RV glossary · Electrical & power
Inverter
Changes 12-volt battery power into 120-volt AC so you can use outlets and appliances without shore power. Pure sine wave inverters are best for electronics.
An inverter takes power from the house batteries and turns it into household-style 120-volt power, so you can run outlets, a TV, a coffee maker or even a microwave without shore power or a generator, as long as the batteries can supply it.
Size matters two ways: the inverter’s wattage limits what you can run at once, and the battery bank’s capacity limits how long. Pure sine wave inverters produce clean power suitable for electronics; modified sine wave units are cheaper but can cause problems with some devices. Many RVs pair an inverter with lithium batteries and solar.