Best Caravan Inverters in Australia (12V to 240V) – A Guide To Powering Your AC Appliances

Do you want to enjoy all of the comforts of home while you’re on the road? Well, most of the appliances that we like to use on a day to day basis run on 240V, whereas our caravan battery puts out 12V power.

That’s where your caravan inverter comes into play. This essential device converts 12V DC power to 240V AC power, allowing you to run your 240V appliances from your 12V battery. But which one is right for you? Where do you start?

There are all kinds of sizes available for every budget. Let’s take a look at those which stand out above the rest and are worthy of your attention.

Inverter or Converter?

Before we compare products, let’s clarify a couple of points.

Inverters convert voltage from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). In contrast, converters do the opposite.

A 240V to 12V converter for caravans will take mains electricity and convert it to a form that can be used by many of your caravan appliances and charge the caravan battery.

On the other hand, inverters convert the 12V power in your battery to 240V power that household items like phone chargers, coffee makers, and hair dryers can use.

As the inverter draws power from the battery, it does not require mains electricity - in fact, it is typically used when you are off the grid and need to power your appliances from your solar panels or stored power in your battery.

Let’s look at some of the best inverters on the Australian market.

Best Caravan Inverters Australia

Victron Phoenix Inverter 12V / 1200VA

Designed by and for Australians, the Victron Phoenix is an excellent inverter.

As it retails at around the $500 mark, it’s easy to directly compare this with the Dometic Sinepower. But a glance through the pros and cons shows that there can only be one winner.

The Phoenix holds numerous advantages over the Sinepower. They basically cost the same but Victron’s unit has higher continuous and peak outputs, at 1,000W and 2,200W respectively.

Victron also proudly reveals its 91% efficiency rating. This is excellent and shows that it is the best caravan inverter you can buy at this price point. With an amazing five-year warranty, you can’t go wrong.

It will also work in conditions up to 65°C. This is even higher than the Enerdrive ePower which is twice the price.

There is only reason why you might not go with the Phoenix - because you simply want a more powerful inverter. That’s not criticising the Victron, but it’s in a lower class than the likes of the ePower.

Dometic Sinepower MSI 912 800VA Inverter

Dometic is a well-known name in caravan appliances. They’ve built up a reputation as one of the most reliable brands in the business.

Their Sinepower MSI 912 800VA pure sine wave inverter has several points in its favour.

Firstly, at just 3kg, it’s one of the lightest inverters in its class. It’s also very compact so it won’t take up much space in your camping vehicle. Plus, it's easy to install.

Meanwhile, it is one of the cheaper inverters out there today, and it comes with a one-year warranty.

However, there are several cons.

It has a lower continuous output than many other units in its class. 800W isn’t terrible by any means but as we’ll see, you can get higher for a very similar price.

Of course, this also means that there is a lower peak voltage of just 1,600W. If you plan on using demanding electronics this probably isn’t the inverter for you.

The final issue is that Dometic doesn't make it clear what the maximum operating temperature is. Nor do they reveal their efficiency level. This might not seem like a big deal, but we all know how hot it can get in summer - you want to be sure that your unit can handle the heat.

All in all, this is a decent product but it’s not necessarily the best caravan inverter out there.

Enerdrive ePOWER Pure Sine Wave Inverter 2000W