Power inverters are a very useful tool in emergency situations or whenever you need to power traditional AC powered devices with a DC power source. For example, if you lost power at your house you could use a power inverter connected to your vehicles battery to convert that power into AC. You could then run extension cords form the inverter into your home to power essential items such as lights, microwave, heaters, computer or whatever you needed. You would need to keep the vehicle running though so that the battery would stay charged. A simple power inverter is easy to find and not too expensive so it is good to have one for emergency backup power.
Power inverters come in all different sizes and put out different amounts of watts. To decide what size power converter you need you need to know how many watts each device uses that you plan on running with the converter. So if you want to run some lights that are 100 watts and a microwave that is 800 watts you should get a 1000w inverter at least. Always get one bigger than you think you need because you never know when you might need more power and wish you had gone with a larger one. A 1500w inverter is a good choice because you can run several electrical devices with it that will probably be needed during a power outage.
You also need to think about the peak surge rating of your power inverter because often appliances and things with motors will require a higher initial surge of power to start up. This is usually about double what the normal running power of the device is. So your inverter will need to be able to put out that peak surge of power to start the device or it will be useless. If you are looking into buying a power inverter you should think about what exactly it will be used for and then do some research online to find out which options are best for your purposes.
If you’re looking to run household electronics from a car, RV, or boat battery, then a 300w inverter might be the perfect tool for you. They convert the DC battery signal into a usable AC that your devices can use. Most will have two outlets that you can use to plug in your appliances into. Although it is unlikely that a power inverter in this wattage range can handle heavy use items like space heaters or coffee makers, it will handle most regular powered electronics without trouble.
300 watts is the perfect middle ground if you’re not sure what you need. A lower rated 100 watt power inverter is perfect for casual use light changing a phone or laptop, or even powering a keyboard to entertain your guests while away from a standard power source. However, if you want to power multiple items at once, you can quickly run into trouble.
In addition, a 1000w inverter will probably be overkill for most users. It will allow you to run small space heaters and other heavy power devices, but will drain your battery source much more quickly. In addition to being much cheaper, the 300 watt power inverter will be easier to use because you won’t have to check your battery level constantly.
Almost any new high definition television can run on a 300 watt inverter, regardless of screen size. The typical wattage pull for an LCD TV is between 50 and 100 watts. The great news for the owner of the 300w inverter is that it leaves room to add an additional device such as a gaming console or DVD player so that you can enjoy your TV more fully. Of course this is only an example; there are countless combinations of uses for a power inverter of this size.
The price range for one of these inverters is usually between $25 and $75 although the price can go higher if you want additional features or a true sine wave inverter. A good model to review for your needs is the Jensen JP30. It gets great reviews and delivers a solid quality for a decent price. Of course, it’s smart to review all of your choices before you decide. You can check out a pretty big selection at Amazon.
One of the handiest items you can bring with you on your road trip, camping vacation, or boat outing is a power inverter. They allow you to use standard electronic devices straight from a battery source. Because the plugs require an AC current, but batteries run on DC, this is usually not possible. A power inverter solves this problem by converting the signal into a usable pseudo AC current. A 1200 watt power inverter is probably rated high enough to accommodate all but the most taxing powered gizmos.
A 1200W inverter might be far more power than you need though. There’s no reason to buy such an expensive inverter if you only plan to use it to charge your cell phone. A 100 watt power inverter will work well for easy tasks such as that and will be a lot cheaper and simpler to use. While 1200 watts is overkill for some users, it is perfect for the moderate level user. It is only a little more expensive than a 1000W inverter, but will give you a higher max rating. In case your planned usage changes in the future, the extra wattage range can give you a lot of flexibility.
There are a few leading models that are worth considering when looking for your inverter. Although you could just go down to your local hardware store and buy one off the shelf blindly, it is always a better idea to check the internet for reviews and low prices. The Xantrex XPower Plus 1200 Watt Inverter is a customer favorite because it has three AC outlets and a digital display screen for easy use. It regular retail price is usually about $249, but if you time it right you can find one around $125.
An additional model that you may want to consider is the Whistler 1200 Watt Power Inverter. It runs slightly cheaper than the Xantrex XPower Plus model, but only has two AC outlets on board which is a definite negative. If you’re looking for value and don’t plan on running many gadgets at the same time, this is an excellent model to consider.
For other models to consider, check out the power inverter selection on Amazon.
