited in their functionality, only able to power smaller devices and appliances. This makes them generally more affordable but also less flexible. 

Inverter Generators vs. Standard Generators: Pros and Cons

Next, let’s take a look at a popular type of portable generator in recent years: the inverter generator.

Inverter generators bring together your average generator with the benefits of an inverter.

The result isn’t all pros without any cons, but the benefits of an inverter generator make it a great option to consider and one which many RVers prefer. 

For example, one of the most dependable inverter generator brands is Honda. If you’re looking to get an inverter generator you can’t go wrong with something like Honda’s EU2200i. 

With an inverter generator, you get less power than the traditional generator but with far less noise, less fuel, and in a smaller package.

Let’s dive into more details on the benefits and drawbacks of an inverter generator to give you a clearer picture:

Pro: Quiet

Easily the most often mentioned benefit of an inverter generator is the noise level. 

Generators are known for being extremely noisy and therefore generally unpleasant unless you can get used to them. 

Inverter generators, on the other hand, are known for being extremely quiet, to the point where you could carry on a conversation standing right next to them. 

Pro: Fuel-efficient

Another commonly mentioned benefit is their fuel-efficiency. Inverter generators use less fuel, making them an ideal choice for boondocking depending on your power needs and budget. 

Pro: Clean power

Inverter generators provide cleaner power. 

While this might not seem like a major benefit, some devices are more sensitive than others and can be damaged when using a standard generator. 

Using an inverter generator makes this less likely to happen. 

Con: More expensive

The big con, inverter generators are quite a bit more expensive than standard RV generators. 

You pay for what you get, however, as the pros above are pretty valuable and can be more than worth the price tag. 

Con: Less power

Inverter generators provide less power than standard RV generators. However, that’s not to say they’re not powerful.

You can get an inverter generator that easily provides all the power you’ll need, but that goes back to cost.

How to Install an Inverter Into Your RV

Don’t be overwhelmed at the idea of installing your own inverter. It’s actually pretty straightforward and only requires a few steps.

If you’re going with a portable inverter generator to supplement an existing inverter on your rig, you’re good to go. 

However, you’ll need to follow the steps below (in addition to your inverter’s installation instructions) if you’re installing your first or a new standalone inverter:

1. Find the ideal location for your inverter

First, you’ll need to find a safe location to install your inverter. 

Make sure it’s in a safe place where little ones or furry friends can’t come in contact with it and that there isn’t ever any moisture in the area. 

Chances are, you already have an inverter and you’re upgrading it. If that’s the case, this step is super simple: put it where the existing one is.

2. Run a cable from your inverter to your battery

Remember, your inverter will convert the DC power in your battery(ies) into AC power, so you’ll need to connect the two so that the inverter can do its thing. 

3. Finally, connect your inverter to your devices and appliances

This final step is straightforward: your battery will pass power to your inverter, which then needs to pass that power to the devices and appliances you want to be powered.

So, you’ll need to run power cables from your inverter to the appliances you want to be powered by it. 

Specifically, this is done by running a power cable from your inverter to your electrical box. 

If you’re replacing an existing inverter, you might be able to use all the same cables and simply need to switch out the inverters to make this a super simple job.

However, make sure to verify that the cables on your old inverter are enough for your new one and the amount of power that will be running through them.

What Size Inverter Do I Need?

Most RVers will want an inverter that generates between 2,000 – 3,000 watts. 

The good news is that modern RVs typically come with an inverter built in. Great– done!

Not quite.

The bad news is that they usually only include a 1,000-watt inverter to cut down on costs, meaning even if you already have an inverter, it likely doesn’t provide enough power.

A solution to that would be to purchase an inverter generator to supplement your energy needs while giving you some portability. 

When Should I Use My RV Inverter? Should I Leave It On?

An RV inverter is something you use continuously to power your AC-powered devices and appliances. 

So long as you have an AC-powered fridge or other device that you need around the clock, you’ll need your inverter running all day.

With that said, depending on how you use it any time you can give your inverter a break it is recommended to preserve battery power. 

Can You Run an RV without an Inverter?

Yes, you can run your RV without an inverter.

You only need an inverter if you’re running devices or appliances that require AC power. If not, you can get by with DC power which is stored natively in your average battery.

In addition to this, you can purchase an AC power generator or similarly use an inverter generator and get many of the benefits of both worlds (though not all).

If you want to power larger appliances such as a residential fridge, ideally you get an inverter (in addition to a generator for more diversified power).

Get Reliable Long-lasting Power with an Inverter

An inverter isn’t necessary, lots of long-time RVers get by with other types of power conversion, especially if you have a smaller rig with fewer appliances.

However, an inverter allows you access to more and more reliable AC power for devices you otherwise couldn’t power via a generator alone.

If you’re in search of an inverter to level up your RV experience, we hope this guide helped you understand more about why an inverter is useful as well as gave you some options to get you started.