Power Inverter Electrical Explanation
A power inverter converts DC power or direct current to standard AC power or alternating current, which allows you to run electrical equipment off your car or marine battery for mobile applications, emergencies or simple convenience.
Power inverters are small rectangular devices that have a trailing wire with a jack that plugs directly into the cigarette lighter on the dashboard. They might also come with jumper-like cables for connecting directly to a battery. The device normally has one or two outlets for standard electrical cords. Your laptop, small-screen television, player or portable DVD theater are all examples of devices that will get you through a long ride, assuming youre not the one driving!
Power inverters are great for camping at parks that do not provide electricity. The toaster and boom box can all still be used. On your boat you can plug in the digital movie camera to capture those great water, videos you might have missed after the cameras battery ran low!
In a utility outage a power inverter can be used for emergency electricity. Just run an extension cord from your car into the house, or if you have a charged spare battery you can connect the power inverter directly. Plug in a radio to tune into important alerts, run essential medical equipment, lights, or whatever else you need that falls within the inverters power limits.
Power inverters come in many models that vary in watts. The amount of wattage you will require on yours depends on the total draw of the devices youd like to use. If you have a two-outlet inverter and will be plugging in 2 devices at once, add up the total wattage of both devices then add at least 50% more to account for peaks or spikes in the power draw. For example if your DVD theater draws 100 watts and your laptop another 100 watts, a minimum 300-watt inverter is recommended.
When using your power inverter continuously inside a vehicle that is not running, the engine should be started at least once an hour for 10-15 minutes to keep the battery from discharging. WARNING: Do not start a vehicle in a closed garage as the carbon monoxide in the exhaust is fatal. Power inverters operate on the assumption that the battery is in good condition and fully charged. A weak battery will be drained easily if demands are too high. This could leave you stranded so be sure to check the batterys condition before using a power inverter in a stationary vehicle.
If the power inverter is being used while the vehicle is running as in the case of a road trip there should be no problem with the extra draw providing the battery is in good condition.