Inverter essentials

I've just read a rather sad story online of a German couple whose motorhome caught fire while they were using an air fryer via an inverter. Initially it was believed that the lithium batteries were the culprit, but I'm not sure that was the case. LiFePO4 battery chemistry, while still technically a lithium-ion variety, is much safer than the ones used for EV batteries. Many EV manufacturers are now switching to LiFePO4 because of this.

- 

In my opinion, the cause of the fire is more likely to be a poor connection or possibly a faulty inverter. To run an air fryer (which would typically be anywhere between 800W to 2000W) from a 12V source requires an inverter that not only changes the power from DC to AC but also steps the voltage up to 230V. To power 1000W at 230V takes just 4.35 amps, but 1000W at 12V requires 83 amps, plus a bit more for inverter inefficiency; this level of current draw needs some hefty cables and good connections, not to mention appropriately rated fuses.