What is a car inverter?
A car inverter is a device that converts the 12V DC power in your car battery into AC power. This allows you to use a refrigerator in your car, charge your electronic devices such as laptops, cameras, drones, etc., or provide power for your campsite for a short period of time.
Car inverters vary in size according to their rated power. You need to note that the larger the rated power of the inverter, the larger its size will be, and the more power it will require to run. Therefore, people generally choose small-power inverters (300W-1500W) when buying car inverters. They are small, light, easy to carry, and can run for a while using car batteries.
What are car inverters used for?
Expanding the in-car power usage scenarios: You can use AC power to quickly charge your laptops, drones, and cameras in the car, just like at home.
Emergency power supply: If you encounter an emergency when camping or driving in the wild, the inverter and your car battery can form an emergency backup power supply.
Improve travel comfort: During long trips, you can use the car refrigerator to get iced drinks anytime and anywhere.
Types of car inverters
Modified sine wave inverter
- Output waveform: The output waveform is close to the sine wave and is stepped, but the waveform quality is worse than that of the pure sine wave.
- Features: moderate price, general compatibility, can drive most household appliances.
- Disadvantages: Compared with the pure sine wave inverter, the output waveform quality is slightly worse, and it may not be suitable for some precision instruments or loads with motors.
- Scope of application: Suitable for users with general requirements for electrical performance or users with limited budgets.
Pure sine wave inverter
- Output waveform: The output waveform is the same as the mains, and the current is pure and smooth.
- Features: It can safely power a variety of devices, including sensitive and high-end electronic devices such as computers, audio equipment, and medical instruments.
- It can drive most power tools and equipment more efficiently with less energy loss than the modified sine wave inverter.
- Disadvantages: The price is higher.
- Scope of application: Suitable for users who have high requirements for electrical performance or users who need to frequently start high-power electrical appliances.
How do choose a car inverter?
1. Power selection
- Load power: You first need to consider which AC appliances are used in the car. Then add their power. The rated power of the inverter needs to be greater than the total operating power of the load, and leave a 20% margin. mwxne does not recommend that you use high-power household appliances in the car.
- Car circuit load: Generally speaking, the current carrying capacity of the car cigarette lighter circuit is limited, and the voltage of the inverter must match the voltage of the car battery. When using high-power electrical appliances, you need to connect the inverter directly to the car battery and cannot use it for too long (when the car is not started).
2. Waveform selection
- Pure sine wave: The pure sine wave is exactly the same as the AC waveform, with the strongest compatibility, and can drive almost all types of electrical appliances without damaging the appliances.
- Modified sine wave: The output waveform is close to the sine wave, but the quality is slightly inferior, suitable for most household appliances, such as TVs and computers.
MWXNE recommends that you use a pure sine wave inverter. Low-power inverters such as 1200W pure sine wave inverters are not expensive.
3.AC output interface
- AC output interface: 110V or 120V three-hole AC socket in the United States.
- USB output interface: You can directly charge mobile phones, tablets, and other devices. The MWXNE inverter has three USB 3.0 output ports.
- Other interfaces: Some inverters will have a cigarette lighter interface for your convenience in the car.
4. Choose an inverter with protection function
- Overload protection: When the load power exceeds the rated power of the inverter, the inverter will automatically shut down and prompt.
- Short circuit protection: When the output short circuit occurs in the device, the inverter stops working.
- Overtemperature protection: When the inverter overheats, the inverter will automatically stop working.
- Low voltage protection: When the battery voltage is too low, the inverter will automatically stop working to protect the battery.
- Reverse connection protection: When you connect the positive and negative poles of the battery incorrectly, the inverter will automatically shut down and prompt.
5. Other factors you need to consider
- Brand: It is recommended that you choose a well-known brand with better quality assurance. MWXNE focuses on producing high-quality inverters and produces inverters for many well-known inverter brands. And provide you with a two-year warranty.
- Efficiency: The rated conversion efficiency of pure sine wave inverters is generally between 80% and 92%. The conversion efficiency of MWXNE pure sine wave inverters is around 90%.
- Size and weight: Choose an inverter of appropriate size and weight according to the space in your car.
- Heat dissipation performance: Good heat dissipation performance can extend the service life of the inverter.
Conclusion
A car inverter is a low-power inverter used in a car. It can convert the DC power in the car into AC power by connecting to the cigarette lighter or car battery, allowing you to use some electrical appliances in the car. You can purchase a car inverter by reading our suggestions and combining your actual use needs.
