Inverter System Parts List | What You’ll Need For Your Installation

This post provides a parts list of what you will need to install an inverter system in a camper van and RV. We use many of these same parts in our camper van conversion, and our 110V AC inverter system has been running fine for the past five years.

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First, Download Our Free Electrical Wiring Ebook

This inverter system parts list post will accompany our electrical diagrams ebook.

You’ll find a wiring diagram, like the one below, in our ebook. This post will introduce all the components in this diagram and describe their function within this system.

2/0 AWG Wire

For most van conversions, we recommend using thick 2/0 AWG cables to connect the batteries to the inverter. This is because the wires in this section of the electrical system will experience some of the highest current flows. You want to have thick wires to transmit this high-current electricity without overheating.

Accurately sizing your wires is math-intensive, which involves calculating your maximum wattage draw, determining the length of the wire, and referring to a wire size chart. But to keep things simple, we recommend the following wire sizes based on the wattage rating of your inverter. This will ensure you help keep your system safe from overheating.

• 1000W inveter: 1/0 AWG wire
• 2000W inverter: 2/0 AWG wire
• 3000W inverter: 4/0 AWG wire

We like Windynation’s thick electrical wires. They’re priced very competitively and are constructed using top-quality components. The 2/0 AWG wires are comprised of 1255 individual strands of pure copper conductors for efficient power transmission and ultra-flexibility. This is perfect for wiring projects in tight spaces like vans and boats.

The wire’s EPDM rubber insulation also exceeds basic wire standards and allows the wire to transmit greater amounts of current than basic wire amperage charts indicate.

Windynation is also a California-based company that assembles its wires in-house.

For more information, watch our EWCS 2/0 AWG wire review below. The Windynation wires are EXACTLY The same as EWCS, but are sold at a significantly lower price point.

ANL Fuse (300A)

Installing a fuse between the inverter and the bus bar will help to protect the wire from overheating and potentially catching fire. The fuse size you need depends on how much current you will draw from the batteries to the inverter.

To simplify the fuse size calculation, we recommend sizing the fuse to the watt rating of your power inverter.

• 1000W inverter: 200A fuse
• 2000W inverter: 300A fuse
• 3000W inverter: 400A fuse

We like Windynation’s ANL fuses not only because they’re priced competitively, but also because they’re a California-based company that assembles their own battery cables in-house.

For more information, watch our 300A ANL fuse review below.

Bus Bars

Bus bars are an intermediary between the batteries and every load/charging point in an electrical system. They collect/distribute DC power and help keep your wiring clean, simple, and organized.

When your electrical system is finished, these bus bars will connect to your batteries, 12V fuse panel, inverter, solar charge controller, and DC-DC charger.

Since these bus bars are placed at the nexus of all power flow, you want to get good quality bus bars that can handle high levels of current for prolonged periods. The bus bars we recommend (and personally use) from R2X Racing are heavy-duty and can handle up to 250 amps of current.

For more information, watch our review of the R2X Racing bus bars.

M8 Lugs (2/0 x 5/16″)

Lugs attach electrical wires to various devices like fuses, breakers, and bus bars. We use size ‘M8’ lugs wherever you see pink-colored lugs in our electrical wiring guide. These lugs are typically connected to batteries, ANL fuses, and inverters since they tend to have 5/16″ terminal posts.

Lug sizes depend on wire thickness, so these specific lugs require you to use 2/0 AWG wire, which we refer to in our guide.

We like using Wirefy lugs because they’re made from thick, solid copper. You want a high-quality, thick metal lug to transmit large amounts of current (amps) without getting too hot and potentially melting. These lugs also have pre-sized heat shrink sleeves to reinforce the lug-wire connection.

For more information, watch our Wirefy lug product review below.

M10 Lugs (2/0 x 3/8″)

Lugs attach electrical wires to devices like fuses, breakers, and bus bars. We use size ‘M10’ lugs wherever you see dark orange-colored lugs in our electrical wiring guide. These lugs are typically used to connect to the battery switch, bus bars, and battery monitors, since they tend to have larger 3/8″ terminal posts.

Lug sizes depend on wire thickness, so these specific lugs require you to use 2/0 AWG wire, which we refer to in our guide.

We like using Wirefy lugs because they’re made from thick, solid copper. You want a high-quality, thick metal lug to transmit large amounts of current (amps) without getting too hot and potentially melting. These lugs also have pre-sized heat shrink sleeves to reinforce the lug-wire connection.

For more information, scroll up to watch our Wirefy lug product review.

10/3 AWG Triplex Wire

This feeder wire connects the inverter to the circuit breaker box and power inlet. For 2000W inverters, we recommend using 10/3 AWG triplex wire.

• For 1000W inverters (and smaller), use 12/3 AWG wire.
• For 3000W inverters, use 8/3 AWG wire.

The Kimbluth-branded wires are made from pure copper conductors and are tinned to resist corrosion.

Circuit Breaker Box

A breaker box holds all the individual circuit breakers. The unit we recommend below has space for two breakers, sufficient to connect up to two pairs of power outlets in your camper van.

For a panel box that holds more breakers and is designed for RVs, check out this AC breaker panel.

15A Circuit Breaker

If you use 12 AWG triplex wire for your branch circuits (between the breaker and the power outlets), you will need 15A circuit breakers. This is the correct amperage to protect the 12-gauge wires from overheating.

12/3 AWG Triplex Wire

When wiring your inverter system’s branch circuits between the breaker and each socket, 12 AWG triplex wire is ideal. For a 110V inverter, this wire can safely carry up to 2,200 watts (15A * 110V).

Safety note: You want to ensure that each socket (or pair of sockets) is wired directly to a circuit breaker. For safety, do not split the branch wire to feed multiple sockets in your van. For example, if you have three pairs of sockets spread throughout your van, you should have three circuit breakers.

Klumbuth’s 12 AWG triplex wire already has a positive, negative, and ground wire wrapped in a rugged outer insulation jacket. The wire is manufactured with oxygen-free copper (OFC) conductors and tinned to resist corrosion over time.

Gang Box

An outlet box is required when using household-style power outlets and light switches. This is the gang box that we use in our van. It is a thin-profile design, which is slimmer than standard boxes sold at hardware stores.

Power Outlet

This is a standard household-style power outlet, which connects directly to the 12/3 AWG triplex wire. This outlet also attaches to the blue gang box.

Power Inlet

If you have an inverter/charger combo unit, you will need to install a power inlet socket to charge your auxiliary battery from shore power. This device wires directly to the inverter charger. Then, with an extension cord, you connect the power inlet to a shore power socket.

The power inlet can be installed on the exterior of the van’s sheet metal frame or inside the vehicle.

Inlet sizing: The power inlet we recommend here can support a maximum of 15 amps (2,200W @ 110V) of charging. This is perfect for inverter/chargers rated up to 2000W. For a 3000W inverter/charger, we recommend a 30A power inlet.

Lug Set

This is an assorted set of lugs for different sized wires and terminal posts. It includes the lugs you’ll need to connect the 4 AWG ground wire to the inverter and a ground point along your vehicle’s chassis.

If you are following our wiring diagrams, this lug set is a perfect pickup because it contains all the various lugs you’ll need to connect the 12V system, DC-DC charger, solar charge controller, and to ground your electrical system. This saves you money since you don’t have to buy individual lug sizes, which often contain many more units than you actually need for your build.

• Wire size range: 2 AWG to 8 AWG
• Ring sizes: 3/8″, 5/16″, 1/4″

This lug set also includes pre-sized red and black heat shrink sleeves. After you’ve crimped the lug onto the wire, slip on the sleeve and use a heat gun to activate the heat shrink to reinforce the lug/wire connection.

For more information, watch our Sanuke lug set product review below.

Tool recommendation: To attach these lugs onto the wires, you’ll need a hydraulic crimping tool. Follow the link for our tool description and to watch our crimping tutorial.

4 AWG Wire

For electrical systems that utilize an inverter up to 2000W, we recommend grounding the system using 4 AWG wire. Constructed with 364 pure copper strands, this TEMCo wire is ultra-flexible, making it easy to lay the wire in tight spaces.

Note: For systems that use 3000W inverters, we recommend using 2 AWG wire.

Portable Inverter (300W)

If you only have modest AC electricity requirements – maybe just to power a laptop – you can opt for a small portable inverter. This travel inverter can power devices up to 300 watts by plugging into a standard 12-volt socket.

We used this portable inverter throughout our travels, and it was a great product if we wanted to power our laptops. It was quick to take out and set up and didn’t involve turning on our bulky inverter, which we save for our larger AC devices.

Note: To help complete the installation, you will need a 12V socket. For complete electrical safety, don’t use the thin wires that come with the socket. They are not capable of safely transmitting more than 120 watts. Replace them with up to 12-gauge wire.

Inverter (2000W)

Renogy’s 2000W inverter is one of the most popular options for van conversions. This inverter-only model is ideal for powering hair dryers, water kettles, and other large kitchen appliances.

Note: This is an inverter-only model, not an inverter/charger. So, you will not be able to charge your auxiliary batteries from shower power with this device.

Connecting The Bus Bars To The Leisure Batteries

To complete the inverter system, you must wire the bus bars to the leisure batteries. For a list of components required to complete this connection, please read our 12V system parts list.