DC to AC Converter

DC to AC converters can be quite useful to have around. Also known as power inverters, they transform a steady state DC power signal into an AC signal that standard electronics can use. There are several basic types of these converters that you will have to choose between, but the decision is fairly simple. Once you have decided the category of the power converter you need, you just have to decide how much power you need the device to be capable of delivering.

The basic types of DC to AC converter connects directly to a battery and uses that as its power source. It pulls the electricity from the battery and converts it into a usable form. This means that to use this type of power inverter, you will need to have a fairly large battery that can be used and a way to recharge the battery as it is being drained. Most people use this type in conjunction with their vehicle since it is capable of recharging the battery without any extra equipment.  The primary uses for such a device include camping and tailgating, where a battery is nearby and it would be helpful to have a power source even though one doesn’t exist.

Another popular type is the car DC to AC converter. This type actually goes inside your vehicle and plugs into the 12 volt outlet or cigarette lighter. This still draws from the car’s battery, but it does so through the cars built in electrical system. These converters are usually incapable of the delivering the same range of power, but work well for any small electronics that you would use inside your car.

As mentioned before, the biggest decision is the wattage rating of the device. This decision affects not only cost, but also the limitations that you will encounter. The lowest you can probably find is a 100 watt power inverter. This is fine for most casual users, but won’t be able to power several things simultaneously or really powerful electronics. If you’re looking for a cheap DC to AC converter, this is probably the route to go.

If you think you might be limited be that rating, then you should look for a more powerful model. A good way to figure out what you need is to add the watts together of all the different electronic items that you plan to use simultaneously. The number that you get is the amount of watts the inverter has to be able to deliver. It is usually a good idea to get something slightly more powerful just in case your needs change slightly in the future.