If you are experiencing RV battery problems or are staying in your RV long term where you’re connected to an external power source, you’re probably wondering: will an RV converter work without a battery?
Most RV converters will work without a battery as long as you’re connected to shore power, but you’ll be without a backup power supply in the event of a power outage.
Long story short, you don’t need a battery to run your RV as long as you’re connected to shore power, as most modern RV converters will work just fine without a battery.
Will An RV Converter Work Without A Battery?
Yes, an RV converter will still work just fine without a battery as long as you’re hooked up to an external power source like shore power.
The downside is that without a battery, you have no backup power supply in case your shore power is interrupted or goes out, so it’s advisable to keep a charged battery hooked up whenever possible.
Also, keeping your battery connected while using your RV converter on shore power is a great way of how to charge your RV battery.
Check out our review of the Roadhawk Predator RV battery for some great insights on how RV batteries work.
What An RV Converter Does
So you may be asking yourself, what does a converter do in an RV?
Simply put, an RV converter transforms 120-volt AC power (the same power you get from a plug-in electrical source) to 12-volt DC power (the power that’s used by your RV and is typically supplied by an RV battery).
You can usually find your RV power converter near your control panel.
Will My RV Work Without A Battery?
Yes, as long as the RV is plugged into an external power source like shore power then most RVs will continue to function normally or the same as when they are connected to a battery.
Will RV Lights Work Without Battery?
Everything on your RV, including the lights, will work without a battery as long as the RV is hooked up to an external power source and your RV converter is working properly.
Will RV Fridge Work Without Battery?
Your RV’s fridge will work without a battery just fine as long as your RV converter is working properly and you are connected to shore power.
Will RV Furnace Work Without Battery?
Your RV furnace will continue working without battery power, assuming that your RV’s converter is working as it should and that you are hooked up to an external source like shore power.
Should I Worry About Running My RV Converter Without A Battery?
Your RV’s converter will successfully supply power to your RV without a battery, but there are a few concerns to keep in mind:
Running An RV Converter Without Battery Can Wear Your Converter Out
Your RV’s converter is intended to “top up” your batteries as they lose their charge, so running an RV converter continuously without battery power is working it harder than originally intended, which could lead to premature wear and tear or early failure of your RV converter over time.
Heavy Tasks Can Place Too Much Stress On Your RV Converter
Using certain power-hungry items on your RV like jacks, slide-outs, etc. require lots of current and your RV’s converter may not be designed to handle the demands of that power without a battery. Asking too much of your RV converter can shorten its lifespan.
You Could Damage Your Electronics
While it’s rare, if you have an older or damaged RV converter, it can leak AC power along with the converted DC power, which can cause lights to burn out and other types of electronic damage.
Ultimately, you should always try to keep a properly functioning RV battery connected when using shore power.
See Related: What Happens When an RV Converter Fails?
How Do I Use An RV Converter Without A Battery?
Your RV converter is still trying to charge your battery, even if the RV battery is not present.
If you remove your battery when using your RV converter on shore power, make sure to cover the leads with something that doesn’t conduct electricity (like electrical tape).
If the leads are uncovered and short to ground, you could risk blowing your RV converter’s battery fuses.
Also, be sure to check your RV converter model to see if it needs a battery to operate normally before trying to run it without battery power.
Will An RV Converter Work Without A Battery? Wrapping Things Up
So we covered that yes, you can absolutely use your RV’s converter while plugged into shore power without a battery, but that it does come at the risk of possibly damaging your converter or other electrical components in your rig.
We advise running your RV converter without a battery if that’s your only option- otherwise, keep a battery connected at all times.
