Alternating current is a large part of modern society and is great for sending electricity over long distances as well as providing higher voltages to certain appliances. The problem is that batteries can only store direct current which means that some electrical sources, such as automobiles, can only support low-end, low-voltage appliances. To correct this problem, a device that is capable of converting direct current to alternating current, the inverter, was invented. This article will explore what inverters are and how they work.

What is an Inverter
An inverter is a device that converts direct current to alternating current. An inverter is a very valuable device to have as it allows the user to provide power to a wide array of technology that could not otherwise operate under normal conditions. For example, if the owner of an automobile wanted to watch television or use his/her laptop while on a six hour road trip, he/she would need an inverter as those devices could not work with the dashboard's cigarette lighter. In addition to converting direct current to alternating current, the inverter also provides the user with normal wall outlets so that the user does not need to purchase additional adapters.

DC To AC To DC
Ironically, inverters actually convert direct current to alternating current and then back into direct current. This is because the majority of devices do not actually use alternating current. However, alternating current increases the voltage of direct current and provides more power. The inverter converts the direct current into alternating current to get more power and then either the inverter or the device itself limits the amount of electricity that can flow into it at one time by converting the alternating current back into a higher voltage direct current.How Do Inverters Work

Oscillator Circuits
An oscillator is a simple circuit that makes up the majority of an inverter's technology. An oscillator circuit is made up of a capacitor that stores energy and an inductor that creates a magnetic field. If the user supplies energy to the capacitor, it will discharge and send the electricity through one side of the circuit where it will meet the inductor. The inductor will produce a magnetic field and charge the other plate of the capacitor, which is a different polarity. The oscillator will keep switching back and forth from one polarity to the other until electricity is no longer supplied to the circuit. This is the key component that allows an inverter to convert direct current into alternating current.

Sine Waves
In addition to the oscillator, inverters also include some level of filtration to clean up the signal that it produces. True alternating current creates a distinct, round sine wave while inverters produce square sine waves. This is a problem because many devices that transmit and receive radio waves use square waves as well and the inverter's square waves can interfere with these devices. The more expensive inverters on the market have sophisticated filtration systems installed to prevent this interference while cheaper brands may have little filtration or no filtration at all. Users should be careful about what type of inverter they purchase and choose one that works well with the intended use.

Peak Wattage
While most devices have the wattage that they use stamped on the side, this is only an average wattage. This is important to remember because inverters must be able to maintain the overall wattage of every device that is using it. As a general rule, the inverter should be able to support 50% more than the total wattage that is used. For example, if one device uses 200 watts, another uses 300 watts, and yet another uses 250 watts, the user needs to purchase an inverter that can support 1125 watts.

Installing A Temporary Inverter
A temporary inverter is extremely easy to use as the user can simply plug the device into his/her car's cigarette lighter. Inverters are based on plug-and-play technology and do not require any special installation. For a temporary inverter, the only thing the user needs to do is plug the device in and find a safe, sturdy place to put it while in use. Users should keep in mind that the cigarette lighter in most automobiles can only support around 400 watts: any more than that and the user runs the risk of starting a fire in his/her car.

Installing A Permanent Inverter
If a user wants to install a permanent inverter in his/her car that can be used to power appliances at any time, there is a bit more work involved. The user should purchase an inverter that comes with jumper cables as the inverter will need to be connected directly to the battery. These jumper cables usually have brackets attached that allow the user to bolt them to the battery. Additionally, the cables will have to be run through the dashboard in order for the inverter to be inside the vehicle and not under the hood.