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Camper Van Inverter Guide (With Wiring Diagrams)

Although most of your camper van’s electrical equipment will be designed to run off the 12V system, which is powered directly from the batteries, there will be several items that require a higher voltage to operate. This includes most laptops, common household equipment, and our beloved Instant Pot.

In all seriousness, van life wouldn’t be the same without our electric pressure cooker!

Instant Pot providing 120V power to an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker.

This post covers comprehensive information regarding inverters and camper vans, including what inverters are, how to select the best size for your van, and how to integrate an inverter into your camper van’s electrical system.

This guide also includes useful graphics, wiring diagrams, and material lists to help you install your inverter confidently and safely. Let’s get to it!

Just need the schematics? Skip directly to our detailed inverter wiring diagram.

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What Are Inverters?

Inverters are voltage converters. They take the 12-volt (V) power supplied from the auxiliary batteries and step-up the voltage to 120V. Inverters play an important role in camper van electrical systems because not every device inside your van will operate on 12V. Some devices need 120V power and, subsequently, require an inverter to function.

Diagram illustrating a battery providing 12V power to an inverter, which in turn provides 120V power to various household appliances, like an induction stove and water kettle.
If it’s used in your house, it likely requires 120V.

What devices use 120V power? Lots of things! Pretty much anything that plugs into a standard household socket is going to need 120V power to function. This includes water kettles, blenders, most laptops, rice cookers, and much more.

120V vs. 230V note: In North America, most household items run on 120V power, which is the voltage supplied by the main power grid. Therefore, a 120V inverter should be used. In Europe, Australia, and much of Asia, the main power grid supplies 230V power. Consequently, most household items run on 230V instead, and a 230V inverter should be used.

Inverter Basics To Know

Not all inverters are the same! Before choosing and wiring an inverter in a camper van, there are five concepts to know that will help you understand the different features of an inverter and select the right one for your van.

Wattage Ratings

Different inverters output different amounts of power – watts (W). Most inverters are rated for either 1000W, 2000W, or 3000W of power, but other size options also exist.

The more watts an inverter can output, the wider range of devices it can power. For example, a water kettle that requires 1500W of power would not work with a 1000W inverter and would require at least a 2000W model.

A graphic showing how larger inverters can power a wider range of 120V AC electrical devices.
More watts = powering larger appliances

Pure Sine vs. Modified Sine Inverters

The voltage of 120V alternativng-current (AC) power switches between a positive and negative peak. The AC voltage in a house does this voltage switch up to 60 times per second, and if you were to graph the change in voltage over time, it would look like a smooth (or pure) sine wave.

Graph showing the difference between a choppy modified wave and smooth pure sine wave.
Pure sine vs. modified sine wave inverters

‘Pure sine wave’ inverters can replicate this smooth AC voltage transition that homes receive from the main power grid. ‘Modified sine wave’ inverters produce a choppier AC voltage transition. This type of transition is easier to produce, but the result is less smooth.

Pure sine wave inverters are more expensive, but the smoother voltage transition is better for sensitive electrical equipment like laptops. Since our laptops help us make a living, a higher-quality inverter is worth the investment for us, and it should be for you, too.

Power Loss & Inefficiency

Relying on an inverter to power electrical devices is inherently inefficient (10-15% efficiency loss) because the inverter consumes power itself to convert the voltage from 12V to 120V. This is worth considering because in a camper van, unlike a traditional home, power is not unlimited. Being smart and judicious with our power usage is essential.

A 12V battery powering 12V lights and an inverter powering 120V lights. Power is being utilized more efficiently with the 12V lights.
Power is lost when sent through an inverter

Key takeaway: Use 120V products sparingly, turn off your inverter when 120V power is not needed, and prioritize 12V products instead of their 120V counterparts. Get a 12V fridge instead of a 120V fridge. Buy a 12V fan instead of a 120V model, and so on.

Standard Inverters vs. Inverter/Charger Combos

A standard inverter will do precisely what we’ve mentioned: convert 12V to 120V power. It is a one-way voltage conversion.

Inverter/charger combos provide the same function as standard inverters, except these units also have battery charging capabilities when connected to an external power socket (aka ‘shore power’). Therefore, an inverter/charger can ALSO convert 120V (from the main power grid) back to 12V.

Inverter chargers also covert voltage ‘backward’ from 120V to 12V

Inverter/charger combos will cost more money, so you’ll need to see if they fit within your financial budget.

Our opinion: We have an inverter/charger in our van and charging the batteries from shore power has been helpful. But the ability to charge the auxiliary batteries from solar panels and the alternator is significantly more important. So if budget is a concern, go with just a standard inverter.

Anatomy Of An Inverter

Familiarizing yourself with the connection points into and out of an inverter is essential when it comes time to install one in your van. When checking their connection points, all inverters look slightly different, but the theory will be the same. The four important connections are:

  1. Connection to the batteries: Connects to the batteries to draw 12V power.
  2. AC out: This is where 120V ‘AC’ power exits the inverter to power the devices.
  3. Ground point: Connects the inverter to a ground point on the vehicle’s chassis.
  4. AC in: Connects to shore power for battery charging (inverter/charger only).

Example 1: Victron Multiplus 2000W Inverter/Charger

The image below shows the four connection points on our Victron 2000W inverter/charger.

Victron Inverter Installation Image
Victron Inverter/Charger

Example 2: AIMS 2000W Inverter/Charger

The AIMS inverter/charger is another popular inverter model for camper vans & RVs. Although the connection points look slightly different from the Victron unit above, you can see that the AIMS inverter also has the same four connection points.

AIMS Inverter Installation Image
AIMS inverter/charger

Inverter Sizing (How To Calculate)

Not every camper van has the same power requirements. If you only need to power a few laptops and a small rice cooker, you could use a much smaller inverter than someone who wants to power an air conditioner or a water boiler.

The first step to determining the best (wattage) size inverter for your van is to list out exactly what you want to power. Below is a list of every 120V appliance, which are powered with a 2000W inverter, that we use in our van.

  • Water kettle
  • Instant pot
  • Induction stove
  • Blender
  • Laptops (2x)
  • Hair dryer

Inverter Size Calculator

Below is a simple calculator to help you quickly determine, without any math calculations, what inverter size & type you need. Just answer a few questions, and the calculator will recommend a budget and premium inverter.

Inverter Size Recommendation

Low: Just to charge a couple laptops, a camera, or power a small blender.

Medium: Includes powering an espresso machine, hair dryer, Instant Pot, or rice cooker.

High: Includes powering an electric hot water heater, microwave, or air conditioner.

3. Recommendation

AIMS | 1000W Inverter & Charger

A popular and well-built inverter for powering small AC devices like laptops and blenders. This unit will also charge your batteries when connected to shore power.

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We earn a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Manual Calculation

Follow this 3-step process to help you determine your ideal inverter size.

  1. Identify max wattage draw. Consider the maximum watts you will need to draw from devices you plan to run simultaneously.
  2. Add 20%. Take the max wattage draw and multiply by 1.2 to get a 20% buffer. This will factor in potential higher power requirements during device startup.
  3. Round up. Take the figure from Step 2 and round up to the next thousand to determine your ideal inverter size.

Example: Perhaps you plan to run your laptop (~100W) and an InstantPot (~850W) simultaneously. The max wattage from your AC loads is 950W. Adding 20% to this gives 1,140W. Rounding up to the next thousand results in a 2000W inverter.

Recommended Inverters For Van Life

Stepping up voltage is hard work for electrical equipment and involves rapidly switching the direction of the 12V ‘DC’ current for long periods of time. It is more vigorous work than simply managing a DC-only charge profile (e.g., solar and DC-DC charger controllers).

Consequently, inverters can, and do, fail. In our five years of camper van experience, the inverter is the device MOST LIKELY to fail in an electrical system for other van life travelers. It is for this reason we are hesitant to recommend cheap, off-brand inverters. We would never buy them ourselves because we don’t want to risk having our inverter fail while out in the middle of nowhere.

Renogy-branded inverters would be a good starting point. At least you have a US-based customer service team if anything goes wrong. Renogy inverters are still priced on the budget-side, so “you get what you pay for.” But can we really, truly recommend a Rengoy inverter if we wouldn’t use one ourselves for our own camper van?

What we do know, from personal experience, is that our Victron-branded inverter is a bonafide workhorse. Five years of daily use without fail. It’s been covered in road dust and has been jolted around on hellish Latin American backroads for 65k miles and it’s never once had issues. If your budget is tight, Victron’s 1200W inverter isn’t outrageously expensive and can power many popular 120V devices for van life.

Inverter-Only
Inverter/Charger

This 1200W inverter is a solid option to power several laptops, a rice cooker, a blender, and many other modest 120V power appliances.

We love our 2000W Multiplus. It's built tough, and we've had zero issues during our 65,000 miles to Argentina. This unit powers our Instant Pot, water kettle, and hair dryer. This unit also charges the batteries when connected to shore power.

Inverter-Only

This 1200W inverter is a solid option to power several laptops, a rice cooker, a blender, and many other modest 120V power appliances.

Inverter/Charger

We love our 2000W Multiplus. It's built tough, and we've had zero issues during our 65,000 miles to Argentina. This unit powers our Instant Pot, water kettle, and hair dryer. This unit also charges the batteries when connected to shore power.

Inverter Installation Guide (5 Steps)

This chapter provides a step-by-step inverter installation guide for van conversions. This tutorial will include material lists, detailed wiring diagrams, and installation tips.

  • Step 1: Wiring diagram review
  • Step 2: Connecting the inverter to the bus bars/batteries
  • Step 3: Wiring the inverter to power outlets (sockets)
  • Step 4: How to ground an inverter
  • Step 5: Connecting an inverter/charger to shore power

Step 1: Review the Inverter Wiring Diagram

This post will show you how to build the same inverter wiring diagram you see below. With all the different components involved, it can feel daunting initially, but if you follow our install guide we promise you can do it.

Complete inverter wiring diagram connecting a standard inverter to bus bars (and batteries), wall sockets, and a ground point
Complete inverter wiring diagram

Free resource: Download this exact wiring diagram for free. Or, go to our inverter parts list for a complete roundup of all the products and components you’ll need for this installation.

Need more complex Victron Multiplus schematics? Visit their wiring resources page.

Step 2: Connect the Inverter to the Bus Bars

The first step in the inverter wiring process is to connect the inverter to the batteries. In our 12V wiring post, we already discussed how to connect the batteries to the bus bars with all the required components. Now, you only need to connect the inverter to the bus bars to complete the circuit. Once complete, the inverter can draw 12V power from the batteries to convert it into 120V power.

Refer to the below wiring diagram to see how to complete Part 2 of the inverter installation.

Wiring diagram connecting a 2000W inverter to the bus bars and the batteries
Wiring inverter to the bus bars

Note: Though the above diagram uses 2/0 AWG wire and a 300A fuse, the specific sizes you’ll need for your system depend on the wattage rating of your inverter. We cover these different sizing options after this diagram.

Recommended Wire Size

Though the above wiring diagram uses 2/0 AWG wire, the wire size you’ll need depends on the wattage rating of your inverter. The larger the inverter, the thicker the wire will need to be. Refer to the list below to identify your ideal wire size based on your inverter size.

  • 1000W inverter: 1/0 AWG wire
  • 2000W inverter: 2/0 AWG wire
  • 3000W inverter: 4/0 AWG wire

When shopping for wires, we highly recommend wires from Windynation. Constructed from 100% pure copper conductors and encased in a thick EPDM insulation jacket for superior heat resistance, Windynation’s USA-made cables are hard to beat.

1000W Inverter
2000W Inverter
3000W Inverter

55mm²

70mm²

120mm²

1000W Inverter
2000W Inverter
3000W Inverter

Recommended Fuse Size

Since the purpose of a fuse is to protect the circuit wire from overheating, the size of the fuse you’ll need depends on which wire size you selected earlier. Refer to the list below to identify your ideal fuse amperage rating based on your wire size.

  • 1/0 AWG wire: 200A fuse
  • 2/0 AWG wire: 300A fuse
  • 4/0 AWG wire: 400A fuse

Recommended Lug Terminals

To attach the wire to the inverter, fuse, and bus bars, you’ll need to crimp lug terminals onto the wire. Every lug is designed to fit precisely one wire size and one terminal post size. So, before you purchase your lug terminals, you need to know what cable size (AWG) you are using and the size of the terminal post on your battery.

In the example image below, this lug is designed to be used with 2/0 AWG wire and attaches to 5/16″ terminal posts.

A copper lug terminal with a 2/0 AWG neck size and a ring diameter of 5/16".

In the previous wiring diagram, we color-coded our lug terminals (orange and peach color) to help you identify which ring diameter size you’ll need to connect to each component.

Two lug terminal sizes. One, in dark orange has a 3/8" ring diameter. The other, in peach color, has a 5/16" ring diameter.

If you use 2/0 AWG wire, the lug terminals below are the ones you will need to complete this wiring section.

How To Crimp Lugs Onto Wire Ends?

To complete this step, you must learn how to crimp terminal lugs onto the wire ends. Crimping a lug onto a wire isn’t tricky, but practice makes perfect. Below, we list the tools you need and provide an instructional video.

 
 
 
 

Cuts through battery cables up to 2/0 AWG.

Cuts away the wire's EPDM rubber jacket insulation.

Crimps the lug terminal on to the wire end.

Activates the heat shrink tubing over the lug and wire.

Cuts through battery cables up to 2/0 AWG.

Cuts away the wire's EPDM rubber jacket insulation.

Crimps the lug terminal on to the wire end.

Activates the heat shrink tubing over the lug and wire.

For a step-by-step tutorial (with video), read: How to crimp lugs onto electrical wire.

Step 3: Wiring the Inverter to the Power Outlets (AC Out)

The next step is to connect the inverter to the power outlets, via a circuit breaker box, so that you can plug in and run your 120V electrical devices.

Note: Many inverters (e.g., Renogy & AIMS) already come with sockets built into their enclosures. With these models, you can skip the complicated wiring and plug your AC electrical devices (or power strip) directly into these outlets.

An inverter with two power outlets built into the frame of the inverter.
The AIMS 2000W inverter

Wiring an inverter to your own outlets, however, allows you to integrate sockets into your camper van’s walls or cabinets, which gives your van a more home-like feel. This section will help you achieve this.

After completing Part 2, the result should resemble the diagram below. We will connect the ‘AC Out’ portion of the inverter to the circuit breaker and then wire the breaker to the power outlets.

An inverter wired to two power outlets via a circuit breaker panel.
Wiring inverter to power outlets

In the following sections, we’ll cover appropriate wire sizing and recommended components.

Recommended Wire Size

There are two circuits of electrical wire to pay attention to when connecting an inverter to the power outlets. We’ve noted both circuits in the above diagram.

  1. Feeder circuit: Inverter to the breaker box (feeder circuit)
  2. Branch circuit: Breaker box to the sockets (branch circuit)
Feeder Circuit

The wire size for the feeder circuit (inverter to breaker box) depends on the size of your inverter. This is because inverters that can output greater amounts of watts will require thicker electrical wire to keep the circuit safe from overheating. Refer to the list below to locate your ideal feeder circuit wire size.

  • 1000W Inverter: 12 AWG wire
  • 2000W Inverter: 10 AWG wire
  • 3000W Inverter: 8 AWG wire
Branch Circuit

No matter the size of your inverter, we recommend connecting the circuit breaker box to each power outlet with 12 AWG wire. IMPORTANT: To ensure electrical safety, we recommend wiring each circuit breaker to only one pair of power outlets. If you plan to have two pairs of sockets in your van, plan to have two circuit breakers.

Recommended Wire

Electrical cables for 120V AC power are called ‘triplex wire’ because they comprise three separate inner wires encased in an outer insulation jacket. Inside this outer jacket are the following three wires:

  • Hot wire (black)
  • Neutral wire (white)
  • Ground wire (green)

No matter which wire size you need, we recommend Kimbluth’s triplex wire. These pure copper stranded wires resist all types of corrosion and driving vibration. We use them in our van and are satisfied with their durability.

Recommended Components

Below are the four components we recommend for connecting the inverter to the power outlets. The breaker box we recommend below holds two circuit breakers, which is enough for two pairs of power outlets.

 
 
 
 

This 15A breaker protects 12 AWG wires from overheating.

Holds up to two 15A circuit breakers.

Protects the backside of the power outlets.

One of many standard wall socket designs.

This 15A breaker protects 12 AWG wires from overheating.

Holds up to two 15A circuit breakers.

Protects the backside of the power outlets.

One of many standard wall socket designs.

Step 4: Grounding the Inverter

It is important to ground the inverter so that the circuit can discharge any excess electrical current that may be building up. Since camper vans do not have a permanent connection to the ground (unlike traditional homes), you can safely ground the inverter circuit to a designated point along the vehicle’s chassis.

The wiring diagram below shows how to connect the inverter to a ground point on the vehicle’s chassis.

Inverter connected to a designated ground point.
Wiring inverter to ground

Ground Wire Size Recommendation

The size of the ground wire you will need depends on the size of your inverter. The list below will help you identify your ideal wire thickness based on the size of your inverter.

  • 1000W inverter: 6 AWG wire
  • 2000W inverter: 4 AWG wire
  • 3000W inverter: 2 AWG wire
How To Locate A Ground Point In A Van

Your van’s user manual should help you identify a point on the vehicle’s chassis appropriate for grounding the inverter. Below is an excerpt from our Ford Transit’s handbook indicating the location of all 35 ground points. We used point #31 to ground our inverter.

Ford Transit ground points on the chassis
Ford Transit ground points

Lug Size Recommendation

The lug sizes you’ll need to connect the ground wire to the inverter and chassis will depend on your inverter and vehicle model. We recommend this lug terminal variety set to ensure you have the required sizes. This set is also helpful for other parts of the electrical system (e.g., 12V, solar, & alternator charging).

Sanuke | Lug Terminal Set

Save money with this convenient lug terminal set. It covers 12 different lug sizes from 2-8 AWG wires and M6-M10 ring diameters. Heat shrink is also provided.

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We earn a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Materials List

To complete this step, you will need the following materials. You can locate each of the materials in the wiring diagram above.

  • 4 AWG Wire – Recommended ground wire size for up to 2000W inverters.
  • Lug Terminal Set – A variety pack of lugs that is useful (and saves you money) for all parts of your van’s electrical system.

Step 5: Inverter to Shore Power (AC In)

If you have an inverter/charger combo unit, you can charge the auxiliary batteries when plugged into a shore power outlet. This is because inverter/chargers can convert 120V power back down to the 12V power required to charge a 12V battery.

This section covers all the wires and components required to connect an inverter/charger to shore power. But the end, you should have a system that resembles the wiring diagram below.

Wiring diagram connecting inverter to shore power in a camper van

Recommended Materials

Triplex Wire

To connect the inverter/charger to the power inlet, you will need triplex wire. Triplex wire has three individual wires (hot, neutral, and ground ) wrapped inside an outer insulation layer. The wire size you need depends on your specific charger’s rated amps. The higher the amps the thicker the wire required.

  • 100A or less: 12 AWG triplex wire
  • 100A – 220A: 10 AWG triplex wire

For most chargers, 12 AWG wire will be the correct size. The 2000W Victron inverter/charger in the above diagram has an 80A battery charger, so we use 12 AWG wires in the diagram.

Power Inlet

The backside of the power inlet is wired to the inverter/charger, and the front is a male socket that will connect to a shore power source via an extension cord. The amp rating of the power inlet depends on the amp rating of the battery charger:

  • 100A or less: 15A power inlet
  • 100A – 220A: 30A power inlet

Another way to think about it is if you are using 12 AWG triplex wire, use a 15A power inlet. If you are using 10 AWG triplex wire, use a 30A power inlet.

Extension Cord

You need an extension cord to connect the power inlet to a shore power receptacle. Beware that many cheaper extension cords available online are assembled with thinner 16 AWG wires and it may be unsafe to transmit large amounts of amps through these cheaper extension cords.

We recommend the following sized extension cords based on the amp rating of your power inlet.

  • 15A power inlet: 12/3 AWG cord
  • 30A power inlet: 10/3 AWG cord

Portable (Plug-In) Inverters

For many van conversions, it isn’t necessary to hardwire a large, bulky inverter. Why invest in a 1000W inverter (and all necessary wires and components) if you only want to power a laptop (65W), small blender (250W), or mini rice cooker (200W)?

That’s why portable inverters provide fantastic value to those with modest 120V AC power needs. The inverter we recommend below provides up to 500W of 120V power and requires NO INSTALLATION. When needed, you take the inverter out from storage and plug it in. When finished, unplug the inverter and store it away.

Great Pickup
BESTEK | 500W Pure Sine Inverter

Plugs into any 12V socket and delivers up to 500W of 110V AC power. Space efficient and packs away when not needed.

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We earn a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Electrical safety caveat: The portable inverter we recommend above can be plugged into a standard 12V port (aka a “cigarette outlet”) or can connect directly to the batteries via the included alligator clips. If you intend to draw more than 120W of power from the inverter, you must use the alligator clips instead of the 12V port. Drawing too much power through the 12V port can be a fire hazard.

FAQ

How To Wire A Camper Van Inverter?

To wire an inverter in a camper van, you must connect the inverter’s positive and negative terminal posts to the corresponding terminal posts on the battery. You will need an appropriately sized wire, ANL fuse, and lugs to complete the installation. Lastly, ground the inverter by connecting the unit to the van’s chassis.

To learn more, scroll up to our inverter install tutorial.

What Wire Size To Install A Camper Van Inverter?

The ideal wire size for an inverter depends on the unit’s power rating. To prioritize safety, pairing a 1000W inverter with 1/0 AWG wire, a 2000W inverter with 2/0 AWG wire, and a 3000W inverter with 4/0 AWG wire is recommended.

To learn more, scroll up to our wire size recommendation.

Does The Inverter Charge The Leisure Battery?

No, a standard inverter cannot charge a DC leisure battery. An inverter/charger combo unit will be required to convert the AC electricity from shore power to charge the batteries.

What Size Inverter For A Van Conversion?

A 2000W inverter is the most popular inverter size for van conversions. This is enough to power medium-sized devices like rice cookers, hair dryers, toaster ovens, and blenders. To run a water boiler, AC unit, or induction stove, upgrade to a 3000W inverter.

To learn more, scroll up to our inverter size calculator.

Do You Need An Inverter In A Van?

An inverter is only needed if you run devices requiring AC (alternating current) power. This includes laptops, standard kitchen products, and other common household appliances. You do not necessarily need an inverter if you only need to power a few lights, a smartphone, and a fan.

Conclusion

If you’ve gotten this far, congratulations on successfully installing an inverter in your camper van!

If you did it while also installing sockets into your van walls, then that’s a fantastic achievement. The whole inverter installation process took us more than a week to complete and wasn’t easy!

But setting up the inverter is just one piece of the puzzle when assembling your camper van’s electrical system. We recommend reading our DIY camper van electrical guide to help with your solar, DC-DC charging, and 12V setup.

Please let us know in the comments below if you have any questions.

Happy building!

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