Benefits of electrical power converters

In power engineering parlance, power conversion means changing one form of electrical energy to another, either between AC and DC or just altering the volt or frequency.  A power converter is an electro mechanical device to facilitate this conversion. 

Power converters find their usage in many walks of life. From the wind turbine to the regulation inverter or even mobile chargers, power conversion happens, either from lower voltage to higher voltage or vice versa.

An inverter connects to the car’s power system, drawing 12-volt DC electricity from it. This can be accomplished through the cigarette lighter, through a direct connection to the inverter batteries, or by being permanently hard-wired into the car’s electrical system.

The electrical voltage that is drawn from the lead acid battery is then multiplied, usually by the use of a transformer. Since the inverter is starting with 12 volts and needs to boost it to 120 volts, the voltage must be multiplied ten times. To provide this much power, the amperage has to be divided by ten. Therefore, an inverter that is producing 1 amp of power at 120 volts AC needs to draw 10 amps of power from the automotive battery.

Power inverters are extremely useful devices when one wants to use a device away from home power. They amplify a car’s 12-volt DC power to be essentially equal to a home’s 120-volt AC power, allowing connection and operation of electronic devices.

It is also important to take into consideration the car’s power system when buying and using inverters. If the inverter is going to be used extensively, it will be necessary to install a second battery in the car or to run the engine periodically in order to recharge the car’s battery and prevent deep cycling of the battery.

Marine and RV batteries are designed to permit deep cycling without damage. If a voltage inverter is going to be used in a situation where a lot of deep cycling is expected, installing one of these batteries may be a good option to prevent damage to the battery. However, these cannot be classified under a four wheeler battery. These types of batteries have a lower "cold cranking amps" rating, meaning they are not as effective for starting a car’s engine. Power Converters hold significant use in today’s world. In their use lie their benefits.