Inverters are a huge help for frequent travellers. They let you utilise you car's battery to power up household appliances, electric equipment, and power tools that run on standard AC power, allowing you to use a wide range of electronic devices even if you're off the grid. If you like to go camping or if you are frequently assigned by your boss to do field work, having an inverter in your car is definitely a huge advantage.
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Battery safety and efficiency tips for inverter users
Indeed, an inverter is definitely a must-have for people who are always on the go. However, it won't do you any good if the battery you're going to connect it with is not in optimum condition. After all, this electronic device cannot produce electricity on its own. It just converts DC electricity in the car battery to AC power. To get the best results when using your inverter, here are some battery safety and efficiency tips you should follow.
Tip No 1. Always replace old and weak batteries before connecting them to pure sine wave power inverters. Take note that an inverter works best when connected to a battery that is fully charged and in excellent condition. If the battery is weak, it could be discharged easily. This could potentially affect the inverter's performance. So before you install the inverter, you should check the battery's condition and get a replacement if needed.
Tip No 2. Draining all the power in your car's battery is a big no-no because you won't be able to start your car after using the inverter. Therefore, if you're going to use the inverter for extensive applications or for a longer period of time, it is definitely a good idea to have a separate power source, such as a deep cycle battery or a solar power system, for inverter use aside from your car's existing battery.
Tip No 3. If you're going to buy a back-up battery in addition to your car's battery to be used with the vehicle inverter, be sure to consider its amp hour rating. The amp hour rating is said to be the most important consideration to make when choosing a battery for inverter use. It helps you identify how long you can use the battery with this electronic device.
For instance, you have a 1000 watt inverter. To determine the amp hour rating (AH) of the battery you need to use, figure out how long an electronic device (ex. TV at 200w) will be run in hours during a day. Multiply the wattage of the device by its run time to get the energy in watt-hours per day. So 200w x 3 hours a day = 600 watt-hours or 0.6 kwh per day.
Then, decide how many days you'd want to use the battery without recharging it. Generally, this is anywhere from two to five days. Let's say you choose two days. Take the watt-hours per day and multiply them by the number of days you want to use the battery. This should represent a 50% depth of discharge on your batteries. Multiply it by two. Example: 600wh x 2 days x 2 = 2400 watt-hours.
To convert to AH, divide the result by the battery's output voltage. Let's say you have a 12v battery. Following the formula: 2400wh/12v = 200 AH.
Always remember that without a good battery, inverters won't be able to live up to their potential. Therefore, be sure to follow the tips discussed above to maximise the efficiency and usability of your car inverter. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a top-quality inverter, visit Elinz Electronics.
