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If a power inverter is misused, it will be bad for your car. Just ensure that you are driving while you are using a power inverter and the wattage isn’t too high, and you will be fine.
Power inverters are a controversial subject. You’ll find some individuals claiming they’re the greatest thing ever. Others will tell you to avoid them like the plague.
So, what’s the reality of the matter? Is there any reason you should get one? And will a power inverter drain your vehicle battery?
In brief: nobody can prevent you from getting a power inverter, but if it’s misused, your automobile will suffer.
With that final point addressed, let’s get into it.
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What Is A Power Inverter On A Car?
Power inverters are aftermarket electrical converters obtainable from most parts stores.
There are two broad categories of power inverters: plug-in and permanently-mounted.
Plug-in models connect through the cigarette lighter socket or USB port. They then draw their 12 Volt electrical input through there.
Wired-in power inverters connect directly to the battery. They require professional installation but should be more effective. Of course, they’ll cost significantly more.
The power inverter takes the car’s 12-Volt DC circuit and transforms it into a 110-, 120-, or 130-Volt AC circuit. That’s the equivalent as your home. In various countries, the output voltage varies according to the conventional mains.
As a result, you can charge or operate practically any device using it. These could include:
- Laptops
- TVs
- Games consoles
- Plug-in fans
- Vacuum cleaners
- Lamps
- Power tools or their charging ports
- etc.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, it often is.
Do Power Inverters Affect A Car’s Battery?
People stop here by contemplating, ‘Will an electrical inverter harm my vehicle?’
In brief, a power inverter will almost certainly damage your vehicle – if misused!
Using the power inverter while driving shouldn’t have too much of an effect (provided the Wattage isn’t too excessive!). However, using it when the car’s off will rapidly kill your battery.
Your battery is a somewhat surprisingly fragile thing. If it discharges beyond 12 Volts, it’s considered dead and needs jump-starting.
Power inverters come in various sizes, but they undoubtedly draw power. The greater the Wattage on the inverter, the more it consumes.
Thus, a power inverter might give your car battery a premature (sometimes exceptionally early) death.
How To Choose A Power Inverter
If you’re absolutely determined on getting a power inverter, here are a few problems to look out for.
Please remember that it’s still not advisable, but if you’re going to anyway, make sure you do it correctly.
Turn The Cursed Thing Off!
This section cannot be emphasized enough.
When you aren’t using the power inverter, switch it off. Ideally, detach it from your vehicle completely.
If you’re parked up, doing this prevents a parasitic drain from killing your battery. If you’re driving, the electrical systems can focus on the engine and standard appliances.
It’s for the best. Don’t get one if you think you’ll forget to turn your electronic converter off.
Get The Power (Wattage) Right
You need to know what devices you’re going to be operating from the electrical inverter before you purchase it.
For example, if you want to run a TV and DVD player for your small ones in the back seats, what’s their total Wattage?
Let’s say the TV puts out 50 Watts and the DVD player 20 Watts. (These are rough figures.)
Calculate the total power (Watts) the inverter needs to generate. In this example, it’s 70 Watts. It’ll be different for you.
It’s then prudent to add a 10% buffer for security. That would take the figure to 77 Watts.
That means you should buy a power inverter with at least 132 Watts.
If you don’t, it’ll often trip out as the built-in fuses protect its circuitry.
Keep The Area Around The Power Inverter Well-Ventilated And Cool
A power inverter is a sturdy electrical device. It must be kept cool and in a well-ventilated area when plugged in.
Insufficient environmental control will mean overheating and potential failure. In worst-case scenarios, they could even catch fire.
To avoid this, don’t put them in the glove compartment, center console, near the heater fans, or hide them with anything. And, as mentioned countless times, turn them off!
(In the same vein, very low temperatures might also impede the inverter’s performance.)
Extra Things To Know About Power Inverters
Here are a few additional things you should be aware of before buying one.
- At start-up, motors temporarily need more power than their rating. If you want to run motors from a power inverter, look carefully at the specifications.
- Cheap, low-quality inverters produce a very crude AC waveform. This isn’t suitable for certain devices. For example, if you wanted to power a microphone or speaker system, you might hear a loud buzzing sound. As an alternative, look at true sine wave inverters. They’re more expensive but tend to reduce this kind of problem.
Who Should Get A Power Inverter?
Most individuals don’t need a electrical adapter.
One exception would be if you desperately need to charge a specific device during a lengthy journey. Again, though, in most cases, you should wait until you arrive or do it before you depart.
Another exception might apply to remote manual laborers. For example, a well-connected power inverter might suit you if you need to take your truck out into the untamed wilderness to cut trees with a massive saw.
That said, evaluating your needs and weighing the risks is still vital. You don’t want a power inverter to kill your car battery and thus mean you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere. It might be much less hazardous to buy a generator and take that with you.
Should You Get A Power Inverter?
**This guide certainly hasn’t recommended getting a power inverter. The truth is, if installed and used properly, power inverters should be appropriate.**
However, most people don’t install or use them properly and give themselves all sorts of troubles.
Thus, the practical answer would probably be ‘no.’ Don’t.
Nowadays, almost every automobile on the road has USB or 12-Volt adapter connections. If charging your phone is all you need, you don’t need a power inverter.
It’s the same for many other devices like DVD players or minifridges – just buy an in-car version. There’s no actual need for a power inverter in most cases.
Note: you should still know that certain in-car appliances are known for quickly flattening batteries. One of the most well-known examples is in-car fridges that typically plug into the cigarette lighter.
Power inverters aren’t usually beneficial. The danger to your battery (especially from leaving it on while the engine’s off) is much greater than the reward: a small extra charge for your device.
Save yourself the hassle, and remember to charge your devices before traveling.
Simple.
This should be the crucial factor: will you remember to turn it off? If yes, okay – go ahead. But if not? It’s not worth it.
