How to choose a car inverter

The content of the article:

• Inverter purpose
• Installation
• Types of inverters
• Working hours
• Criterias of choice
• Overview of the most popular models

A car in the modern world is not only a means of transportation. This is the second, very comfortable and multifunctional house, in which you can travel long distances or sit in traffic jams for many hours. This is also a mini-office, where there is enough space and technology to accommodate useful gadgets. In the end, this is just a reliable companion who knows how to do everything. For example, the presence of a device in the car called an inverter will allow you to brew coffee or iron things right in the salon.

The principle of operation of this device is simple to genius - it consists in converting the 12 volt voltage available in the car into a standard alternating current of 200 volts.

Inverter purpose

The inverter is suitable for any car, connecting to the battery using the terminals. If the purchased model requires little energy, less than 12V, then it can be connected to the cigarette lighter. This option is very convenient and practical if the driver or passenger needs to frequently use a laptop or other electronic gadget.

For safe and technically correct operation of the inverter, it must be equipped with an overload and overheating protection function.

How to install a car inverter

Despite the simplicity of the device, proper connection and careful use are necessary for its long-term operation. Therefore, you should not neglect the elementary safety rules during installation and use:

• it is necessary to install the inverter in a dry place;
• if the device is connected to a cigarette lighter, it must be protected from direct sunlight;
• the device should not be located near any heating installations;
• keep the inverter away from flammable items.

A good, high-quality device protects from overloads, short circuits, voltage surges by the built-in security system, which automatically turns off the inverter in case of problems.

Types of inverters

The market offers car owners a variety of inverter options. They differ in technical characteristics:

1. By the type of sinusoid:
   
   • With a modified sine wave, there are some voltage deviations, which in general does not affect the functioning of traditional household appliances in any way. It will not be possible to use the inverter only for medical and measuring equipment;
   • With a normal or constant sinusoid, there are no deviations, the device is capable of working with any equipment with a voltage up to 220 V.
2. By power:
   
   • Low-power devices are designed for loads up to 100 W, can operate from a cigarette lighter and charge household appliances;
   • Medium-power devices up to 1500 W are more preferred by drivers, as they have widespread use. They have cables and terminals in the kit, as they must be fixed to the battery;
   • Powerful converters easily serve devices such as a microwave, iron or grinder, so they are often purchased for long, multi-day trips.

Of course, when choosing an inverter, every driver will know the purposes for which it is useful. However, it is worth remembering that some manufacturers may not accurately indicate the energy consumption of a household appliance. Therefore, when buying an inverter, it is recommended not to save money and pay attention to the one that has a large power reserve.

Inverter operating mode

With the exception of the cheapest and most primitive devices, all others operate in three modes:

Launcher

This is the most difficult condition for an inverter, especially if it is supposed to connect very demanding devices. This mode delivers the maximum possible power, but only for a short period. It is this power that almost all manufacturers indicate in the technical description of the device.

This indicator is especially important for those users who plan to connect "gluttonous" devices to the inverter - construction equipment, electric motors.

Standard

This is the main mode, when the inverter operates at the declared power for a long time. This is the most preferred state and will ensure long and stable operation of the device.

Overload

Undesirable stress mode, during which the power can be 1.5 times higher than that declared by the manufacturer. The device is not able to withstand for a long time in this mode, within half an hour the protection system will work and automatically turn off the overheated inverter.

Inverter selection criteria

It cannot be said unequivocally that some inverter model is the best. Each consumer has his own tasks, his own specifics of operation, which will justify his choice.

You can only highlight the key parameters when choosing a car converter:

1. In order for a working inverter not to harm the car battery, its power should not be higher than that of the generator. Approximately half of the power of the latter will be spent on servicing the car systems, but the second half - on the activity of the converter. Thus, before buying, the owner needs to clarify the power of his generator so that the action of one device does not harm the operation of the other.
2. It is important to determine the list of those devices that will operate from the inverter before purchasing. This is necessary in order to correctly calculate the power consumption and select the appropriate converter. Otherwise, some tools simply won't work if they don't get all 220 V from the power source.
3. The savings of car owners are quite understandable in an unstable economy, but an inverter is a rather dangerous device that must be of high quality and safe. Models of well-known, trusted brands are equipped with a protection system that will turn off the device in case of overload and prevent its breakdown and fire of the car itself. Some models with a sound signal warn of voltage changes, some simply turn off the circuit in case of danger.
4. Additional options, by definition, make the inverter more expensive, so the driver should consider whether he needs them. For example, the above-described sound alert or information display. If the device should only deal with voltage conversion, then there is no point in buying a more expensive model for unnecessary functions.

Overview of the most popular models

Among all the automotive products on the market, the following representatives of inverters are in greatest demand among drivers:

MAP "ENERGY"

This model received the title of the best in the opinion of car owners. She has collected the most optimal characteristics in terms of size, quality, reliability and cost. The device is made by a Russian manufacturer, so its appearance is laconic and even strict. If necessary, you can purchase a model in the range of 900-1200 W at a voltage of 12 to 28 V.

Main advantages:

• high-quality liquid crystal display;
• ease of installation and configuration, which allows the driver to independently manage the options and change them depending on the situation;
• the presence of several modes of operation;
• acts as both a charger and an uninterruptible power supply.

ACMEPOWER

Despite the fact that this is a Chinese company, its products have proven to be highly reliable and functional over more than a decade of their existence. Unlike its Russian competitor, it has a small size and sleek design, which really paid a lot of attention.

With the width of the lineup and operating parameters, each car owner will select a device for his current needs. The disadvantages include only low output power.

MEANWELL

Another Chinese developer who has been on the power supply market since 1982. Its inverters have a modified and normal sine wave, the small size of their devices, of which there are more than 5 thousand in the range, and are also equipped with terminals and wires for connection.

But the manufacturer does not recommend turning on the inverter at its full capacity when connecting to a cigarette lighter.

Whether it is necessary to send an urgent email, whether it is necessary to entertain the children with a TV on the way to the dacha, it was necessary to use an electric saw or to make coffee while going to a picnic - it only takes a couple of minutes to connect the inverter and power any necessary device.