Choosing the right Power Inverters

When you find out that your car battery is capable of being used to operate a few other devices also, you set out to find an inverter for that purpose. However, when you step into the market looking for an inverter, you will come across a wide array of choices, often leaving your confused.

Here are a few things to consider while you are purchasing power inverters.

• features of the inverter
  
  
• wattage and cost
  
  
• different connections that it provides
  
  
• type of inverter wave form output

Though the other factors are also important, the highest priority should be given to the wave form output of the inverter. In terms of wave form output, there are two types of inverters - true sine wave inverters and modified-sine or square sine wave inverters.

The quality of power output from the true sine wave inverters is almost identical to that obtained from the normal power supply, while that from modified sine wave inverter is of slightly lower quality. Even then, modified sine wave inverters are the most popular ones because most of the devices run on them without problems and also since they are about two to three times cheaper than the true sine wave inverters.

People have to keep one thing in mind when they are using inverters with their car batteries. The total wattage of the appliances that draw power from this inverter must be less than 300W. This is due to the fact that when more power is drawn from the car batteries, your car fuses begin to go out.

One good inverter which can be plugged into your car cigarette lighter socket is the xPower 175 Micro. This pocket size inverter comes with a built-in surge protector and can supply 140 watts of power continuously.

Specific true-sine or modified-sine wave inverters are required in two cases:

• Equipment for specialized tasks like oxygen concentrators. fax machines, laser printers and equipment with variable speed motors give trouble free operation only with true-sine wave inverters.
• Some equipment like high-end audio video units, plasma displays, gaming systems, and certain scientific testing equipment give better performance with true-sine wave inverters than with modified-sine inverters.

It must be understood that your modified-sine wave inverters cannot be upgraded to true-sine wave inverters. If money is not a constraint for you, then you can buy true-sine wave inverters as they improve the performance of your appliances. Also, any appliance can be plugged into the true-wave sine inverter.