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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 people claiming they’re the best 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 battery?
In short: nobody can prevent you from getting a power inverter, but if it’s misused, your car will suffer.
With that concluding point dealt with, let’s get into it.
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What Is A Power Inverter On A Car?
Power inverters are aftermarket electrical converters available from most parts stores.
There are two broad categories of power inverters: plug-in and hard-wired.
Plug-in models connect through the cigarette lighter socket or USB port. They then draw their 12 Volt 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 considerably 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 numerous countries, the output voltage varies according to the normal mains.
As a result, you can charge or operate essentially 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 precise? Well, it often is.
Do Power Inverters Affect A Car’s Battery?
People stop here by contemplating, ‘Will a power inverter damage my car?’
In brief, a power inverter will almost certainly harm your car – 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 unexpectedly delicate thing. If it discharges beyond 12 Volts, it’s considered dead and needs jump-starting.
Power inverters come in numerous 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 incredibly early) death.
How To Choose A Power Inverter
If you’re absolutely committed on getting a power inverter, here are a few things to watch out for.
Please remember that it’s still not advised, but if you’re going to anyway, make sure you do it correctly.
Turn The Cursed Thing Off!
This segment cannot be emphasized enough.
When you aren’t using the power inverter, turn it off. Ideally, disconnect 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 ordinary appliances.
It’s for the best. Don’t get one if you think you’ll forget to turn your electrical inverter off.
Get The Power (Wattage) Right
You need to know what devices you’re going to be operating from the power inverter before you purchase it.
For example, if you want to run a TV and DVD player for your little ones in the rear 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 produce. In this example, it’s 70 Watts. It’ll be distinct for you.
It’s then prudent to add a 10% buffer for safety. That would take the figure to 77 Watts.
That means you should purchase a power inverter with at least 132 Watts.
If you don’t, it’ll frequently trip out as the in-built 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.
Inadequate 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 people don’t need a power inverter.
One exception would be if you urgently 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 leave.
Another exception might apply to remote manual laborers. For example, a well-wired-in power inverter might suit you if you need to take your truck out into the untamed wilderness to cut trees with a huge saw.
That said, assessing your needs and weighing the risks is still crucial. 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 prudently, power inverters should be acceptable.
However, most people don’t install or use them properly and give themselves all sorts of issues.
Thus, the pragmatic 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 genuine need for a power inverter in most cases.
Note: you should still know that certain in-car appliances are known for swiftly flattening batteries. One of the most famous examples is in-car fridges that typically plug into the cigarette lighter.
Power inverters aren’t typically worthwhile. 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.
