Life on the road means bringing a bit of home along with you. Whether you are brewing a cup of coffee in the morning, heating up lunch, or getting some work done on your laptop, you’ll need to power up the appliances safely and efficiently. So, how do you figure out what size inverter you need for your rig?

What will you be powering?

The size of the inverter you need depends on the total wattage of all the devices you plan to use at the same time.

• Make a list of all your appliances. Look for the wattage rating on each item. It’s usually printed directly on the appliance or in the manual.
• Add up the wattage of the appliances you plan to use at the same time.
• Add an extra 20% to that total for safety and future needs.
• Round up to the next available inverter size.

Consider which appliances you’ll use together. While your coffee is brewing in the morning, will you also be charging a device, keeping drinks cold in the fridge, or making breakfast?

You can also calculate your wattage needed using a Wattage Calculator. On the calculator, select up to four devices you want to power at the same time and calculate their total wattage. The estimated wattage provided is based on the highest average found across those products.

Company Truck vs. Owner-Operator

If you’re driving a company truck or leased truck, make sure to check with your company before purchasing and installing an inverter. Some companies require their own shop to install it, and many rigs already come equipped with an inverter.

If you own your truck, you’ll have the freedom to choose the brand, wattage, and features you want. Many owner-operators opt for at least a 2,000 watt inverter, which is powerful enough to handle essentials like a microwave.

Be sure to check your trucks alternator to see if it can handle the power inverter. Some choose to upgrade their alternator when going up to 3000W or more. If you are not sure how to check your alternator, a mechanic can confirm if it is necessary or not.

Pure Sine Wave vs. Modified Sine Wave Inverters

When you select your inverter, you’ll notice two types: pure sine wave and modified sine wave.

Pure sine wave inverters are ideal if you’re running sensitive electronics like laptops, monitors, TVs, CPAP or anything that requires consistent, smooth power. They are more efficient but tend to be more expensive.

Modified sine wave inverters are typically more cost-efficient but may cause interference in certain devices, such as laptops and TVs. They work well for simple appliances but may not be suitable for all electronics.

Here are a few power inverter options to get started in your search. PowerDrive® and Cummins® power inverters can be found in select travel centers throughout the United States and on Amazon.

PowerDrive® 3000 Watt Modified Sine Wave Power Inverter

• 3000W continuous output
• Include 39-inch cable kit
• Four 3-prong AC outlets with port covers
• Dual ports: standard USB and USB-C™ with port covers
• Bluetooth® technology
• High/low voltage, overtempt and overload protection
• Super-quiet fan
• Removeable LCD screen

Cummins 5000 Watt Modified Sine Wave Power Inverter

• 5000W continuous output
• Includes 36-inch cables
• Four AC outlets with protective port covers
• Dual ports-standard USB and fast charge USB-C® (USB-C PD)
• Bluetooth® monitoring control
• High/low voltage, overtempt and overload protection
• Reset circuit breakers on each outlet