Inverter

An inverter takes the 12V DC power stored in the house battery and converts it to 120V AC, the same power that comes out of a home wall outlet. This is what lets an RV run laptops, phone chargers, a TV, or a microwave without being plugged into shore power or a generator.

Inverters are sized in watts, and the number that matters is continuous wattage rather than the higher peak or surge rating some listings lead with. A coffee maker or microwave can draw well over a thousand watts, so undersized inverters are a frequent source of appliances that shut off or trip mid-use.

Running an inverter constantly drains the house battery quickly, especially with resistive loads like heaters or hair dryers, so most RVers reserve inverter use for smaller electronics and rely on propane or shore power for heavy loads. Checking continuous wattage against your actual appliances before buying avoids most disappointment.