AIMS Power sells both plain inverters and inverter chargers for 12V RV systems, and the names look alike until you read the spec table. The difference decides how much you wire, how much weight you carry, and whether your batteries get charged when you plug into a pedestal. Here is how to pick between them for an RV, van or camper.
The short answer
An inverter turns 12V battery power into 120V AC. That is all it does. An inverter charger does that and adds two things: a multi-stage battery charger that runs whenever AC is available, and an automatic transfer switch that passes shore or generator power straight through to your outlets and flips to the inverter when that power drops out.
- Choose an AIMS inverter charger (the PICOGLF series) if you plug into shore power or run a generator regularly, want the same outlets to work on and off grid, and want one unit to do the charging.
- Choose a plain AIMS inverter (the PWRI, PWRIG or PILF lines) if your RV already has a converter or charger that handles the batteries and you only need AC power away from hookups.
What the charger side gives you
AIMS's low-frequency PICOGLF inverter chargers carry a charger sized to the inverter: 35A on the 1000W, 50A on the 1500W, 70A on the 2000W, 85A on the 2500W, 100A on the 3000W and 115A on the 4000W (AIMS spec tables). The charger has selectable profiles for AGM, GEL, lithium and flooded batteries plus a user-defined setting, and the 1000W to 4000W units include a lithium battery wake-up function (for the stripped-down 2500W AL, AIMS's spec table says no while its description says yes, so confirm with AIMS) for a bank whose BMS has shut it down after over-discharge.
That matters for an RV in two ways. First, a 70A or 100A charger refills a lithium bank far faster than the 30A to 55A converter most trailers shipped with. Second, if you are moving to lithium, the stock converter may not have a lithium profile at all; our converter upgrade for lithium guide covers what has to change. An inverter charger can take over the charging job while the existing 12V distribution panel keeps feeding the lights and pump.
What the transfer switch gives you
With a plain inverter you wire its output to a separate sub-panel or a dedicated outlet, and nothing on the inverter side sees shore power unless you add a transfer switch. The PICOGLF units have the switch built in: shore or generator power passes through to the inverter's output while it is present, and when it drops the unit switches to battery power in about 10 milliseconds (AIMS's figure), fast enough that a laptop or TV does not notice. DIP switches set AC priority (use shore power whenever it is there) or battery priority (run from the bank and only pass AC through when the bank is low).
If you only want the switching and not the big charger, AIMS makes two lighter units: the 1200W pure sine inverter with a built-in 10A transfer switch (hardwire only, ETL listed to UL 458) and the 1000W pure sine inverter charger with a selectable 25A or 55A charger. Both are high-frequency designs at 12 to 15 lb, so they suit a small trailer or van where a 50 lb low-frequency unit has nowhere to go.
The AIMS 12V lines side by side
| Line | What it is | Sizes (12V) | Surge | Charger / transfer | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PWRI | High-frequency pure sine inverter, USB ports, remote port, 4.4 to 18 lb | 600W, 1000W, 1500W, 2000W | 2x | None | 2 years |
| PWRIG | Industrial high-frequency pure sine, hardwire block, DSP control | 2000W, 3000W, 5000W | 2x | None | 2 years |
| PILF | Low-frequency pure sine inverter, ETL listed, 17 to 83 lb | 600W to 4000W | 3x | None | 3 years |
| PICOGLF | Low-frequency pure sine inverter charger with transfer switch | 600W to 4000W | 3x for 20 s | 5A to 115A charger, automatic transfer | 3 years |
| PIC1000 | High-frequency pure sine inverter charger, hardwire | 1000W | — | 25A or 55A charger, transfer switch | — |
| PWRIX1200 | High-frequency pure sine inverter with transfer switch | 1200W | — | 10A transfer switch, no charger | — |
| PWRINV / PWRB | Modified sine inverters for non-sensitive loads | 800W to 5000W | 2x | None (PWRIC1500 adds a charger) | 2 years |
Sizes, surge ratings and warranty terms are from AIMS's product pages; the PIC1000 and PWRIX1200 pages do not state a surge figure or a warranty term, so none is given here.
Which one for which RV
Travel trailer or fifth wheel with a working converter
Your converter already charges the batteries on shore power and the pedestal feeds the outlets directly. What you lack is AC when you are boondocking. A plain inverter is the lighter and simpler fix: a 2000W pure sine inverter kit with remote, fuse and cables gives you the inverter, the on/off remote, the DC fuse and the battery cables in one box. You then either plug appliances into the inverter or wire its output to the outlets you want to run off grid.
Van or Class B lithium build
Most van builds want the outlets to work the same way whether you are plugged in at a campground or parked at a trailhead. That is the PICOGLF case. The 2000W VR model (2 outlets plus a hardwire block, 70A charger, 51 lb) or the ETL-listed 2000W V model is the usual size for a bank of one or two 104Ah LiFePO4 batteries. See AIMS PICOGLF inverter chargers explained for the V and VR differences.
Motorhome with a generator and 50A service
If you run a 240V/50A cord or a larger generator, look at the 3000W inverter charger with 30A/50A bypass. It is the one PICOGLF 12V unit with a 50A transfer switch and a 120V/240V input, and it is ETL listed to UL 458.
Charging only, no inverter needed
If the goal is just a faster or lithium-capable charger on shore power, the 75A selectable 12V/24V converter charger does that without an inverter. It is UL 458 listed and has DIP-switch profiles for flooded, AGM, GEL and LiFePO4.
Pure sine or modified sine?
AIMS rates its modified sine inverters for "non-sensitive equipment": resistive heaters, incandescent lights, simple tools. Anything with a microprocessor, a variable-speed motor, a CPAP or a residential fridge belongs on pure sine. For an RV that is almost everything you plug in, which is why every AIMS inverter charger is pure sine. Our general guide What size inverter do I need for my RV? walks through the load list, and what size AIMS inverter your RV needs maps that list onto the AIMS lineup.
FAQ
Does an AIMS inverter charger replace my RV converter?
It replaces the converter's charging job, not the 12V distribution panel. The panel keeps feeding your 12V lights, pump and fans; the inverter charger charges the bank and runs the AC side. Most installs leave the converter in place and either disable its charger or let the inverter charger handle the bank on its lithium profile.
Can an AIMS inverter charger charge lithium batteries?
Yes. The PICOGLF chargers list AGM, GEL, lithium and flooded profiles plus a user-defined setting, and the 1000W to 4000W units have a lithium wake-up function; for the 2500W AL, AIMS's spec table says no while its description says yes, so confirm with AIMS before relying on it. The modified sine PWRIC1500 inverter charger lists lead, AGM and GEL only.
Do I need a separate transfer switch with a plain inverter?
Only if you want the same outlets to work on shore power and inverter power. If you plug appliances directly into the inverter, or wire it to its own outlets, no switch is needed.
Where do AIMS products ship from?
Every AIMS Power product here is genuine, carries the AIMS Power warranty and ships from our warehouse in Upland, California. Lithium batteries and power stations ship to the lower 48 states. Browse the full AIMS Power range, or ask us which unit fits your rig before you order.