We found that inverters can keep at least some of your home's essentials energized. We also consulted the manufacturer and other industry experts. We tested the inverters both in our labs and in the home of a staffer who had lost power-one among millions of northeast homeowners following a Halloween snowstorm. The reason: The inverter can't draw more from your car's battery than the alternator can replenish without draining the battery. But unless you're just charging iPods and cellphones, it probably won't work and wouldn't be a good idea. Once you've powered a couple of devices, you might be tempted to plug a half-dozen more into a power strip and then plug the strip into the inverter to increase your options. Because many inverters don't supply a pure sine wave-and those that do typically cost as much as a more-capable generator-anything you power with an inverter is likely to run less efficiently. AC-powered devices are designed to run on current that alternates smoothly. That DC to AC conversion isn't as simple as it sounds, however.
An inverter takes in direct-current (DC) power-in this case, from your car's 12-volt system-and converts it to the alternating-current (AC) power required by refrigerators, sump pumps, and most other household devices. At one end are wires for connecting to a power source at the other are AC receptacles. Both have two three-prong receptacles and claim to be safe for powering laptops, televisions, gaming consoles, and other electronics.Īn inverter resembles a rectangular box about the size of shoe box. We tested two models from PowerBright, a brand sold in home centers, warehouse clubs, and other retailers such as Sears and Walmart. These devices start at under $100 and essentially use your car as a generator, which was the premise for our tests during a freak autumn snowstorm that caused broad power outages along the nation's northeast coast. Suppose all you want to do is keep the sump pump in your basement going or keep your food cold during short-term outages: You might get by with a power inverter.
#12 volt power converter for vehicles generator
The price goes up if you want your generator to kick in automatically when you lose power: Figure on at least $2,500-plus before installation for a standby, or stationary, generator that can also handle larger needs.
#12 volt power converter for vehicles portable
Portable generators for home use start at about $300 and can power selected devices using multiple extension cords or, using a transfer switch, a single plug-in connection you make when the main power goes out.
Once you've decided you've had enough and start researching generators, you'll find two clear choices. Looking for some low-cost power backup? Even without a once-in-a-century event like Superstorm Sandy, every major storm results in blackouts and, for many of us, fresh memories of spoiled food, a flooded basement, no heat or air conditioning and (if you have well water) no water for bathing or household chores.
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