This article is going to be talking about the RV converter vs inverter. And how to know the difference between them and what they do.

Of course, most RVs have multiple power sources built into them. And that allows them to go almost anywhere you want to go.

So wherever you go you can have useful power to run the items in your RV.

But RV electrical systems are very often misunderstood by the RV owners themselves.

In fact, many RV owners don’t really know what a converter is, and what an inverter is.

So very often you’ll hear them using those terms interchangeably. And of course, it’s really no shame that you don’t know that, if that’s the case.

Because this kind of equipment is not really used in normal homes that people live in. Homes that are connected to the power grid.

So that’s the purpose of this article. To help explain the basics of converters and inverters, and what you really need to know about them.

You can also listen to my podcast on this subject by clicking here.

Table of Contents

• RV Power Sources – Alternating Current
• RV Power Sources – Direct Current
• What’s Happening When Your RV Is Plugged Into a Power Pedestal
• What Your Batteries Are Doing For Your Power Needs
• RV Converter vs Inverter – What The Converter Does
• What Happens When Your RV Isn’t Plugged In?
• RV Converter vs Inverter – The Inverter
• RV Converter vs Inverter – What Size Inverter Will You Need?
• An Example That Helps Explain Your Inverter’s Power Needs
• A Word Of Warning About Using RV Inverters
• How Do You Replenish Power In Your RV Batteries?
• RV Converter vs Inverter – The Conclusion

RV Power Sources – Alternating Current

Now let’s start out by discussing RV power first. And the power in an RV actually comes in two main forms.

The first is direct current, abbreviated by DC. And the second is alternating current abbreviated by AC.

Now alternating current is what your stationary home usually uses on a daily basis.

Because that’s what’s sent to it by a power plant, or by the grid that it’s plugged into.

So when you take a device and you plug it into the wall socket at home, most like likely you’re getting alternating current to run it.

But here’s the problem with alternating current and RVs. It can’t be stored in its present form and taken with you on a mobile basis for whatever you need.

RV Power Sources – Direct Current

So what about direct current? Well, it can be stored in batteries. And then the batteries can go with you on a mobile basis.

And it’s this ability to use DC power on a mobile basis that makes it so useful for RV life.

What’s Happening When Your RV Is Plugged Into a Power Pedestal

However, RVs also can power the same 120 volt items that you use at home.

Things like televisions, microwaves, washers and dryers, and so on.

So let’s say that you are plugged into a power pedestal for instance. Probably at a campground or an RV park.

Well in that case, you’re going to receive the alternating current that you need to run those AC items.

What Your Batteries Are Doing For Your Power Needs

But RV batteries and the 12 volt electrical system in the RV will also be running the lights in your RV. And it will be doing that at the same time.

It will also power the water pump, the furnace, and other smaller items like that as well.

These are all components that run on 12 volt direct current instead of alternating current.

But the problem with batteries is that battery power doesn’t last forever. It has a limit when it is stored in a battery.

So when power goes out of a battery, it has to be replenished or recharged.

RV Converter vs Inverter – What The Converter Does

And here is where the converter comes in. Because you’re going to find converters in almost all RVs out there.

And their purpose is to receive shore power, or 120 volt alternating current that comes from the grid.

Then the converter changes it to 12 volt direct current to recharge your batteries if needed.

And then it will help run all the 12 volt items and components in the RV as well.

Now when the batteries finally reach a fully charged state, it maintains them at that level.

So shore power, or alternating current, lets you run both 12 volt items in your RV and 120 volt items in the RV at the same time.

And that’s because of the converter. But RVs are not always plugged into shore power.

What Happens When Your RV Isn’t Plugged In?

So what happens when you unplug and take the RV on the road when you’re traveling?

Or what happens when you’re camping in an area that doesn’t have a power pedestal?

For instance, what happens if you’re boondocking off grid and there is no other power source available?

Well, your batteries are still going to run those 12 volt items in the RV with no problem.

At least until the batteries are depleted of their stored 12 volt power.

But how do you operate those larger 120 volt items that require alternating current?

Or in other words, how do you run your TV, the coffee pot, a hair dryer, and so on?

And how do you recharge your electronic devices now? Because they don’t run on 12 volt direct current either?

RV Converter vs Inverter – The Inverter

Well here is where the inverter comes in. Because now its job comes into play.

It has to take the power stored in your batteries, and then change it from 12 volt direct current to 120 volt alternating current.

And that way it helps run the devices in your RV that require alternating current.

Of course, inverters are not found in all RVs. Remember earlier I said that you pretty much find converters in almost any RV out there?

Well, inverters are only found usually in better equipped RVs. The ones that are a little more expensive.

So it’s possible that you may have to install an inverter in your RV if it’s needed.

And if you do, you need to figure out what size inverter you’re going to require.

RV Converter vs Inverter – What Size Inverter Will You Need?

So here’s a general guideline for how you can go about doing that for your power needs.

First of all, 120 volt alternating current devices usually have a label on them somewhere that explains what it’s power needs are.

And the label will usually tell you how many watts of power the device consumes when it’s running.

So look for those labels on the 120 volt items you have or use in your RV.

Then add up the watts that could be used by all those devices you might use at the same time.

And then I recommend that you add about another 20% on top of that just to be safe. That gives you a little extra headroom for AC power.

That way you can determine the size of the inverter that you are going to need.

An Example That Helps Explain Your Inverter’s Power Needs

So let’s give you an example that may help. Suppose the 120 volt devices you think you’ll use at the same time total up to about 400 watts.

Well then add 20% to that figure. And 20% of 400 is 80. So that’s 480 watts of inverter power that you are going to need.

And that means that if you get about a 500 watt inverter, then you should be in pretty good shape.

So that’s how you can figure out the size of the inverter that works for your particular needs.

A Word Of Warning About Using RV Inverters

Now one word of warning though. Inverters are not known for being very efficient in the exchange of power.

So there’s energy that’s lost in in that change from 12 volt direct current to 120 volt alternating current.

And that means that when you’re using your inverter, you will actually deplete your batteries faster.

Or at least faster than if you were just using the battery power for direct current alone.

So what that means is this. Only turn on your inverter when you really need it. Or only when you need to run those 120 volt devices.

And that way, you can make your batteries last longer while you’re unplugged from shore power.

How Do You Replenish Power In Your RV Batteries?

Now what happens though when your battery power has been used up and is all depleted?

Well, this is a situation that RV boondockers face on a regular basis. And they have two main choices at that point.

First of all, RV boondockers can use solar power to replenish their batteries.

That means they can use solar panels that take the power from the sun and transfer that into the batteries.

That way they don’t have to break camp and then go plug into shore power somewhere.

Because that would then use the converter to power the batteries back up to normal.

Instead, they can stay right where they are and recharge their batteries using solar power.

But another solution is to use an RV generator instead. Either a portable one or one that’s permanently installed in your RV.

Because generators will recharge your RV batteries as well. It just uses fuel to do that.

RV Converter vs Inverter – The Conclusion

Well, I think you can see that the RV power system in most RVs is very flexible.

It allows you to camp almost anywhere you want to go. And enjoy all the things your RV has to help you have a good camping experience.

So hopefully this article has helped you understand better what a converter is and what it does. And what an inverter is and what it does.

So if I have helped you understand that better, then the article has done its job.

Have safe and happy RV travels!