How to properly choose a car inverter

For this reason, autonomous lamps, generators, and other devices that allow you to endure a power outage with minimal discomfort have become scarce today. In current conditions, another device will be indispensable – a car inverter...

The number of electrical appliances around us is countless, so it's even hard to imagine how we could exist without them. Not to mention cases when there is no 220V outlet at hand to charge a phone or laptop, connect a power drill or TV.

A voltage converter (also known as an inverter) allows you to set up such a network in your own car (and even at home). This device converts input DC voltage of 12V into AC voltage of 220V with a frequency of 50 Hertz. Thanks to this, you can connect a wide variety of devices designed to operate from a household power supply.

When choosing an inverter, you should consider its features and power.

All inverters can be divided into two groups by output voltage type:

1. Converters with a "pure" sine wave. They have an output of harmonic AC voltage with an amplitude of 310V, an RMS (effective) value of 220V, and a frequency of 50Hz.

For simplicity, we provide a graph:

These are the most complex and expensive inverters. They have the highest quality output voltage but also have drawbacks. They are larger in size and weight, with lower efficiency. However, they are essential if, for example, you need to power medical equipment, telecommunications devices, etc.

2. Converters with a simplified output voltage waveform that replaces the sine wave (the so-called modified sine wave). They have an output of rectangular AC voltage with an amplitude of 310V, an RMS (effective) value of 220V, and a frequency of 50Hz.

As an example, we provide a graph of the modified sine wave:

Most household devices designed to operate from a 220V 50Hz power supply tolerate the use of simplified AC voltage without consequences. For devices with switching power supplies (modern TVs, computers, chargers), this voltage is operational.

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The main task when choosing a car inverter is to determine the required power of the device. Preference should be given to a converter that has more power than the total power of all devices you plan to connect to it.

If you buy an inverter with less or equal power, the device may not work or may fail. For phone chargers, small laptops, and tablets, low-power devices with a power of up to 150-200W are suitable. They are inexpensive and connect via the cigarette lighter socket.

Inverters to which you plan to connect, say, a desktop computer and power tools (or even a refrigerator!) should be 20-30% more powerful than the devices and withstand short-term loads exceeding the rated ones by 2-2.5 times. The cigarette lighter is out of the question here; they must be connected with separate heavy-duty wires, as the current consumed during their operation can be tens of amps.

But remember! If you don't plan to connect powerful devices, you don't need an overly powerful inverter either. It will consume more energy than a low-power household appliance requires.

For example, a 1.8-kilowatt inverter connected to the car's electrical system will consume up to 40W at "idle".

Additionally, don't forget that the battery is not "unlimited". The more powerful the converter and the devices connected to it, the faster the battery discharges. Simply put, you could end up with a dead battery and a non-working engine somewhere in the middle of a field or on a riverbank, far from civilization.

For a rough estimate of the capabilities of devices and batteries, we provide correspondence tables. But still, before purchasing, we recommend consulting with an advisor who will select the device you need.

Converter power and recommended battery capacities