How You Can Use Your Car to Power Electronics and More
Imagine being on a road trip and having the sudden urge to watch television or play a game on your video game console. If you think it’s impossible to do something like this in your car, think again. We’ve got a hint for you: car batteries. These devices are powerful inventions that can not only make your vehicle do its job but also make it possible for you to use other electronics such as phone chargers or even car mini refrigerators in it.
But if your mind goes towards your car’s cigarette lighter, you’re not entirely on the right track. The electric current used by the devices you may wish to plug in and the electric current provided by your car’s battery does not really cooperate. That’s exactly where car power inverters come in.
HOW DO CAR POWER INVERTERS WORK?
Basically, your car battery generates direct current (DC) while the electronic devices you may want to plug into your car use alternating current (AC). A car power inverter is used to bridge this difference. They do this by converting the DC to AC so you can operate such devices using your car. So if you want to plug your laptop or even use your video game console, a car power inverter is essential.
TYPES OF CAR POWER INVERTERS
First things first, always make sure to buy either a modified sine wave inverter or a pure sine wave inverter because they’re less likely to damage your devices. Now, before buying a power inverter it’s important to determine what you’ll be using it for.
For example, if you’re looking to buy one simply to charge your phone while driving to work, a single outlet power inverter will do the job just fine. If you want to plug in multiple devices, however, then you’ll need a more expensive car power inverter with a higher current capacity. In such cases, it’s best to buy a multiple outlet or USB (Universal Serial Bus) outlet car power inverter.
HOW TO INSTALL A CAR POWER INVERTER
If you’re buying a car power inverter for the first time, you might be a little confused about how to actually install it in your car. What’s important to know is the installation technique depends mainly on the size and current capacity of your inverter.
So, if you have bought a small inverter and don’t require more than 200 Watts, you should connect it to the cigarette lighter in your car. Alternatively, if you have a larger inverter then it needs to be connected to your car battery. Either way, this is not something you might be able to do without the help of a video, so the best option is to head over to Youtube and watch a few tutorials.
THE COST OF CAR POWER INVERTERS
The money you’ll have to spend on a car power inverter depends largely on how you’re gonna use it. For example, if you’re only buying one to charge your phone while driving, you may be able to get it for under $20 with a current capacity of around 200 Watts. Car power inverters with higher current capacities can range from $30 to above $50.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you were wondering how to use your car to power electronics, we hope you found this article helpful. So, have you been convinced to buy one? Let us know in the comments.