Charge-Inverter Combos

In terms of an inverter application, a boat and an RV are the same. They both have the potential for shore power, an onboard generator and preexisting components, such as built-in converter. If you are in a scenario where there will not be another AC source, i.e. generator or shore power, then there is no advantage to an inverter/charger. It’s fairly safe to say that if you’re doing a new build from ground zero, an inverter/charger is the way to go. Without an all-in-one system you are left to manually track what AC power you have available. However, you do not want AC power available on the same circuit as a standalone inverter as this will result in a damaged inverter. You also have to be sure that the separate converter is never powered by the inverter as this will result in quicker battery drain. If you’re upgrading or adding an inverter to your preexisting system that already has a converter, consider the implication that the converter cannot be powered by the AC circuit the inverter supplies. Beyond the automatic features and the efficiency of an inverter/charger, there are a number of monitoring and adjustment features you can dial in to improve performance. Inverter/chargers either come with, or have an optional remote panel that allows you to monitor you usage and battery voltage. This panel can also allow you to set parameters such as battery type, battery bank size, and AC input restrictions. These parameters ensure you are getting optimized performance and charging, which leads to longer battery life.