If you're new to RVing (or you haven't put much thought into how your RV's power works), you probably don't know what converters and inverters are, much less which one your RV needs. This article will walk you through the differences between these two pieces of equipment, why they're essential, and which one your RV needs. Keep reading, and you'll soon have a better understanding of your RV's power needs and how these devices work.

RV Solar Pannels

What Does an Inverter Do?

Inverters are an extremely common fixture in solar-powered homes. Inverters take the DC power generated by solar panels and change them to AC power, which most household appliances use. And, of course, it serves the same purpose in an RV. Your RV battery uses DC power, and if you want to use that power to run the appliances inside the RV, you'll have to invert it to AC power.

If you have solar panels on your RV, the inverter serves the same purpose that it does in a solar-powered home, making it possible to run appliances from the DC power your panels create. It's important to note that a Cotek pure sine wave inverter is always the better choice for modern appliances; modified sine wave inverters can interfere with the performance of many devices.

 

What Does a Converter Do?

A converter's purpose is just the opposite of an inverter: It chances AC power to DC power. Why would you want this? Because shore power is always provided in AC, and if you're going to charge your RV battery with that shore power, you'll need to convert it to DC power first. This is the only way to recharge your RV power using shore power or a generator. It will also distribute unconverted AC power to your RV's breaker panel so that you can power appliances with it. Every RV must have a converter.

 

Which Do You Need?

Understanding which device you need for your RV is heavily based on your power source. A converter charger is pretty much always a necessity and usually comes standard in an RV. If you want to use the battery power to run your appliances, you'll need an inverter as well. If you use solar panels for your RV and don't need shore power, you may be able to get by with an inverter alone; the DC solar power can charge the battery directly, and the inverter will change the current to AC for the appliances.

However, it's always a good idea to keep your options open when traveling in your RV. You never know when you might run out of solar power! Overall, your safest bet is to have both pieces of equipment in your RV. This ensures that you can convert and invert power as needed, regardless of your source of electricity.

If you have an RV and you're looking to add solar power to it, contact The PowerStore, Inc. We have all the equipment you'll need to run your RV on solar energy, including the Cotek inverter/charger. Give us a call today!