DISCLAIMER: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT WILL REWARD ME MONETARILY OR OTHERWISE WHEN YOU USE THEM TO MAKE QUALIFYING PURCHASES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE READ MY EARNINGS DISCLAIMER.

The number one tip in replacing your RV converter with an inverter charger is to make sure you buy the right size inverter (your wattage needs +20%) and get a professional to install it! Just make sure your inverter comes with needed and desired features (like a battery temperature sensor or a transfer switch).

So, you are ready to make a change and upgrade your old converter to an inverter charger? You will not be sorry you made this decision and now you will be able to take even more boondocking trips!

What is Inverter-Charger? It is something you may be missing out on if you have a separate INVERTER and CHARGER installed in your vehicle, home, RV, or boat! It is “two technologies combined in one”, that commonly also include a transfer switch (which will detect what kind of power source is being used and will adjust accordingly).

With Inverter-charger, there is no need to worry about turning your converter OFF when the inverter is working, and it will start charging your batteries upon detecting shore or generator power. Some inverters come with a Battery Temperature Sensor. Not all inverters come with fuses and Li-ion battery compatibility. It is recommended to place the inverter not far from the battery bank.

They are usually lighter than all these three items combined and take less space.

For a typical RV setup, you will need:

A battery or a battery bank consisting of several batteries (that you can power your DC devices with). In order to power AC appliances off the battery, you will need an inverter or inverter charger.
Converter-charger. Charger for your batteries and DC power to some of your devices that are plugged into the DC panel.
Inverter. When you are out there without an AC power source available, this device will allow you to use many of your appliances off the battery or solar panels.
Transfer switch. This is a very useful device that will allow you to switch between converter charger and inverter modes.
Battery monitor (optional). Many RVers do NOT think this is an option! This little device is extremely useful on the road and will give you enough information about your battery in order for it to get charged in a timely manner and NOT get abused.
Solar panels (optional). It is quite useful to have even a small solar panel system set up to keep your batteries topped off. But, at some point, you probably will want to get completely off-grid and enjoy the freedom it gives you!
Generator (optional). You really never know how long you will be “stuck” there… and what if you simply just want to stay longer without shore power? For those who need a lot of power, you can use a generator to run large appliances (like the air conditioner) and an inverter charger for everything else.

One inverter-charger unit will replace your basic converter-charger and inverter itself, which makes it more space-efficient and easier to wire. This setup is usually very appreciated in smaller-sized campers.

I would also keep a small generator in your “arsenal” in case of “prolonged unexpected trips” or upgrade to a solar panel setup in the future.

What are the best brands of inverter-chargers? Many people are very happy with the following companies:

Victron, Go Power, AIMS and Xantrex

Here are some instruction manuals from different brands for you:

Go Power (IC-2000,IC-3000)
Newmar (different models)
Renogy (1000w-2000w)
Xantrex (RS 3000)

** Warning! Please consult a professional who is familiar with local and national electrical codes before installing. If you are not sure what you are doing, please do not install it yourself!

Inverter vs Converter

If you ever watched a YouTube channel about inverters, you probably noticed that they constantly make a mistake by calling an inverter – “converter” and vice versa. Just to clear up the confusion about these two power devices, let’s clarify their specific purpose:

The “Converter” turns AC power into DC while the “Inverter” turns DC power into AC.

Sometimes people call a “converter” – a “charger” and for a very specific reason. This is because it is also responsible for charging your batteries while being plugged into some kind of external power source (shore power, generator, solar panels).

It does battery charging while being in the “converter” mode while powering your DC devices as well (also called “pass-through”). Sometimes this device is called an “inverter converter combo” because it works as an inverter and a converter (or charger) combined!

Here is a simple diagram on how inverter charger works (inverter mode is displayed in blue, converter – in red):

On this picture:

The inverter part of the device will use power from your battery (or directly from solar) and power your AC appliances.
The converter/charger part of the device will use any AC power source (like shore power or generator) and power your DC devices along with charging your batteries.

How do you know which appliances are AC and which are DC? Here is some information for you:

Air conditioner (AC). This is a very heavy power-consuming AC device and some people prefer to power it off the generator. You can also power it with a good, heavy-duty inverter (if it does not “break your bank”) and a set of deep-cycle or lithium batteries.
Refrigerator (AC or DC). Refrigerators could be either AC or DC and you should check the manufacturer’s label on that. Very often compact (small size) refrigerators are designed to work off 12-volt batteries (DC). Large refrigerators are normally powered by Alternating Current (AC).
Lights (AC or DC, sometimes both). 120v AC lights will work with shore power or a generator. When dry camping, you will need an inverter or inverter-charger if you want to use them. 12-volt DC lights will run off the batteries with no problem. If you want to use them while being plugged into the 120-volt power source, then the converter or inverter-charger will be at your service.
Microwave, vacuum cleaner, hairdryer (AC), etc. Many things that we need so much on a daily (or weekly) basis, will require an AC power source. Check manufacturer’s labels.
Blender, Coffee maker, Electric teapot, Juicer, Toaster (AC), etc. All the devices we love so much, usually require an AC power source. Once again, check the manufacturer’s labels.

Inverter-charger from Go Power is very popular with RVers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdi2vmjuiIU

Here are some basic installation instructions and videos to help you out with replacement (instructions are approximate, please consult a professional who is familiar with local and national electrical codes):

Step #1. Disconnect your existing converter-charger (it is either wired or plugged in) and remove it (if possible).
Step #2. Inverter-charger typically installs into the main AC panel. You will need to install a breaker for the inverter-charger and connect wires according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Read all the instructions carefully!
Step #3. You can either use either an inverter-charger’s outlets to power your AC loads or connect it to a subpanel. **

This is the installation of an inverter-charger from Aims:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8N1diJY0-g

The following two installation videos are from Xantrex company, which is known to make quality inverter-chargers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtQQupeOF60

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIhauP2GeEs

Feel free to save this infographic pin for future reference .

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Replacing RV Converter with Inverter Charger

DISCLAIMER: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT WILL REWARD ME MONETARILY OR OTHERWISE WHEN YOU USE THEM TO MAKE QUALIFYING PURCHASES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE READ MY EARNINGS DISCLAIMER.

Inverter vs Converter

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