What Runs Off an Inverter in an RV?

Before you plug anything in, you must know two things:

1. Your Inverter's Wattage: Is it a 1000W, 2000W, or 3000W inverter? This is its maximum output.

2. Your Battery's Amp-Hours (Ah): This is your fuel tank. A 100Ah lithium (LiFePO4) battery behaves very differently from a 100Ah lead-acid battery, especially when it comes to usable capacity.

With that in mind, let's break down what you can run, categorized by their power appetite.

These devices have a low wattage draw and are perfectly suited for even smaller inverter systems (1000W and below). They are the backbone of comfortable off-grid living.

• Electronics: Laptops, phones, tablets, cameras.

• Small Kitchen Appliances: Coffee makers (often under 1000W), electric kettles (check wattage!), blenders.

• Entertainment: LED TVs, gaming consoles, satellite receivers.

• Miscellaneous: LED lights, fans, routers, CPAP machines.

Pro Tip: Always use the device's power adapter; the inverter provides the AC power it needs.

These appliances require a significant amount of power. You'll need a larger inverter (typically 2000W+) and a substantial battery bank, almost always lithium, to run these for any meaningful amount of time.

• Microwave: A microwave can draw 1000-1500W. Running it for 10 minutes can consume a surprising amount of your battery's capacity.

• Electric Skillet / Hot Plate: These are pure heating elements and are notorious power hogs (1000-1500W).

• Hair Dryers / Curling Irons: Another high-wattage category (1200-1800W). Use sparingly and on a lower setting.

• Air Fryer / Instant Pot: While incredibly convenient, they are among the highest consumers, often drawing 1500W or more.

The Math You Need to Know:
To see if you can run something, you need to calculate the watts and the amp-hours it will use.

• Formula: Watts = Volts x Amps

• Most RV batteries are 12V. So, a 1500W microwave would draw approximately 125 Amps from your battery bank per hour (1500W / 12V = 125A).

Running that microwave for just 6 minutes (0.1 hours) would use 12.5 Amp-Hours from your battery (125A x 0.1h). If you have a 200Ah lithium battery (with about 180Ah usable), that one microwave session used nearly 7% of your total usable power!

These appliances have such a high power demand or a high "surge" requirement that they are generally impractical for all but the largest, most expensive RV inverter and battery systems.

• Air Conditioners: A standard rooftop AC unit can require 1500-3500W to start (surge) and 1000-1500W to run. While possible with a very large inverter and a massive lithium battery bank, it's not feasible for most setups.

• Electric Heaters: Like a hair dryer, these are resistive loads that consume massive power (1500W). They will drain a standard battery bank in under an hour.

• Residential Refrigerators: While newer models are more efficient, a standard home fridge's compressor has a high startup surge and consistent draw that most RV systems aren't designed for.

• Water Heaters (Electric Element): If your RV water heater has an electric mode, it is designed to only be used when plugged into shore power, not an inverter.

1. Check the Label: Always look at the wattage rating on any appliance before you plug it in.

2. Mind the Surge: Many devices, like microwaves and coffee makers, have a brief startup power surge that can be higher than their running wattage. Your inverter must be able to handle this surge.

3. Invest in Lithium: If you're serious about boondocking, lithium (LiFePO4) batteries are a game-changer. They provide more usable capacity, charge faster, and can handle the high draw of powerful appliances much better than lead-acid.

4. Consider an Inverter/Charger Combo: These advanced units not only power your appliances but also intelligently charge your batteries when you are plugged in or running your generator.