How Does A Power Inverter Work? by Jason Miller

People always ask us “exactly how does a power inverter work?” The answer to this question often surprises our customers. Car power inverters work much more simply than mysteriously, and the learning curve required to understand them requires no more than a very basic knowledge of electricity. Essentially, there are two forms of electrical power in the Universe: Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC). Direct current flows continuously from the positive electrical pole to the negative electrical pole. Alternating current flows back and forth between the two poles. DC current occurs in Nature and batteries, while AC current is man-made and supplies power through the public utility grid that supports human industry and infrastructure. Car batteries presented a problem in the past when people realized they needed to operate traditionally AC-powered devices in their cars but could not do so because of incompatible current requirements. Manufacturers like Vector stepped up to solve this dilemma by working to design car power inverters that would safely and efficiently convert DC to AC. Their successful engineering has resulted in a wide range of compact, rectangular devices that connect to batteries and output the resulting alternating current safely through one or more standard electrical plugs.

Two factors determine how a power inverter works: wave output and wattage output. Wave output describes the physical appearance of electrical signals as they move across an oscilloscope. Square waves appear exactly as their name specifies: like squares on a grid. Pure sine waves, also called true sine waves, appear as visible waves on the screen. Sine wave car power inverters work better than square wave power inverters when uninterrupted power flow is a critical issue. In fact, true sine output is sometimes slightly superior to that of public utility power grids! Because of this, they are also the most expensive devices of their kind on the market. Recent advances in technology have accommodated users on a budget with a hybrid design generally referred to as either a modified square or modified sine wave power inverter. The technical differences that determine how a true sine car power inverter works and how a modified sine power inverter works are too minor to produce any noticeable effects with standard electronics. Only the most high-end equipment requires true sine output, and the cost of these devices may justify the additional investment in pure sine technology to deliver maximum quality and reliable performance.

Another new development that allows car power inverters to work with even more reliability than ever before is the sophisticated Soft Start Technology, branded “SST” by manufacturers such as Vector. SST is the next step in the evolution of how power inverters work. The very first power inverters for cars would only work intermittently during cold engine starts. Because they could not pull enough power from the battery, they would shut down from current underload and require a manual restart. SST resolves this issue by gradually increasing voltage ramp up during engine startup. If the output dips for any reason, SST makes instant adjustments to compensate and will prevent most shutdowns. If in the rare event a shutdown does occur, the newer car power inverters work automatically to restart themselves without distracting the driver from the road.

Red Hill Supply delivers only the best and most reliable power inverters that will work in virtually any situation requiring DC-AC conversion. Learn more about how power inverters work in our Resources section, and browse our online catalogue to obtain the most high end and specialized devices through our simple, convenient online order process.

About the Author

Jason has been in the construction equipment and industrial sales business for over 10 years. He owns and operates Red Hill Supply to better serve the automotive and industrial industries. - Automotive Tools

High quality Nissan Altima Parts by Glady Reign

The Japanese automaker, Nissan has been producing high quality cars since 1934. They have shown their success as one of the top three Asian rivals of the "big three" in the U.S. In fact, they are presently the third largest Japanese car manufacturer. The success could not have been possible if not for Nissan vehicles such as the Altima. Top-of-the line Nissan Altima parts make sure that the vehicle performs efficiently. The Nissan Altima is a mid-size car often attributed as the next generational model of the Nissan Bluebird in 1957. The name Altima was initially a trim line of the Nissan Laurel mid-size car sold in the Caribbean before 1992. By 1993, the Altima was introduced as entirely a new Nissan model. Nissan Altima parts are continuously being developed evident in the four designs in the generational models of 1993-1997, 1998-2001, 2002-2006 and 2007-present.

The current model of the Altima had a few modifications implements on a number of its Nissan Altima parts. Some of these include the new and upgraded front as well as rear suspension. The 3.5 liter V6 engine under the hood, capable of producing 270 horsepower, is also part of the package. It also has various great Nissan Altima parts accessories and houses, most probably influenced by latest technological trends: the push-button start, bluetooth capability for cell phones and parking camera. An Altima coupe was also introduced later on. It was said to be Nissan's first two-door Altima ever. It featured newer Nissan Altima parts like a shorter wheelbase, shorter overall length and lower height than the Altima Sedan. The coupe version was offered in two engines. One is a a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve V6 engine. The other is a a 175-horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder engine.

The Altima model was also used as the base model for Nissan's first hybrid car. Nissan had an agreement with a rival company by using its hybrid technology. The hybrid version of Nissan Altima has a 2.5 liter engine, CVT and an electric motor. It also boasts fuel efficiency of 42 mpg in city driving and 36 on the highway.

About the Author

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the Motor City and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.

How Does A Power Inverter Work? by Jason Miller

The Japanese automaker, Nissan has been producing high quality cars since 1934. They have shown their success as one of the top three Asian rivals of the "big three" in the U.S. In fact, they are presently the third largest Japanese car manufacturer. The success could not have been possible if not for Nissan vehicles such as the Altima. Top-of-the line Nissan Altima parts make sure that the vehicle performs efficiently. The Nissan Altima is a mid-size car often attributed as the next generational model of the Nissan Bluebird in 1957. The name Altima was initially a trim line of the Nissan Laurel mid-size car sold in the Caribbean before 1992. By 1993, the Altima was introduced as entirely a new Nissan model. Nissan Altima parts are continuously being developed evident in the four designs in the generational models of 1993-1997, 1998-2001, 2002-2006 and 2007-present.

The current model of the Altima had a few modifications implements on a number of its Nissan Altima parts. Some of these include the new and upgraded front as well as rear suspension. The 3.5 liter V6 engine under the hood, capable of producing 270 horsepower, is also part of the package. It also has various great Nissan Altima parts accessories and houses, most probably influenced by latest technological trends: the push-button start, bluetooth capability for cell phones and parking camera. An Altima coupe was also introduced later on. It was said to be Nissan's first two-door Altima ever. It featured newer Nissan Altima parts like a shorter wheelbase, shorter overall length and lower height than the Altima Sedan. The coupe version was offered in two engines. One is a a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve V6 engine. The other is a a 175-horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder engine.

The Altima model was also used as the base model for Nissan's first hybrid car. Nissan had an agreement with a rival company by using its hybrid technology. The hybrid version of Nissan Altima has a 2.5 liter engine, CVT and an electric motor. It also boasts fuel efficiency of 42 mpg in city driving and 36 on the highway.

About the Author

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the Motor City and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.