Does My RV need 120V AC or 12V DC power?

Many appliances and devices require 120V AC power. When your RV is plugged into shore power, you’re bringing a source of 120V AC electricity into your RV to power those appliances and devices, just as if you were at home. But the battery bank in your RV provides 12V DC power.

How do RV inverters work?

In the simplest situation, the inverter isn’t built into the RV at all, but instead is a portable unit that plugs into the cigarette lighter. These units are typically low power (200-400 Watts) and offer one or two 120V AC outlets that you can plug devices directly into.

How do RV batteries work?

They each change the properties of electricity that passes through them but in exactly opposite ways. Inverter: takes 12V DC power and converts it to 120V AC power, allowing you to use your RV’s batteries to power 120V appliances, such as a microwave oven, television, or the charging brick for your laptop computer.

Do you need an RV inverter?

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What is a 'pass through' inverter?

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts. With an inverter, I know that the 'pass through' capability allows shore power (when available) to power all the outlets, etc that the inverter is hooked up to rather than pulling power from the battery.

How does a 120 volt inverter work?

External source of 120 VAC (shore power or generator) goes directly to the OUT side of the inverter. And in an inverter/charger, it does that and charges. If inverter function is turned off, only time the OUT side is hot is when there is an external source of 120 VAC. Inverter on and when no external source of 120 VAC is available, it "inverter".