Here we’re going to look at my best RV inverter choices, and how to size the right one for your particular needs.
My overall pick is the Renogy 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter, a great choice for most situations.
I’ve picked 3 excellent inverters and a great budget option.
Contents
Best RV Inverters
- Renogy 2000W Inverter – Best Overall
- BougeRV 2000W Inverter – #2
- AIMS Power 2000W Inverter – #3
- Krieger 2000W Power Inverter – Best Budget
Here’s a more detailed look at my inverter choices.
Renogy 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter
⭐️Best Overall
The Renogy 2000W pure sine wave inverter is my choice as the best rv inverter.
There are currently four different models to choose from. The 700W, 1000W, 2000W and 3000W. These models will cover just about every RVers needs.
The 2000W model has one USB port, 3 regular AC power outputs, and a port for hardwiring the unit should you want to.
The unit is heavy duty and well made, with mounting flanges on the underside for permanent installation.
The inverter has dual high speed cooling fans which are very quiet, even when the unit is under heavy load.
When powered on, all inverters will draw power from your batteries, even when not under load. This makes the included remote on off switch for this inverter an excellent handy feature. The switch can be mounted in a convenient location, giving you the ability to easily turn the unit on and off.
The unit comes with heavy duty connection cables and is compatible with all types of batteries.
Pros
Good Build Quality
Quiet
Established Brand
Cons
Support Sometimes Lacking
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
BougeRV 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter
Choice #2
Although not an established brand, BougeRV are rapidly making a name for themselves as manufacturers of great quality equipment for the RV market.
Their 2000W inverter is a robust well made unit with 2 x power outlets, 1 x USB port and a block for permanent hard wiring.
The inverter has dual cooling fans, which under load will reach an acceptable 60db, and powered on, (at idle) only pulls an average of 6.5 watts.
The unit has a built in protection function, which will protect against over discharge, short circuit and over temperature. There is also a low battery alarm.
If something should go wrong with this inverter (after warranty has expired), BougeRV have made this unit entirely serviceable, with easy access and readily replaceable parts.
This inverter has bluetooth connectivity and will give excellent real time data via the BougeRV app.
The unit comes with a nice color display which will give you all the necessary data from the inverter, as well as a remote on/off switch function. The on off function is also available via the app.
Pros
Bluetooth
Serviceable
Great Value
Cons
Relative Newcomer
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
AIMS Power 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter
Choice #3
The 2000W pure sine inverter from Aims Power is my third choice RV inverter.
Aims Power is a well established company based in Reno, Nevada for the last 20 years,and supplies the RV industry with a good range of power products.
Their 2000W watt inverter is a sturdy unit with mounting points on the underside.
It has dual fans for cooling and is also very quiet when under load.
It has 2 x power outlets and a USB port, but unfortunately has no wiring block to hard wire the unit should you want to. When powered on, this inverter pulls around 10 watts at idle.
It does have built in short circuit protection, as well as over voltage, under voltage, over temperature protection, and an overload alarm.
The inverter does have a port where you can plug in the remote switch, but this is an option available to purchase separately.
The unit comes with a 2 year warranty.
Pros
Well Known Brand
Well Made
Reliable
Cons
Higher Price Point
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
Krieger 2000W Modified Sine Wave Inverter
⭐️Best Budget
The Krieger 2000W is my budget choice unit, and is a modified sine wave power inverter.
It’s a solidly made unit with a single large cooling fan and four mounting brackets underneath.
It has 2 x outlet ports, 2 x USB ports and a clear and bright LED display. The display will show either input voltage or output wattage, and also show you battery level status.
The inverter has a good range of protection features – short circuit, high temperature, overload, and under / over voltage.
This unit includes a wired remote switch with plenty of cable to mount in a convenient location.
It also comes with a pair of 3ft long heavy duty positive and negative cables. The positive cable has a pre-fitted 200 amp fuse, which is a nice touch.
Overall, a decent quality inverter, with plenty of good reviews.
Pros
Remote Switch
Good Protection
Fused Positive Cable
Cons
Modified Sine Wave
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
High End Inverters
If you want to get really serious about your inverter, (living off grid, fulltime boondocking) there are a handful of high end brands to choose from.
Victron Energy are well known for making some of the highest quality inverters.
What Is An Inverter?
A power inverter is a device which converts DC (direct current) into AC (alternating current).
- DC current comes from batteries or solar panels.
- AC current is the standard current you would find in a house.
An inverter will convert the power from your batteries, which will allow you to use everyday household appliances and devices in your RV.
Is A Converter The Same Thing?
No. A converter is not the same thing as an inverter.
A converter is a device which can convert AC to DC. There are different kinds of converters that can convert different voltage levels.
An inverter is specifically for converting DC to AC current. (battery to household power).
Pure Sine Wave or Modified Sine Wave Inverter?
When looking at inverters you will no doubt come across the terms “pure sine wave” and “modified sine wave”.
Let’s take a (not too technical) look at what this means.
The main difference between a pure sine wave inverter and a modified sine wave inverter is the type of AC current they output. This can have an effect on the devices powered by your inverter.
Here are the main differences.
Pure Sine Wave Inverter
- A pure sine wave inverter produces a smooth, reliable current, very similar to the power you get at home.
- A pure sine wave inverter is suitable for all electrical devices. This includes sensitive medical equipment and computers.
- This type of inverter is usually more expensive due to the complex circuitry needed to produce a pure sine wave.
Modified Sine Wave Inverter
- A modified sine wave inverter produces a stepped copy of a pure sine wave.
- This kind of inverter is more suited to simple equipment and devices such as motors, lights and basic appliances. May cause issues if running anything with complex circuitry.
- Generally a lower price point than a pure sine wave inverter, due to the simpler nature of the device.
When choosing an inverter, keep in mind the type of devices and equipment you want to power.
Basic equipment is fine with a modified sine wave inverter. If you’re planning on powering more delicate devices, then a pure sine inverter is probably a better choice.
What Size Inverter For An RV?
Working out what size inverter you need is relatively straightforward.
- Make a list of all the devices and appliances you intend to run through your inverter.
- Add up the total wattage of everything on your list. (the wattage of a device can usually be found on a label somewhere on it).
- Add an extra 25% to this total. This allows for appliance start up surges and inverter efficiency. Add 25% like this: Total wattage x 1.25
Here’s an example:
Total wattage = 1450 watts >>> add 25% >>> 1450 x 1.25 = 1812 watts
In this example, I’d opt for a 2000 watt inverter.
If you intend on adding extra equipment remember to allow for this, and size up to a higher wattage inverter.
Other Things to Consider
In my opinion one of the best things you can have on any kind of inverter is a remote on off switch.
Your inverter will use power from your batteries whether you are running anything through it or not. It’s really convenient to have an accessible remote switch to turn the inverter on and off when required. Much easier than manually going to the inverter every time.
A good RV inverter will run your devices and appliances nicely.
Make sure to choose the right type (pure sine wave or modified sine wave) and the right wattage for your needs.
My choice is the Renogy Pure Sine Wave Inverter.
Please check out my other equipment reviews.
See how I rate my recommendations here.
