A car battery inverter can be a lifesaver during extended power outages. Branded portable charging stations are not for everyone. And collecting a home version is quite real. To do this you will need a car inverter, a 12V lead-acid or gel battery (traction is recommended, not a starter), a 14.4V battery charger.
To begin with, let’s deal with the nuances that the future owner of such accessories may face. How to connect, why shouldn’t you be afraid of a modified sine wave, why use a serial connection and what is the optimal charging current?
Sine wave inverter
There are many horror stories on the internet about inverter types. For example, they are not suitable for connecting household appliances. There are two types of sinusoids.
normal sine wave. An expensive type of inverter that simulates the ideal conditions of a conventional electrical grid. Any household appliances will work without deviations. This type of converter can be connected to almost all devices operating from a voltage of 220V.
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Modified sine wave. It has slight voltage fluctuations. These inverters are not only suitable for connecting high-precision medical and measuring instruments. Normal household appliances can be used with this type of converter.
The procedure for switching on the equipment
For stable operation, basic rules must be observed. Make sure the battery terminals are secure. Be sure to turn on the inverter first, then the TV, refrigerator or other equipment. Some electronics/appliance manufacturers skimp on everything. The technique can be very delicate, so follow these recommendations to be safe.
Charging the accumulator
What to do if the battery is empty? It is possible to replenish the energy supply of a lead-acid battery with car chargers. They usually work with a voltage of 14.4V. These batteries take a long time to charge.
Too much charging current will damage the battery. The optimal value is 5-15A. For larger models (100+ Ah) more powerful starter chargers are available such as Vulcan CT 60.
Recharging the battery is very easy. The most important thing is not to confuse “+” and “-“. First we connect the terminals. Check if they are securely fastened. Good contact must be ensured. Then plug the device into a power outlet. The car charger can charge traction and starter batteries.
Increase the input voltage
Some inverter models work with 24V or 48V. This helps reduce energy losses. Converting power from 12V to 220V is not as efficient as 48>220V. But for this the owner will need several batteries.
How to combine batteries to increase voltage? Remember physics lessons in schools Lyceum.
Connecting the batteries in series increases the voltage
It is sufficient to connect in series the “+” of the first battery to the “-” of the second. Then we connect the inverter to the free terminals, i.e. the “-” of the first battery and the “+” of the second. Then the user will get 24V. If 48V is needed, then everything is the same.
Parallel connection of the batteries increases the capacity
In parallel, we connect terminals of the same type to each other. This will increase the battery capacity several times.
Which inverter power to choose?
To recharge smartphones, laptops, power banks, an economic inverter up to 400-500W will suffice. It will be able to deliver enough power to charge many portable devices simultaneously. It will also be able to power your room lighting, TV, other undemanding appliances, etc.
To turn on household appliances, you will have to look for a more powerful model, such as UCC 2000. When starting up, some appliances consume a maximum amount of electricity. Therefore, we take the inverter with a margin. For most, 1000-2000W will suffice.
Powerful models of several kilowatts will be able to feed the entire energy system of the building. But keep in mind that such inverters cost a lot (especially during this period) and require a powerful battery. It is recommended to use batteries with series-parallel connection.
When buying DC – AC converters for cars, it is recommended to determine exactly which devices will be used most often. The power of the inverter must be greater than that of the connected equipment and significantly. The peak load of some devices can reach 200-300%.
When connecting the device, the 12V inverter must have a good power reserve. For example, it is not recommended to run a 1900W vacuum cleaner on a 2000W inverter. A 400W refrigerator on a 1000W inverter is safe enough.
How to charge portable digital equipment?
The easiest way is to connect a classic surge protector. Next, in the usual way, we use phone or laptop charging. Some “carrier” models have built-in USB Type-A connectors.
Advanced inverters have built-in USB ports. For example, DC-AC converters BEHAVIOR And Green Cell equipped with these connectors. They are not very powerful, but for portable devices or room lighting – what you need. In this case, the energy losses will be slightly less. Double conversion from DC – AC 12-220V and then AC – DC 220-5V is not as effective.
Using a standard car battery and an inverter of this class, the user gets an incredibly large power bank for minimal funds.
Heating system
Almost all modern heating systems depend on electricity. This leaves hundreds of thousands of homes vulnerable during the cold winter. There is gas in the pipes, but the boiler cannot work. The exceptions are autonomous gas convectors.
The need for electricity in a modern boiler is different at different stages of operation. The minimum consumption of a typical gas boiler model is 50-60 watts. Such figures are typical for the operation of a circulation pump. But at the moment of electric ignition, the value can increase 2-3 times, that is, up to 100-180 watts. Of course, this is a guideline. It is specific to each model. You should find this out in your boiler’s data sheet before choosing a DC-AC converter model.
A 400-500W inverter is sufficient for this task. Rarely will a boiler require more power at peak load. Advanced modifications of boilers are equipped with uninterruptible power supplies. In this case, only an additional high-capacity battery (for continuous operation) is required.
Autonomous lighting
The owner of a large-capacity battery and a powerful inverter can afford to connect all these accessories to his power system. Turning on all household appliances is unlikely to work, but it will be sufficient for lighting and basic needs.
A conditional inverter of 2-3 kW will cope with part of household appliances and all lighting units. Inexpensive LED lamps do not consume much energy. A kind of silent replacement for a generator, but by no means cheaper.
For those who are not ready for this, you can try cheaper options and use:
- Table lamp 220V or USB 5V;
- 12V LED strip (directly from the battery);
- New Year’s garlands to cheer up;
- Tourist lamps and lanterns, which the owner will then charge from the inverter;
conclusions
Inverters have become a scarce commodity. Prices have risen significantly, and you can’t buy them in every city. Having such a device at home is already a great convenience. If you can buy a car voltage converter, don’t hesitate. This is still the cheapest way to build a powerful power bank for portable equipment or to power home equipment for a while.
You have to choose a DC – AC converter taking into account your needs and possible use cases. It is always worth taking a model with a power reserve if you plan to connect demanding household appliances. Also, a strong traction battery won’t hurt. A starter-type car battery will also cope with the task, but you shouldn’t let it discharge too much.
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