A portable power station inverter resembles a rectangular box the size of a shoebox. On one end is a wire for connecting to a power source; the other is an AC outlet. The inverter takes the direct current (DC) power from the car's 12 volt system and converts it to the alternating current (AC) power needed by laptops, kettles and most other household appliances. This is the portable power station inverter. effect.
However, DC to AC conversion is not as simple as it sounds. #Power Inverter# AC powered equipment is designed to run on a smooth alternating current. Because many portable power station inverters don't provide a pure sine wave - and those that do usually cost as much as a more powerful generator - anything you power with a portable power station inverter will likely run less efficiently Low.
Once you've powered a few devices, you'll probably want to plug six more devices into a power strip, which then plugs into a portable power station inverter to increase your options. But unless you're just charging iPods and phones, it probably won't work, nor is it a good idea. The reason: The portable power station inverter cannot draw more power from the car battery than the alternator can replenish without draining the battery.
Other portable power station inverter requirements: You'll need an extension cord for each powered device, but if you have more appliances than inverter outlets, you can probably alternate between the fridge and the sump pump. Every wire needs a route from the device to the car. This usually means you have to keep at least one window ajar - a problem when you're also trying to keep the little amount of heat left in the house.
There are other portable power station inverter caveats worth considering. For example, we run the fridge for about 6 hours on a fully charged spare car battery before the battery dies. But unless you have an extra battery, you need to keep your car running so the alternator can keep the battery charged.
