In inverter specifications VA refers to Volts x Amps. Volts x Amps is the electrical formula that gives you Watts. Since Watts = Volts x Amps the terms Watts and VA should be interchangeable right?
"Not quite" is the answer.
When the load is a resistive load like a heater Watts and VA are interchangeable. When the load is an inductive load like a motor it gets more complicated. The explanation is a rather complex electrical concept called Power Factor, but in simplified form it goes something like this:
With inductive loads the load itself reacts with the power source. With each cycle of current a magnetic field is set up within the motor coil windings. As the magnetic field starts up there is an inrush of current, once the field is established nothing much happens, and then at the end of the cycle there is an outrush of current. The effect has a time lag and the outrush of current fights the incoming current for the next cycle and thus reduces the total amount of power available to do the work. This effect is called Power Factor and can be defined as the ratio of the real power absorbed by the load and available to do work to the apparent power flowing in the circuit. With a typical inductive load the Power Factor might be in the region of 0.8
The Power Factor effect means that with resistive loads the formula Watts = Volts x Amps is true but with inductive loads the Watts is a lesser amount, Volts x Amps x Power Factor. That's why you will see inverter manufacturers quote their rated output in VA - its because it is the higher number and so looks better on the spec sheet. Everybody does it. If your inverter is running a toaster or a coffee maker it doesn't matter but if you are running a vacuum cleaner or power tools it does and you need to be looking at the Watts figure.
The rated output for our most popular inverter charger, the
Victron MultiPlus 12/3000 is 3000 VA but for inductive loads it is rated at 2400 Watts. This represents a Power Factor of 0.8 since 3000 VA x 0.8 = 2400 Watts
This is a complicated subject that I have greatly simplified, if you want to delve a bit further this
Wikipedia article on Power Factor will get you started. I also found this
YouTube video on the subject but he lost me after the beer. The illustration below explains it all in a nutshell. Please feel free to add your bit in the comments below.