Portable Inverters

Portable Inverters: Turning a 12V or 24V Battery into Household Power

Portable inverters take DC from a battery in a van, trailer, boat or cabin and put out 120V AC for the things that only run from a wall plug: a microwave, a coffee maker, power tool chargers, a TV, a laptop brick. They are the missing piece when a solar inverter or charge controller keeps the battery full but there is nowhere to plug in an appliance. The units here are pure sine wave, so sensitive electronics and motors run as they would at home.

The collection holds 9 inverters. In stock now are five Rich Solar NOVA PURE models from 1,000W to 3,000W in 12V and 24V versions, priced from $219 to $399. Three Sungold Power inverter-chargers, a 4,000W 12V unit and two 6,000W split-phase units in 24V and 48V, are between shipments and listed for reference.

How to choose a portable inverter

• Continuous watts for the biggest load. A laptop, TV and lights need well under 1,000W; the Rich Solar 1,000W 12V NOVA PURE 1K at $219 covers that. A microwave or a coffee maker pushes past 1,200W, which is where the Rich Solar 2,000W 12V NOVA PURE 2K comes in. Running two of those at once, or a small air conditioner, needs the 3,000W units.
• Surge rating. Compressors and pumps draw far more for a moment at startup. Each NOVA PURE model surges to double its rating: 2,000W on the 1K, 4,000W on the 2K, 6,000W on the Rich Solar 3,000W 12V NOVA PURE 3K.
• Battery voltage. At 3,000W, a 12V inverter pulls around 250A from the bank, which means thick cable and a big fuse. A 24V bank halves that current, so the Rich Solar 3,000W 24V NOVA PURE MAX 3K is the better match for a larger van or cabin bank. Pick the inverter voltage to match the battery you own.
• Certification and waveform. The NOVA PURE line is UL 458 listed for RVs and mobile use with under 3 percent total harmonic distortion, which is what keeps CPAP machines, induction cooktops and variable-speed tools happy.

Popular picks in this collection

Setup and usage tips

• Size the whole chain, not just the inverter. The Solar Kit Calculator takes your appliances and ZIP code and returns inverter watts alongside the battery and panel size that keep it fed.
• Keep DC cables short and heavy. Mount the inverter close to the battery, use the gauge the manual specifies for the run, and fuse the positive lead at the battery.
• Give it airflow. Inverters shed heat under load.
• Do not expect a plain inverter to charge the battery. The NOVA PURE units convert only; for charging from shore power, the Sungold Power inverter-charger models add that function when they return to stock.
• Switch it off when idle. Even with no load, an inverter draws standby current from the bank overnight.
• For portable solar power on a trip, pair a 1K or 2K inverter with a folding panel and a 100Ah lithium battery; that trio runs a small campsite kitchen.

Frequently asked questions

Which inverter runs a microwave in an RV? Most RV microwaves draw 1,000 to 1,500W, so the 2,000W NOVA PURE 2K or MAX 2K is the usual choice, with the 4,000W surge covering the startup spike.

Is there a portable solar panel with inverter in one product? Not in this collection. Here the inverter is a separate box that connects to a battery; the panel and charge controller charge the battery, and the inverter draws from it.

Can I use one of these as portable power for a home outage? Yes, with a 12V or 24V battery bank to draw from. A 3,000W unit runs a refrigerator, lights and a router; how long depends on the battery's kWh, not the inverter.

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