Want to boondock off-grid and still run your high-wattage appliances like at a campsite with electrical hookups? Installing an RV inverter in your camper can make all the difference.
Understanding AC and DC Power in Your RV
RV electrical systems use two types of power:
- AC Power (120V): Typically from a shore power hookup, powering appliances like your fridge and standard outlets when connected.
- DC Power (12V): Supplied by the auxiliary battery bank, powering lights, vent fans, radios, slide motors, awnings, and USB outlets.
To run both AC and DC appliances off-grid, you'll need an inverter. Learn more about DC and AC in our Complete DC to AC Converter Guide.
What an Inverter Does vs. a Converter
- Converter: Charges your RV's battery from shore power by converting AC to DC.
- Inverter: Converts DC from your battery to AC, allowing you to run AC appliances when off-grid. Most RVs do not include inverters from the factory.
For boondocking or dry camping while still using AC appliances, a high-quality pure sine wave inverter is recommended. Pure sine wave inverters mimic grid AC power, safely powering sensitive devices like laptops.
Renogy RV Inverter Options
- Battery Inverters: Convert DC to AC for typical household appliances in your RV. Available in 700W, 1000W, 2000W, and 3000W.
- Inverter Chargers: Combine battery inverter and converter in one device. Charge batteries from shore power and provide AC off-grid. Available in 1000W, 2000W, 3000W, plus a 3500W model for 48V systems.
Note: Higher capacity inverters cost more and consume more power themselves.
RV Inverter Sizing Tips
- Determine the total AC load of devices you’ll use simultaneously.
- Add a 25% safety margin. For example, 1550W × 1.25 = 1937.5W → choose a 2000W inverter.
- Smaller loads (e.g., 850W) can use a 1000W inverter.
- High-demand appliances like a 10–15,000 BTU RV AC may require a 3000W inverter and a large battery bank, possibly with a higher-voltage system (24V–48V).
RV Inverter Wiring Diagram
Basic RV Inverter Wiring Diagram
What Type of Inverter Do I Need for My RV?
The size of your RV inverter depends on how many AC appliances you want to run off-grid. Small inverters (e.g., 700–1000W) work for a few devices during short trips. For full off-grid living or running high-demand devices like a 10–15K BTU RV AC, you’ll need a 3000W inverter and a larger battery bank. For higher loads, consider a higher-voltage system (24V–48V).
How to Install a Power Inverter in an RV
Safety first: AC power can be dangerous. If unsure, hire a licensed electrician or solar installer.
1. Create Separate Circuits (Battery Inverter + GFCI Outlets)
- Plug an extension cord into the inverter to power appliances when on.
- Wire dedicated outlets directly to the inverter. Only active when the inverter is on.
- Example: Renogy 700W inverter powers two standard outlets via extension cord, independent of RV’s shore power. Watch full installation video.
2. Full Integration via Hard Wiring + Transfer Switch
- Connect inverter to RV AC breaker panel using a transfer switch.
- The switch isolates the inverter from shore power to prevent backfeeding damage.
- Ensure inverter and converter are on separate circuits in the distribution panel.
Inverter Charger Loop
Image credit: RVwithTito.com
3. Full Integration via Hard Wiring (Using Inverter Charger)
Best for seamless RV inverter installation: An inverter charger includes a built-in automatic transfer switch, eliminating the need for separate wiring or manual switching.
- Shore power connected: 120V AC passes through the inverter charger to the RV AC distribution panel while charging the batteries.
- Off-grid mode: The inverter draws DC power from the battery bank and converts it to AC for the distribution panel.
- Fully integrated system: No need to isolate shore power and inverter circuits manually.
- Cleaner wiring setup: Simplifies installing power inverter in RV projects.
Reference: See the RV inverter charger wiring diagram below for system layout.
REGO Wiring Diagram
Step-by-Step RV Inverter Installation
How to install inverter in RV systems safely and correctly? Follow these simplified steps to complete a reliable RV inverter installation, from choosing the right location to grounding the unit.
Safety first: Before installing power inverter in RV setups, disconnect all power sources — shore power, solar input, and battery bank — to ensure zero live current in the system.
1. Choose the Inverter Location
- Ventilation: Inverters generate heat and require airflow around cooling vents. Always follow clearance guidelines in the user manual when planning your RV inverter installation.
Ventilation Space Needed Around Inverter Charger
- Proximity to batteries: Install the inverter close enough to the battery bank to minimize voltage drop.
- Battery safety: Do NOT install in the same compartment as flooded lead-acid batteries due to off-gassing fire risk. Sealed batteries such as AGM or Lithium Iron Phosphate can be safely co-located.
2. Secure the Inverter
- Pre-connect cables if space is limited in your camper.
- Use factory mounting holes for stable installation.
- Maintain airflow clearance after mounting.
3. Ground the Inverter
- Locate the grounding lug (bolt/screw terminal) on the unit.
- Attach grounding wire securely.
- Connect to the RV’s common ground — typically the chassis frame or ground bus bar.
Connect the DC Cables to the DC Inverter Terminals
All Renogy inverters come with appropriately-sized positive (red) and negative (black) cables to connect the inverter to the battery terminals.
Connect to AC Outlets in Your RV - 3 Options
1. Separate Circuit with Extension Cord
●Plug extension cord into inverter AC output outlet
●Secure cord in desired location
2. Separate Circuit with Dedicated Outlet(s)
You can use either the inverter’s GFCI outlets or hard wire using the AC output terminal.
●Select location for electrical outlet & install electrical junction box.
●Run output wire from the inverter to the junction box.
●Connect the live, neutral, and ground wire to the electrical outlet terminal connections, secure outlet to electrical box & install faceplate.
●If installing additional outlets, install additional junction boxes, outlets, and connect to the first outlet in parallel.
Consider labeling the outlets connected to both the inverter and shore power to keep things organized during installation, and so you’ll remember what you did in the future.
3. Hard Wire Inverter to the RV Breaker Box (Battery Inverter & Inverter Charger)
Battery Inverter Steps
If you are connecting the inverter AC output to the RV’s breaker box, be sure that your inverter is large enough to power your intended load.
●Connect the AC output live, neutral, and ground wires to one of the transfer switch’s input terminals.
●Connect the transfer switch output terminals to the RV’s distribution box master breaker.
●Connect the shore power output to the other input terminal on the transfer switch. Be sure to use appropriately-sized wiring for the AC load.
Some transfer switches are manual, while others automatically detect which circuit is energized. Some transfer switches have the option to include a generator input which can detect a low voltage and automatically start an onboard generator.
Transfer Switch Diagram
Inverter Charger Steps
There are 2 major steps to this process which involve running and installing wiring and connections, then disconnecting the RV’s existing converter to eliminate this device from the system.
Install Wiring & Connections
There are a couple ways to accomplish this wiring, but here’s how we installed the REGO 3000W inverter charger. Again, turn off all electrical power coming into your RV.
●Identify the shore power wire that comes into the RV distribution panel. Cut this wire in a location where you can access either end, clearly label each end – black for shore power to inverter input & white for inverter output to RV distribution panel. These are the same colors used to indicate input and output on the inverter charger.
●Using 10 AWG* outdoor (waterproof) 3 strand, solid, copper wire, make a connection in an electrical junction box to the shore power black wire. This will be your inverter input wire which will span the distance between the distribution panel and the inverter. *Wire gauge is dependent on the size of your RV’s AC shore power system. 10 AWG was appropriate for our 30A system.
Input & Output Wires in Inverter Charger
●Insert the input wire into the inverter charger AC input terminal.
●Insert the same sized wire into the inverter charger output terminal. This is your inverter output wire which will span the distance between the inverter and the distribution panel.
●Make a connection, using an electrical junction box between the output wire and the white wire which is attached to the RV distribution panel.
●Jump to the distribution panel section of the video for details to see these steps in action.
Disconnect Converter
If using an inverter charger, and your RV came with a converter, you’ll need to disconnect it - since it’s now obsolete. This is a very simple process outlined in this video. After ensuring that no power sources are going to the RV and the distributions panel.
●Identify the converter (usually below the main distribution panel) and trace its wires back to the AC side of the panel.
●Unscrew the AC terminal connections and remove the white, black, and ground wires.
●Identify the positive and negative wires on the DC side of the panel.
●Unscrew the terminal ends connecting those wires and remove them from the board.
●Tuck the wires away and tape off the ends so that they are safely out of the way. Once you have removed all of the wiring between the converter and the distribution panel, you’ve made it obsolete. It is not necessary to remove the entire converter, unless you want to.
Connect Inverter Remote Switch & Install
Some models of Inverters come with a remote on and off switch that easily plugs into the inverter and allows you to turn the unit on or off from a handier location than your solar component cabinet. Most Renogy inverters come with nearly 20 ft of wire on their wired remote switches.
What Does it Cost for an Inverter Installation in an RV?
In addition to the price of the inverter, you’ll need to figure some extra costs into your installation. Depending upon how you choose to install it, you may need some or all of the following: AC wiring, household extension cord, fuses, bus bars, transfer switch, split panel, electrical boxes, electrical connections, and any necessary tools. It’s a good idea to put these into your overall budget so they don’t come as a surprise!
While there are so many things to consider when deciding which inverter to buy and how to install a pure sine wave inverter in an RV, we hope this guide helps narrow it down to a few simple questions. How often are you going to use your RV off-grid? How many appliances do you want to run while off-grid? And how do you want to integrate your inverter into your RV?
If you’re going to go off-grid with your RV, even for a short time, it simply makes sense to install an inverter. We simply couldn’t manage our off-grid life and small business in the same way without our Renogy 700W inverter.
Related articles:
3000w Inverter Charger Vs 2000w Inverter Charger
Solar Microinverters: When Is It Best To Use Them?
