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Disclaimer
The information in this article is not all inclusive of what you will need to know in order to safely modify your RV, travel trailer, 5th wheel or any other item with a 12 Volt electrical system. Similarly, we do not claim nor guarantee that all the information presented in this article is correct, and the information is only provided to share the research and information we learned from personal experience while modifying our 5th wheel. We are not certified electricians or electrical engineers. We are only RV enthusiasts and hobbyists. 12 Volt batteries are dangerous if not handled properly. Failure to follow the correct procedures with your batteries can lead to shock, shorts, mishaps, overload, acid spills, sparks, battery explosions, fire and many other serious incidents. Working with and modifying the wiring and electrical system on your RV is potentially hazardous and can lead to shock, shorts, mishaps and the possibility of fire, injury or other serious consequences if not done correctly. Similarly, modifying or adding batteries or modifying or working on your RV electrical system can lead to damage of your RV’s electrical system and electrical components if not done correctly. If you plan to work on your RV batteries and/or electrical system, you should consult an experienced electrician and/or your local RV dealership’s qualified technicians to make sure that you are following the local electrical codes and proceeding safely with your modifications and not voiding your RV warranty. Similarly, it is important to follow all manufacturers’ instructions for the batteries or electrical items you purchase and intend to use. BigBoyToysOnline, LLC will not accept responsibility for any mistakes, mishaps, injuries or deaths that occur as a result of anyone trying to make modifications to their RV, travel trailer, 5th wheel or any other item based on the information in these articles. This is SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS stuff. Please proceed carefully and safely!
Installing an Inverter in Your RV
. Installing the inverter in my RV was the most technically challenging of all the upgrades that I completed. The reason is because I had lofty goals. I didn’t want to install an inverter for occasional use of a TV or appliance. If that were the case, then I could have purchased a smaller inverter that was much easier to install; one that simply connected to my battery bank and allowed me to plug appliances directly into the AC outlets provided on the inverter. Instead, I wanted my inverter to be a part of my RV and integrated into the existing AC outlets running through my RV. I also wanted my inverter to include a true 3 stage charger that would charge my battery bank when I was plugged into the grid. Accomplishing this task took many hours of research to assure that I was using the right inverter, wiring, breakers, etc. Safety was very important to me and I wanted to make sure that I did it right, neat, and clean.
For the average RV install, however, it doesn’t have to be this complicated. In fact, for many RVers, installing and using an inverter is not going to be nearly as complicated as the install that I chose. For most people that just want to use a TV occasionally or want to be able to charge their cell phone, a much smaller inverter with a simpler install will meet the need. It is for reasons like this that it is important to carefully consider how you plan to use an inverter in your RV. Likewise, you have to take your technical abilities into account. Installing an inverter can be as simple as hooking up a couple of large alligator clips to your battery bank and plugging directly into the AC outlets on the inverter or can be as complicated as needing to rewire parts of your RV’s electrical system to completely integrate it. Whichever you choose, you must do your homework and do it right.
