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Inverter
Power inverter, DC-AC inverter, pure sine wave inverter, modified sine inverter
An inverter is an electronic device that converts 12V or 24V DC battery power into 230V AC mains power, allowing the use of household appliances (laptops, coffee machines) when off-grid without a generator.
Pure sine wave inverters are recommended for sensitive electronics: laptops, coffee machines, DSLR chargers. Modified sine wave inverters are cheaper but can damage some devices and cause buzzing in audio equipment. A 1,000 W inverter at 80% load draws around 70–80 A from a 12 V battery.
FAQ
What is the difference between a pure sine wave and modified sine wave inverter?
A pure sine wave inverter produces an exact replica of mains 230 V AC. A modified sine wave is an approximation that works for simple loads (lamps, hair dryers) but causes overheating and noise in transformer-based power supplies, motors and audio equipment. For a motorhome only pure sine wave is recommended.
What inverter power rating should I choose for a motorhome?
Add up the peak power of devices running simultaneously: coffee machine 1,200 W + laptop 65 W + phone charger 30 W = 1,295 W. Choose an inverter with 20–30% headroom: 1,500–2,000 W in this case. An inverter-charger is more cost-effective than a standalone inverter if you also need shore power charging.