Power Inverter for Car

The Duracell Mobile 150 features ultra-fast 2.1 Amp USB charging that powers and recharges today's most demanding devices, yet it's small enough to stash practically anywhere. This compact power converter plugs into the cigarette lighter of a car, RV, boat or other vehicle and transforms 12-volt DC battery power into 120-volt household AC electricity. The Inverter 150 is ideal for space-conscious car interiors, with an innovative flex-neck design lets you access hard-to-reach power outlets with ease.

car inverter is an electronic device that takes a DC input and converts it into an AC output. Since car batteries provide DC voltage, and most consumer electronics work on AC, inverters are useful for using laptops and other devices on the road. However, there are some vital constraints to keep in mind whenever you use an inverter in your car. Factors like the capacity of the car battery, rated output of the alternator, and output wattage of the inverter can all play a part in determining which devices can be plugged in and used.

Power inverters for car can work in just about any vehicle by using the outlet that has been traditionally used as a cigarette lighter. Just plug the inverter into the 12v socket and you'll have a safe and stable power source for your electronics. The chart below offers a look at the highest rated inverters in this category so you can quickly compare and contrast each make and model.

A power inverter for car will take the 12 volts DC from your car; usually from your cigarette lighter and turn it into 110 volts AC, which is what you get out of your home power outlets. This allows you to plug household electronics into your car. the most common would probably be your laptop. Home UPS systems do the same thing, except instead of using a car outlet they use a 12 volt battery. I used a old home UPS system I had laying around that had a bad battery. (We don't use the battery in this mod)

Today's power inverters are safer than ever, with a number of features that help keep you out of trouble—such as a cooling fan, overload indicator, and automatic shutdown for those who ignore the indicator. Still, using an inverter without first reading the manufacturer's instructions can result in property loss, injury, and even death.

There is some truth to the frying the car's electrical statement. Depending on the load placed upon it, it may cause the alternator to run at full output, which most of them (at least from the factory), are not intended to do for more than a very short amount of time (typically less than a minute). A continuous high load condition can overheat the alternator, leading the failure.

Every power inverter has a power rating in watts. The typical inverter intended for use in power outlet (lighter socket) is 200-400 watts. That's enough to power electronics and lighting, not power tools or heating devices. A hair dryer requires 1000 watt power inverter. Many of those small "ceramic" heaters need 1500W. That means you would need a big inverter that connects directly to the battery.

Now, for your situation - yes, the equipment is available. You're not likely to enjoy the cost though. For reference, my small Shop-Vac (5 gallon, 2HP motor) will cause my inverter to pull over 80amps out of the battery, and that's less power than it would take to run an electric heater. Most alternators these days are rated somewhere around 100-120 amps, and they also need to be able to run the rest of the car as well, which could be well over 30 amps with all the gadgets that are cars these days.