Do you want to know the difference between a battery charger and an RV converter? We break everything down for you here and have you covered.
The many terminology that are thrown in throughout might befuddle you if you’re new to the RV industry and have been reading on several internet forums.
Owning an RV requires you to understand its electrical system and, sometimes, to troubleshoot it, even if you only use it occasionally.
When reading about your electrical system, you’ve undoubtedly come across the words “RV converter,” “RV invertor,” and “battery charger.” Here is the information you need to know about an RV converter vs. battery charger to avoid any misunderstanding.
An RV Converter Is What?
The task of converting 120v AC electricity into 12v DC power falls on an RV converter.
How Does A Camper Conversion Operate Though?
The RV converter turns 120v AC electricity into 12v DC power when you connect your RV into shore power or any regular electrical source.
Your RV batteries will power all of your 12-volt accessories if you don’t have a converter (they come standard in modern RVs).
When you reconnect to shore power, an RV converter will recharge your batteries.
This lessens the strain on the chance of battery damage in your RV.
RV Converter Types
There are several varieties of converters available.
The most typical kinds are as follows:
- Multi-stage – Your batteries are charged, maintained at a constant level, and turned off by a multi-stage converter when they are fully charged.
- High output – A high output converter can be right for you if you have many batteries that need to be charged or bigger appliances using your DC power.
- Deck mount – Your RV’s deck can accommodate a deck mount converter.
- Distribution panel – If your older RV needs an update, this kind of converter is ideal. Your batteries may be charged and appliances can be powered by a distribution panel converter.
What Is A Battery Charger For An RV?
Simply put, an RV battery charger charges your RV batteries.
RV Battery Charger Types
Battery chargers come in a variety of varieties.
The typical kinds are listed below:
- Converter charger – This kind of battery charger is the most simple. And no, you aren’t misreading; the converter charger is what we spoke about before. A converter charger charges your RV batteries in addition to converting 120v to 12v.
- Inverter charger – The majority of contemporary RVs include an inverter charger. This gadget has many capabilities with a converter charger; nevertheless, there is one key distinction. When there is no shore power, an inverter charger converts a 12v battery into 120v AC electricity.
- Solar-powered – Solar-power Your RV batteries are recharged using sunlight using RV battery chargers.
What, Then, Is The Difference Between A Battery Charger And An RV Converter?
In current RVs, an RV converter charges your batteries and transforms shore power into useable 12v DC power, hence the two names are sometimes used interchangeably.
To put it simply, an RV converter is a battery charger with extra features.
But a battery charger only ever serves to refuel your batteries.
