What does a power inverter do, and what can I use one for?
A power inverter changes DC power from a battery into conventional AC power that you can use to operate all kinds of devices ... electric lights, kitchen appliances, microwaves, power tools, TVs, radios, computers, to name just a few. You just connect the inverter to a battery, and plug your AC devices into the inverter ... and you've got portable power ... whenever and wherever you need it.
The inverter draws its power from a 12 Volt battery (preferably deep-cycle), or several batteries wired in parallel. The battery will need to be recharged as the power is drawn out of it by the inverter. The battery can be recharged by running the automobile motor, or a gas generator, solar panels, or wind. Or you can use a battery charger plugged into an AC outlet to recharge the battery.
Using an Inverter for Emergency Home Backup Power
A very simple way to use an inverter for emergency power (such as during a power outage), is to use a car battery (with the vehicle running), and an extension cord running into the house, where you can then plug in electrical appliances.
Click here to read an in-depth Article on Emergency Home Backup Power
What size inverter should I buy?
We carry many different sizes, and several brands of power inverters. See our Inverters Page for specifications on each of our models.
Short Answer: The size you choose depends on the watts (or amps) of what you want to run (find the power consumption by referring to the specification plate on the appliance or tool). We recommend you buy a larger model than you think you'll need (at least 10% to 20% more than your largest load).
Example: You want to power a computer with a 17" monitor, some lights, and a radio.
Computer: 300 Watts 2 - 60 Watt lights: 120 Watts Radio: 10 Watts Total Needed: 430 Watts
For this application, you would minimally need a 500 W inverter, and should give some thought to a larger one, as there will likely be a time when you wish you'd bought a bigger model ... in this example, you might decide you'd like to run a fan while you compute, or let the kids watch TV.
Longer Answer: Determine Continuous Load and Starting (Peak) Load: You need to determine how much power your tool or appliance (or combination of them that you would use at the same time) requires to start up (starting load), and also the continued running requirements (continuous load).
What is meant by the terms "continuous-2000 watts" and "peak surge-4000 watts" is that some appliances or tools, such as ones with a motor, require an initial surge of power to start up ("starting load" or "peak load"). Once started, the tool or appliance requires less power to continue to operate ("continuous load")
Helpful formulas:
To Convert AMPS to WATTS:
Multiply: AMPS X 120 (AC voltage) = WATTS
This formula yields a close approximation of the continuous load of the appliance
To Calculate approximate Startup Load:
Multiply: WATTS X 2 = Starting Load
This formula yields a close approximation of the starting load of the appliance, though some may require an even greater starting load. NOTE: Induction motors such as air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers and pumps may have a start up surge of 3 to 7 times the continuous rating.
Most often the start up load of the appliance or power tool determines whether an inverter has the capability to power it.
For example, you have a freezer with a continuous load of 4 amps, and a start up load of 12 amps:
4 amps x 120 volts = 480 watts continuous
12 amps x 120 volts = 1440 watts starting load
You would need an inverter with peak-surge rating greater than 1440 watts.
FORMULA to convert AC Watts to DC Amps:
AC Watts divided by 12 x 1.1 = DC Amps
(this is the size vehicle alternator you would need to keep up with a specific load; for example, to keep up with a continuous draw of 1000 watts, you would need a 91 amp alternator)
Click for a Chart of Estimated Watts Used by Common Appliances and Tools
Do I need Modified Sine Wave, or Pure Sine Wave?
Advantages of Pure Sine Wave inverters over modified sine wave inverters:
a) Output voltage wave form is pure sine wave with very low harmonic distortion and clean power like utility-supplied electricity.
b) Inductive loads like microwave ovens and motors run faster, quieter and cooler.
c) Reduces audible and electrical noise in fans, fluorescent lights, audio amplifiers, TV, Game consoles, Fax, and answering machines.
d) Prevents crashes in computers, weird print out, and glitches and noise in monitors.
e) Reliably powers the following devices that will normally not work with modified sine wave inverters:
We carry a full line of Pure Sine Wave and Modified Sine Wave Power Inverters here at DonRowe.com. Modified Sine Wave works well for most uses, and is the most common type of inverter on the market, as well as the most economical. Pure Sine Wave inverters (also called True Sine Wave) are more suited for sensitive electrical or electronic items such as laptop computers, stereos, laser printers, certain specialized applications such as medical equipment, a pellet stove with an internal computer, digital clocks, bread makers with multi-stage timers, and variable speed or rechargeable tools (see " Appliance Cautions" below). If you wish to use those items with an inverter, then choose a Pure Sine Wave inverter. If you mostly want to run lights, TV, microwave oven, tools, etc, a Modified Sine Wave inverter is fine for your needs.
We often are asked if computers will work with Modified Sine Wave. It's been our experience that most (with the exception of some laptops) will work (though some monitors will have interference such as lines or a hum). However, if you have any doubt about any appliance, tool or device, particularly laptop computers and medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, we recommend that you check with its manufacturer to be sure it is compatible with a Modified Sine Wave inverter. If it is not, choose one of our Pure Sine Inverters instead.
The difference between them is the Pure Sine Wave inverter produces a better and cleaner current. They are also considerably more expensive. You might find it practical to get a small Pure Sine Wave inverter for any "special need" you may have, and also a larger Modified Sine Wave inverter for the rest of your applications.
How do I hook up the Inverter? What size cable should I use, and is it included?
Many small inverters (450 watts and under) come with a cigarette lighter adapter, and may be plugged into your vehicle's lighter socket (although you will not be able to draw more than 150 to 200 watts from the cigarette lighter socket). The small units also come with cables that can be clamped directly to a battery. If you want an inverter that will plug into your cigarette lighter, you must choose one that is 450 watts or less.
Larger inverters (500 watts and over) must be hard-wired directly to a battery. The cable size depends on the distance between battery and inverter, and will be specified in the Owner's Manual.
When connecting the inverter to the battery always use an overcurrent protection device, such as a fuse or circuit breaker, and use the thickest wire available, in the shortest length practical.
See our Cables Page for recommendations for each of the inverters we sell.
General recommendations:
Inverter Size < 3 ft 3ft - 6ft 6ft - 10ft 400 Watts 8 6 4 750 Watts 6 4 2 1000 Watts 4 2 1/0 1500 Watts 2 1 3/0 2000 Watts
NOTE: These are general recommendations for inverters that utilize a single cable set (one positive and one negative cable) only and may not be correct for all inverters or applications. Additionally, some inverters require two or more cable sets and therefore may require a different cable size than listed.
Cable size recommendations may vary among inverter brands and models; check the Owner's Manual for the model you purchase before you buy the wire for it.
The maximum length generally recommended is 10', and shorter is better. If you need more length, it is much better to put it on the AC side (as with an extension cord from inverter to appliance) than on the DC side.
Cables with battery terminals (ring terminals or stud terminals) to hook up your inverter are available here.
What is an overcurrent protection device? Why do I need one?
Batteries are capable of supplying large amounts of current, and thousands of amperes could be present if a short circuit were to occur. A short circuit can damage your system, cause a fire and be hazardous to your health. Incorporating an overcurrent device is an effective line of defense against a short circuit occurrence. An overcurrent protection device is typically a fuse or circuit breaker that goes inline on the positive cable, between the inverter and battery, to protect your system. A fast acting fuse or circuit breaker will blow within milliseconds under short circuit conditions, preventing any damage or hazards.
It is important to appropriately size your fuse or circuit breaker for both your inverter and cables. An oversized fuse could result in cables exceeding their ampere capability, resulting in the cables becoming red-hot and dangerous. Consult your owners manual for the recommended sized fuse or circuit breaker and cable gauge for a safe installation.
Fuses and circuit breakers to protect your inverter are available here.
What type of battery should I use (automotive or deep cycle)?
Small Inverters: Most automobile and marine batteries will provide an ample power supply for 30 to 60 minutes even when the engine is off. Actual time may vary depending on the age and condition of the battery, and the power demand being placed on it by the equipment being operated by the inverter. If you use the inverter while the engine is off, you should start the engine every hour and let it run for 10 minutes to recharge the battery.
500 Watt and larger Inverters: We recommend you use deep cycle (marine or RV) batteries which will give you several hundred complete charge/discharge cycles. If you use the normal vehicle starting batteries they will wear out after about a dozen charge/discharge cycles. If you do not have a deep cycle battery, we recommend that you run the engine of your vehicle when operating the power inverter.
When operating the inverter with a deep cycle battery, start the engine every 30 to 60 minutes and let it run for 10 minutes to recharge the battery.
When the inverter will be operating appliances with high continuous load ratings for extended periods, it is not advisable to power the inverter with the same battery used to power your car or truck. If the car or truck battery is utilized for an extended period, it is possible that the battery voltage may be drained to the point where the battery has insufficient reserve power to start the vehicle. In these cases, it's a good idea to have an extra deep cycle battery for the inverter (installed close to the inverter), cabled to the starting battery. It is recommended to install a battery isolator between the batteries.
How long can I run the inverter on my battery?
To estimate how long a battery/appliance combination will operate together, use this handy calculator. (Tip: If the calculator output equals 0 hours, the total Amp/Hrs of the battery bank are insufficient to run the load. Try adding additional Amp/Hrs to the battery bank field in order to run the desired wattage.)1. Enter the voltage of your battery or bank of batteries. Battery Voltage Battery Type Voltage Amp Hours 22 NF 12 50 24 NF 12 75 27 NF 12 100 8 D 12 200 2. Enter the total Amp/Hrs of the battery or bank of batteries. Amp/Hrs 3. Enter the combined Watt value of the appliances you plan to run from your battery. Watts Examples Watts 19" Color TV 100 Circular Saw 1500 Computer System 300 Microwave Oven 1100 Power Drill 400 Toaster 1000 Represents actual power consumption as measured on sample products. Click below for Chart of Typical Appliance/Tool Usage 4.
Click the Calculate button to see the number of hours your configuration should run.
hour(s) of operating time, approximate. Based on fully charged batteries.
To estimate how long a battery/appliance combination will operate together, use this handy calculator. (Tip: If the calculator output equals 0 hours, the total Amp/Hrs of the battery bank are insufficient to run the load. Try adding additional Amp/Hrs to the battery bank field in order to run the desired wattage.)
You can also use these formulas to calculate how long your appliance will operate on your battery.
For a 12 Volt System:
(10 x (Battery Capacity in Amp Hours) / (Load Power in Watts)) / 2 = Run Time in Hours
For a 24 Volt System:
(20 x (Battery Capacity in Amp Hours) / (Load Power in Watts)) / 2 = Run Time in Hours
Tip: Deep cycle (marine) batteries generally have the highest reserve ratings. They are also capable of withstanding repeated drains of power and recharging.
Tip: Engine start batteries should not be discharged below 90% charged state, and marine deep cycle batteries should not be discharged below 50% charged state. Doing so will shorten the life of the battery based on most battery manufacturers recommendations.
Note: If you intend to use power tools for commercial use, or any load of 200W for more than 1 hour regularly (between battery recharging) we recommend installing an auxiliary battery to provide power to the inverter. This battery should be a deep cycle type and sized to meet your run time expectations with the engine off. The auxiliary battery should be connected to the alternator through an isolator module to prevent the inverter from discharging the engine start battery when the engine is off.
How do I connect two or more batteries?
It may be advisable to operate the inverter from a bank of 12 Volt batteries of the same type in a "parallel" configuration. Two such batteries will generate twice the amp/hours of a single battery; three batteries will generate three times the amp/hours, and so on. This will lengthen the time before your batteries will need to be recharged, giving you a longer time that you can run your appliances.
You can also connect 6 Volt batteries together in "series" configuration to double the voltage to 12 volts. Note that 6 Volt batteries must be connected in pairs.
12 Volt Batteries connected in Parallel to double the current (amp/hours)
6 Volt Batteries connected in Series to
Operating a Microwave with a Power Inverter
The power rating used with microwave ovens is the "cooking power" which refers to the power being "delivered" to the food being cooked. The actual operating power requirement rating is higher than the cooking power rating (for example, a microwave with "advertised" rating of 600 watts usually corresponds to almost 1100 watts of power consumption). The actual power consumption is usually stated on the back of the microwave. If the operating power requirement cannot be found on the back of the microwave, check the owner's manual or contact the manufacturer.
Operating a Photographic Strobe with a Power Inverter
A photographic strobe or flash generally requires a pure sine wave inverter capable of surging to at least 4 times the Watt Sec rating of the strobe. For instance, a strobe rated at 300 watts requires an inverter capable of surging to 1200 watts or more.
For additional information, please read this Samlex Application Note.
Operating a Laser Printer with a Power Inverter
A laser printer generally requires a pure sine wave inverter capable of surging at least 6.5 times the maximum wattage rating of the printer. For instance, a laser printer rated at 500 watts requires an inverter with a surge rating of at least 3,250 watts.
An inkjet printer does not maintain the same requirements as a laser printer. Inkjet printers can be operated normally with a modified sine wave inverter rated to handle the printers wattage requirement.
For additional information, please see our Inverter Blog and this Samlex Application Note.
Television and Audio Suggestions
Although all our inverters are shielded and filtered to minimize signal interference, some interference with your television picture may be unavoidable, especially with weak signals.
Here are some suggestions that may improve reception:
1. First make sure that the television antenna produces a clear signal under normal operating conditions (i.e., at home plugged into a standard 110AC wall outlet). Also insure that the antenna cable is properly shielded and of good quality.
2. Change positions of the inverter, antenna cables and television power cord.
3. Isolate the television, its power cord and antenna cables from the 12 volt power source by running an extension cord from the inverter to the TV set. Insure that any excess AC power cord is a distance away from the TV set.
4. Coil the television power cord and the input cables running from the 12 volt power source to the inverter.
5. Attach a "Ferrite Data Line Filter" to the television power cord. More than one filter may be required. These are available at electronic supply stores including Radio Shack (Radio Shack Part No. 273-105)
NOTE: Some inexpensive audio systems may discharge a slight "buzzing" sound when operated with an inverter. This is caused by deficient filters in the audio system. The only solution to this problem is using a sound system with a higher quality power supply.
Appliance Cautions (for Modified Sine Wave Inverters):
DO NOT plug small appliances into the inverter AC receptacles to directly recharge their nickel-cadmium batteries. Always use the recharger provided with that appliance.
DO NOT plug in battery chargers for cordless power tools if the charger carries a warning that dangerous voltages are present at the battery terminals.
Not all fluorescent lamps operate properly with a modified sine wave inverter. If the bulb appears to be too bright, or fails to light, do not use the lamp with the inverter.
Some fans with synchronous motors may slightly increase in speed (RPM) when powered by a modified sine wave inverter. This is not harmful to the fan or to the inverter.
Certain rechargers for small nickel-cadmium batteries can be damaged if plugged into a modified sine wave inverter. In particular, two types of appliances are susceptible to damage:
DO NOT use a modified sine wave inverter with the above two types of equipment.
The majority of portable appliances do not have this problem. Most portable appliances use separate transformers or chargers that plug into AC receptacles to supply a low-voltage DC or AC output to the appliance. If the appliance label states that the charger or adapter produces a low-voltage DC or AC output (30 volts or less), there should be no problem powering that charger or adapter.
Safety Warning: 110 Volts of current can be lethal. Improper use of a power inverter will result in property damage, personal injury, or loss of life. Please read and follow carefully the instructions in the Owner's Manual provided with every inverter for important safety considerations and precautions.
General Safety Precautions and Installation Tips:
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