12/8/2023 0 Comments Best power inverter for motorhomeBut again they are very expensive, and overkill for most campervans and even some RVs. This might be an attractive option if you are frequently at campsites with hookups, or have access to grid power. Some more expensive inverters will have the ability to charge your house batteries if supplied with power from an external source (shore power, generator, etc). Here’s more detail and you may come to your own conclusion about PSW vs MSW. Despite my suspicions, I personally feel that Pure Sine Wave is worth the extra price difference for better performance and not having to worry about damaging other expensive electronics. My gut feeling is that the NEED for Pure Sine Wave is somewhat overstated, and most consumers are just operating on the “better safe than sorry” principle. For certain computers, inductive loads, or delicate electronics, MSW may cause damage, overheating, noisy operation, or loss of efficiency. Modified Sine Wave is a cheaper alternative that isn’t good for some types of electronic devices. Basically, Pure Sine Wave is a much ‘cleaner’ power that is suitable for all electronic devices. The two main types of Inverters are Pure Sine Wave (PSW) and Modified Sine Wave (MSW). So plan on getting an inverter with a little margin of extra power above what you need. And you don’t want to be working your inverter against its upper limits regularly. Sadly, most inverters advertise their performance under ideal conditions, so assume that you will probably get 5-20% less power than advertised. The last important detail when sizing an inverter, is to get one with about 20% more power than you need. For example, if you want to run an Xbox One game console (≈ 110W) and a TV (≈ 50W) simultaneously, then you have to account for both power draws together (≈ 160W). But anything you use at the same time will require you to add the power draw together. Look for “W” or “Watts”, or you can covert ratings given in Amps with this formula: Īs long as you aren’t using devices/appliances simultaneously, then you only need to worry about the individual power draw of each device. Most devices or appliances will have specs printed on them or their power supply that tell you how much power they use. So you really need to evaluate what exactly you are trying to power to choose an appropriate size inverter. Clearly, these two common items are not in the same ballpark. But an average toaster oven requires about 1,400 watts. So for a quick example, my laptop only requires about 60 watts to charge. No need to concern yourself with whether it’s using 80watts or 800watts.īut for choosing the best inverters for campervans and RVs, you need to be much more aware of your specific power needs. This isn’t common for your average person because when you live in a normal house on-the-grid, you just plug things into the outlet and they work. It’s important to have an understanding of how much power you need, but also how much power your batteries can deliver. For RV’s and campervans with more demanding appliances, a 2000-4000 watt inverter may be necessary. This is usually enough for laptops, TV’s, blenders, electric water kettles, small microwaves, etc. Most campervans electrical setups have a 1000-2000 watt inverter. Things like motors often require extra power on start-up, but only for a short “surge” period. You may see different numbers for “surge” and “continuous”. But this rating only limits the amount of power that can flow at one time, the total capacity will still be decided by the size of your battery or battery bank.Īnd most inverters are rated in continuous Watts, that is, the number of watts they can produce. This will determine what devices or appliances the inverter is capable of powering. The primary factor when choosing an AC inverter is the wattage rating, that is, how many watts of power the inverter can supply. What to Consider When Choosing an Inverter For A Campervan Wattage Rating Thanks for helping us fund our website and content! This post contains affiliate or referral links which means we may earn a commission if you purchase or download from our links at no additional cost to you! For more information, please read our disclosure policy. To power things like laptops, blenders, TV’s and more, you will need an AC inverter for your campervan or RV.īefore I list some of the best inverters for campervans and RV’s, let’s talk about some key factors for making your selection. They turn DC power from your battery into AC power that you can use to charge or power all kinds of AC electronics. A power inverter is one of the most important parts of an off-grid electrical system. This article shares the best Inverters for campervans and RVs.
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