Can I run power tools off a 12V inverter?

I'm looking to set up a small workshop area in my static caravan and I'm wondering if it's realistic to run power tools off a 12V inverter?

Currently I've got a 3kW Victron inverter running off a 48V lithium bank, which handles my day-to-day stuff fine. But I'm thinking about adding a separate 12V circuit for occasional lighter work — maybe a cordless drill, angle grinder, that sort of thing. Before I invest in tools though, I want to understand what's actually practical.

The main question is: what's the peak power draw I'm looking at with typical power tools, and can a decent 12V inverter actually handle that? I've seen various models mentioned (Fogstar seems popular?) but I'm not entirely clear on whether the wattage rating tells me what I actually need or if there's some headroom calculation I should be doing.

Also, would I be better off just upgrading tools to 18V or 20V cordless instead? I know lithium batteries have come down in price, and I could always charge them directly off my main system rather than inverting.

Second question — if I did go the 12V inverter route, how does that affect my overall system design? I'm assuming I'd need separate cabling and a dedicated breaker setup?

Any experience running workshop tools off smaller inverters would be really helpful. I'm trying to work out if this is a cost-effective addition or if I'm just overcomplicating things.

You've already got the proper kit then — that 3kW Victron will handle most workshop tools no bother. The real question is whether your battery bank can cope with the current draw, not the inverter itself.

A typical drill might spike to 1-2kW, circular saw could pull 1.5kW, but it's those startup surges that'll make your batteries cry. What's your battery capacity? If you're running off a modest setup, you'll be nursemaiding each cut.

Rule of thumb: if it needs a trigger, it'll drain faster than a motorhome freshwater tank in summer. Stick to lower-power stuff (impact drivers, sanders) or budget for a proper generator backup for the hungry tools.

The issue with 12V inverters is they're basically toys for phone chargers and small gadgets. You'd need something massive to handle any real workshop tool — a drill alone can pull 1500W+ on startup.

You're already sorted though with that 3kW Victron on 48V. That's genuinely proper kit for a caravan workshop setup. The trick is making sure your battery bank can actually supply the current without sagging — what size bank are you running? Lithium or lead?

If you're thinking about tools regularly, you might also want to look at when you're powering them. Running a circular saw for hours will drain even a decent system quickly unless you've got solar keeping up. I run a Makita drill off mine occasionally and it's fine, but I'm realistic about duty cycle.

What specific tools are you planning on using?

@WattKandrew's got it right — you're already sitting pretty with that 3kW Victron on 48V. That's genuinely workshop-grade kit.

The thing is, I learned this the hard way on my narrowboat. Started with a battered old 12V inverter thinking I'd be clever, tried running a cordless drill charger... the voltage sag was mental. You need serious cable runs and battery capacity to make 12V inverters work for anything demanding.

Your 48V setup is the sweet spot though. I've run a circular saw, impact driver, and orbital sander off mine without drama. Just watch your battery state of charge — tools pull hard, and you'll drain faster than you'd expect.

Real tip: check your cable gauge between battery and inverter. Undersized cables are what catches most people out, not the inverter itself.

The real issue isn't the inverter voltage—it's the cable run and battery bank capacity. @WattKaren, you've already got the Victron sorted, which is the sensible choice for workshop use. But I'd flag a couple of practical points from my own caravan setup:

Most power tools (circular saws, impact drivers, angle grinders) draw 1500–2500W on startup. Your 3kW Victron can handle that, but you'll need proper cable gauge from battery to inverter. I'm running 70mm² marine-grade from my 48V lithium to the unit—anything thinner and you'll get voltage sag that'll either trip the inverter or damage the tool motor.

The bigger constraint is your battery bank itself. What capacity are you running? A single 100Ah LiFePO₄ battery will give you maybe 15–20 minutes of sustained tool use before you're flat. Many caravaners underestimate this and end up running their tools intermittently from solar, which is frankly frustrating.

If you're serious about workshop time, you might want to look at stacking another 48V battery in parallel or switching to a 240V generator setup instead. The Victron will handle both configurations seamlessly.

What's your current battery spec?

You've already won the lottery with that 3kW Victron on 48V — just run your tools off that instead of mucking about with a 12V inverter, which would need cables the thickness of a garden hose and still collapse under a drill's startup surge.

The real question is whether your battery bank can handle the inrush current. A decent cordless drill pulls about 1-2kW for a split second when it bites into wood, so you'll need at least 100Ah of 48V lithium (or considerably more lead-acid) to avoid your Victron throttling back and shutting down. What's your current setup — LiFePO₄ or flooded cells?

If you're genuinely limited on space, a quality brushless cordless from Makita or DeWalt will give you more flexibility than any inverter gamble anyway. They're designed for mobile work and won't tank your voltage.

@WattKaren — you're overthinking this one. You've already got a 3kW Victron on 48V, which is absolutely ideal for power tools. A 12V inverter would be fighting a losing battle trying to supply anything meaningful without melting the cables.

The real consideration isn't voltage, it's your battery bank. Most power tools pull heavy current on startup — a circular saw or impact driver can spike to 1500W+ easily. Your 3kW inverter can handle that, but your batteries need the headroom to supply it without sagging the voltage.

If you've got a decent sized lithium or lead bank backing that Victron, you're golden. Just run everything through your existing setup and invest any spare budget into thicker DC cabling (the run from batteries to inverter is critical — I learned that lesson the hard way on my narrowboat).

What's your current battery capacity and chemistry? That'll tell you whether you can happily run two tools simultaneously or need to be a bit more selective.

Bit confused by the question tbh — you've already got the perfect setup for this. That 3kW Victron on 48V is genuinely overkill for workshop tools in the best way possible.

The real constraint isn't going to be your inverter, it's your battery bank. What size are you running? A typical circular saw or jigsaw pulls 1-1.5kW, and most corded tools are fine with brief spikes. Your 3kW can handle it no problem.

Only wrinkle is where your battery is relative to the tools. Long cable runs from a caravan battery to a workshop area will cause voltage drop — you'd be better off running a 48V feed out and installing a smaller 12V inverter locally (like a 500W Fogstar or similar), rather than relying on one massive inverter cable run.

Are your tools AC or 18V brushless? If they're brushless, honestly just grab a couple of spare batteries and keep them on charge off your Victron. Saves you the inverter conversion losses entirely.

What size battery bank have you got, and where

Yeah, the lads are right — you've basically already solved this one. That 3kW Victron on 48V is exactly what you want for power tools. A 12V inverter would be mental for anything decent.

The thing is, 12V inverters struggle with the current draw from tools. Say you've got a 1500W circular saw — that's roughly 125 amps at 12V. Your cabling needs to be thick as your thumb and you'll get voltage drop all over the place. Not to mention they're pricey for what you get.

Your 48V setup is brilliant because the current is way lower (roughly 30 amps for that same saw), so wiring's simpler and losses are minimal. Plus you've already got the infrastructure.

Only reason I'd consider a small 12V inverter is for phone chargers and LED stuff while you're messing with the main setup. But for workshop tools? Just run them straight off your existing Victron.

What tools are you planning on running? If they're all under 3kW total you're golden.

@WattKaren — just to clarify, are you looking to run tools specifically off 12V, or are you asking whether your current 48V setup can handle workshop power tools? Because there's a massive difference.

If you're thinking 12V inverter, honestly don't bother. The inrush current on most power tools would kill a 12V system — even a small drill can spike to 15-20A easily. You'd need ridiculous cable runs and voltage drop would be brutal.

Your existing 3kW Victron on 48V is genuinely the sweet spot though. Most workshop tools (circular saws, angle grinders, impact drivers) will run fine off that. Just watch your battery capacity — what size bank have you got? A heavy-use drill or compressor can drain things quickly if you're not careful.

What specific tools are you planning to run?

Mate, you're overthinking this. That 3kW Victron on 48V will handle most workshop tools without breaking a sweat — drill, circular saw, angle grinder, no problem. The real constraint is your battery capacity and how long you can sustain the load, not the inverter itself. What's your battery bank looking like?

Mate, you've already got the dream setup — that 3kW Victron on 48V will absolutely murder workshop tools. The real question is whether your battery bank can handle the surge current when you fire up a circular saw or angle grinder. What's your battery capacity looking like?