What Does a Car Inverter on Your Car Do?

Car inverter DC to AC is now popular for car users but few people know how to correctly use the device. In essence, we can turn the DC power source (plug-in) in your car into a standard wall outlet. They achieve this without sucking all of the energy out of your car battery while you are driving. Since most smaller electronics require more power than a DC source can provide, the car inverter increases the signal strength and makes it convenient to use devices such as computers in the car.

A car power inverter that comes with multiple charging stations can exactly help you out of this dilemma, which is even more helpful when you have to use your cellphones or tablets to deal with something urgent while the devices are draining soon.

GIP1000SA dc to ac 1000w pure sine wave inverter load fan

What devices should your car inverter load?

Inverters are useful on long road trips, for camping, for people who travel for business, truck drivers, and anyone who needs more power in the car. Any electronic device that requires an AC input requires an inverter. Some examples include:

cell phone
laptop
electric light
digital camera
breast pump
TV
electrical tools
microwaves
refrigerators
cooking equipment

Different types of car inverters

There are a number of different types of inverters, but the two main types that you’ll find in automotive applications are:

Modified sine wave
- These inverters are the more affordable of the two. They produce a “modified sine wave” that’s perfectly fine for most consumer electronics, so they work well in a lot of different applications.

Pure sine wave
- These tend to be more expensive, but they produce a sine wave that is much closer to the AC power available from the power outlets in your home. Some devices, like uninterruptible power supplies, may fail to work properly without a steady, pure sine wave, but most consumer electronics will work just fine without one. If you’re concerned, you should check with the manufacturer of your device before investing in an expensive pure sine wave inverter.

How does a car power inverter work?

The power inverter is an electronic device that can convert DC power into AC household power. Specifically speaking, the car inverter firstly converts low DC power from car battery into high direct power, then transfers high direct power into household alternative power. So, the car power inverter is a voltage converter that can make use of car battery to meet your charging needs of some home appliances. With a DC to AC power inverter, you can use electronic devices in car just like at home.

Since most consumer electronics require something closer to a true sine wave, most inverters include additional components that create either a modified or pure sine wave.

GIP300SA pure sine wave output 300 watt power inverter

How are inverters Hooked UP?

In order to work, an inverter has to be hooked up to the car battery in some way. Some of the most common configurations include:

Fuse panel
Direct to battery
Cigarette lighter
12v accessory socket

The easiest way to hook an inverter up is to simply plug it into the cigarette lighter or another 12v accessory socket, but there are some limitations to that type of setup.

Since there may be other components hooked up to the cigarette lighter or accessory circuit, there is an inherent limitation on what type of devices can be hooked up to the inverter. Inverters that are connected like that are generally limited to a 5 or 10 amp draw.

In heavier duty applications, the inverter needs to be connected to the fuse panel or directly to the battery. Some fuse panels have empty slots that an inverter can be wired into, which will provide a dedicated circuit to the device. In other cases, the inverter can be connected directly to the battery with an in-line fuse. In either case, it is vital to use some type of fuse to avoid a potentially hazardous situation.

Choose a suitable power inverter for your car

At present, you can find all types of power inverter online, in stores with various prices and wattages. So which kinds of inverter should you choose for your car? First of all, you should choose the right power. For common families, a 300w power inverter is enough because most of the car batteries use less than 30A fuses, which means it can allow up to 230w appliances.

As mentioned above, the car battery now can offer the max output of 150w, so most of the power inverters can only support devices under 150W. But there are also car inverters now that can connect with car battery directly to supply high power. For outdoor workers or those who need to use high powered appliances, you can choose inverters with 500W, 1000W or even higher wattages.

As for power inverter models, there are modified sine wave power inverter and pure sine wave power inverter. Pure sine wave power inverters are more expensive but can ensure more stable performance. Modified sine wave inverters cost less but can also ensure basic stability in most circumstances. GRANKIA inverters are cost-effective, more popular in public.