120VAC Inverters

120VAC Solar Inverter Guide: From 1,000W Van Units to 16kW Home Hybrids

A solar inverter turns the DC power in your battery bank into the 120V AC that every US outlet, appliance and power tool expects. Pick one that is too small and the microwave trips it; pick a plain inverter when you needed a hybrid and you end up buying a charge controller and a battery charger separately. This collection covers every 120VAC option in the store, from a 1,000W unit for a van to 48V hybrids that also deliver 240V for a whole house.

There are 22 inverters here from Rich Solar, EG4 and APEX. Pure sine wave units for 12V and 24V banks start at $219, all-in-one 3,000W hybrids sit at $799, and 48V split-phase hybrids run from $1,490 for the APEX-6.5K to $3,600 for the EG4 FlexBOSS21.

How to choose an inverter for a solar system

• Plain, hybrid or split-phase. A plain inverter like the Rich Solar NOVA PURE MAX 2K (2,000W, 24V, UL 458) only makes AC. A hybrid like the NOVA MAX 3K adds an 80A MPPT solar charger and battery charger. A 48V split-phase hybrid such as the EG4 12kPV produces 120/240V, works grid-tied or off-grid and mounts outdoors in its NEMA 4X case.
• Battery voltage. The NOVA PURE 1K and 2K are 12V; the NOVA PURE MAX series and NOVA MAX 3K are 24V; every EG4 and APEX unit here is 48V. The inverter has to match the bank you own or plan to buy.
• Continuous and surge watts. Lights, laptops and a 12V fridge fit in 1,000W. A microwave or coffee maker needs 2,000 to 3,000W. A house with a well pump and air conditioning needs 6,500W and up, which is where the APEX-6.5K and the 10,000W APEX-10K come in.
• Generator and shore inputs. The NOVA SUPERCHARGER 3K has a built-in transfer switch and 150A charger for RVs on campground power. The APEX-6.5K keeps a grid connection and a generator connection wired side by side.
• Scale and connectivity. The EG4 FlexBOSS18 gives 13,000W continuous with 18,000W of PV input and built-in 4G; the FlexBOSS21 starts at 12,000W and grows to 16,000W with EG4's GridBOSS hub. Both carry UL 9540 listings.

Popular picks in this collection

Setup and usage tips

• Size the inverter from your simultaneous loads, not your daily total. The Solar Kit Calculator estimates inverter watts along with battery and panel size from your appliance list and ZIP code.
• Check the battery's discharge rating. A 3,000W inverter at 12V draws around 250A, so a single 100Ah battery with a 100A BMS cannot feed it; go 24V or parallel batteries.
• Do not oversize for a tiny bank. Large inverters draw standby power around the clock, which matters on a 1 to 2kWh battery.
• Mount for airflow and access. Hybrids with MPPT chargers run warm under full sun; the EG4 12kPV is rated for outdoors, but the Rich Solar units belong in a ventilated interior space.
• Match communication for lithium. Hybrids charge best when they talk to the battery BMS; confirm the protocol before pairing brands.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 120VAC and split-phase inverters? A 120VAC-only unit powers standard outlets. Split-phase 48V hybrids like the APEX and EG4 models output 120V and 240V, so they also run dryers, well pumps and central air.

Do I need pure sine wave? Yes for anything with a motor, a compressor, a medical device or a switching power supply. All the Rich Solar and APEX units here are pure sine wave, and the EG4 hybrids are built to feed a household panel.

Can a hybrid inverter replace my charge controller? Yes. The NOVA MAX 3K includes an 80A MPPT charger, and the EG4 and APEX hybrids have their own PV inputs, so a separate controller is not needed for the panels they connect to.

Every inverter ships free to the mainland US from our brand partner warehouses, usually within a few business days, with 30-day returns. Send us your battery voltage and load list and we will confirm the right unit.