A van or camper provides the ultimate freedom — a home on wheels that opens up the country for you to explore. However, power from a dual battery system or your car battery uses DC power, which requires DC-power-specific appliances to be useful.
In order to power the appliances you would use at home, including your tech, like a laptop, drone or camera, you need to convert this DC power to AC power. That’s where an inverter comes in.
With an inverter set up, you can now run items like a coffee machine or even a TV while off the grid. It’s the ultimate solution for at-home luxury on the road — but how to choose the right inverter for your needs? Let’s dive in.
How do power inverters work?
A power inverter converts the 12V direct current (DC) power from the vehicle’s electrical system into 240V or higher AC power that can run a wider variety of electrical appliances.
The inverter does this by converting power through its electrical circuitry, and it uses energy in the process. The amount of power output after the conversion is determined by the inverter efficiency rating — the best inverters can convert DC to AC power with a 90% efficiency.
Types of power inverters for vans
There are two types of power inverters available for vans, with the newer technology having clear advantages over the older tech.
Modified sine wave inverters
Modified sine wave inverters are now an older technology that can power small-wattage appliances. The power output of a modified sine wave inverter is quite coarse, so it’s not suitable for sensitive equipment like a laptop or camera.
Using sensitive appliances with a modified sine wave inverter may damage the appliance, or it might not run the item at all.
Pure sine wave inverters
A pure sine wave inverter is the best type of inverter available, and while the initial investment is a little more, it pays off in a cleaner power output that enables you to charge and run sensitive equipment.
The power from a pure sine wave inverter is similar to the power output at a regular power point at home, so any device you ordinarily use at home can be charged or run. This includes hair dryers, laptops, cameras and drones, even a coffee machine or air conditioner.
Choosing a power inverter for your van
Inverters come in different types and sizes, and the type and size of the inverter will depend on what you intend to power.
A laptop, drone and most power tools will draw up to 250W, an e-bike charger uses up to 600W, cooking appliances can use around 2000W and right at the top of the range is an air conditioner, which requires 3000W.
There are inverters available to cater to each use case. Let’s take a look at the process.
Determine the appliances you intend to run
The size of the inverter you choose will depend on what appliances you want to be able to run. Make a list of everything you envision bringing camping — perhaps this will include an induction cooktop, a kettle or coffee machine, or devices like laptops and tablets.
Calculate the total wattage loads
Once you have the list of appliances, check each item for the wattage. This can be found on the device, usually, there will be a label that states the operating requirements. If you aren’t sure, check online to find the product manual.
The number you are looking for is the wattage load when you are running the maximum number of appliances simultaneously — remember that realistically, you probably won’t be running the hair dryer and the kettle at the same time.
Allow overhead capacity
Sometimes electrical appliances have a ‘start-up spike’ — this means they might draw more power when first switched on, then settle to the regular power draw.
Sizing up based on the wattage of the appliances you will use simultaneously allows extra overhead capacity to prevent short-circuiting. If you plan to use 1500W of appliances, consider a 2000W inverter to allow a buffer.
Ensure your battery bank can serve the inverter draw
The final step in planning your power setup is to make sure your batteries will adequately service the power requirements of the inverter. A battery charger is key to keep batteries topped up on the road. One thing to consider is a battery management system that can monitor your entire power system, including battery health and charge, power use and lots of other stats.
When using more than one battery in a circuit, make sure the battery charger is at least a 40 or 50-Amp model to ensure it’s powerful enough to charge all of the batteries sufficiently.
This might seem like a lot of gear, but start one piece at a time and put it together, and pretty soon you’ll have a great power system that will be the envy of the campground. Plus, once it’s all installed, the REDARC systems are easy to use, manage and monitor from your phone.
What to consider when installing an inverter for a van
When deciding whether and how to install a power inverter in your camper or caravan, here are some of the things to consider:
1. How often will you use each appliance?
The components of a van power system will be determined by the total power draw across the day, as well as by the maximum power draw when multiple electrical appliances are used simultaneously.
The batteries, charger, inverter and solar input will all need to have the capacity to service the maximum power requirements.
2. Is there a (power-free) alternative?
Devil’s advocate here, but do you really need every appliance for your trip? While it can be nice to take all the luxuries of home (and it might help coax the whole family into the adventure), sometimes making a few sacrifices can save on space, weight and investment.
For example, cooking with a gas stove or Jetboil might get you through a few weekend trips. Once you’re in the habit of adventuring, upgrade your rig to add the additional perks that make longer adventures more enjoyable.
3. Will 12V power be enough for your lifestyle?
Many appliances designed for use outdoors or off-grid can run from either 12V or 240V power. If this is the case, running the items on 12V power saves energy and means you end up with a more efficient system.
For example, many portable fridges use 12V power. Keeping certain appliances on 12V while running only those sensitive electrical items on 240V power can mean you have the option to select a smaller inverter and save on space and weight.
4. Space and weight
Space is precious when travelling off-grid — usually, you’ll find that your entire life for the weekend (or the week, or however long the trip will be) is packed into your vehicle. This puts space at a premium, so finding ways to save space by opting for a smaller power system can ease the Tetris element of packing well.
A van power system includes additional battery storage, solar, and an inverter — all these items take up space and add weight to the vehicle, so planning and designing your build to account for the optimal power needs is key to a spacious and successful final layout.
Choosing Lithium batteries over Lead-acid batteries for your power storage also helps to save weight in your vehicle or trailer.
5. DIY install or use an auto electrician
There are some off-grid inverters for vehicle installation that require a 240V auto electrician to install them to ensure the safety of the AC wiring from the unit to the caravan or trailer.
REDARC’s RS3 inverters are designed to be ‘plug-and-play’, so it’s easier to DIY install, or you can still use an auto electrician for confidence in your gear.
Pros and cons of installing an inverter
An inverter can elevate the way you camp, allowing you to power all the luxuries of home, no matter where you stop for the night.
Installing an inverter can also enable people who require health-critical appliances at night, like a CPAP machine, to be able to access the great outdoors. With AC power anywhere you go, it’s possible to run a CPAP machine, nebuliser or any other device that helps keep campers happy and healthy.
Finally, having portable AC power in your vehicle simply opens up more options — you’re no longer limited to noisy, busy, powered campsites. Family camping completely changes when you can park at the most beautiful spot you see and enjoy the peace of being truly off the grid.
There are only two cons to installing an inverter. First is the space — an inverter does take up some space under the canopy, so it means you might need to lift your packing game to allow for it.
The second is the cost of the inverter. For some, this upgrade might be out of budget — and that’s okay! Starting out with a simpler weekend 12V system and adding on extra features later is the perfect way to build your vehicle power system.
Start building a power system for your van to bring appliances from home
While all this knowledge can seem overwhelming the first time you read about it, pretty soon you’ll get the hang of it. Start simple, by listing your appliances and finding out the wattages they need. If you need a hand from there, simply get in touch with the REDARC team for support and guidance to set up an awesome power system with an inverter in your van!
With products designed to go the distance, investing in a power inverter for your van will level up your adventures and extend your range off the grid.
Questions about inverters for vans
What kind of inverter do I need for my van?
A pure sine wave inverter has many advantages, like clean power that safely charges your laptop, camera or drone. This type of inverter reduces any risk of your tech being damaged by a problematic power supply.
What size inverter do I need for van conversion?
It depends on the appliances you intend to run in the converted van. For small 220 or 240V appliances, like a modest coffee machine, a 1200W inverter could be sufficient. To power an induction cooktop, fridge or air conditioner, requires a larger 2000 or 3000W inverter installed.
Will a 2000W inverter run appliances for a caravan?
A 2000W pure sine wave inverter can power a coffee machine, fridge, microwave, toaster, TV, laptop, radio or electric ceiling fans inside a caravan, as well as lights.
