Choosing a car inverter. Equipment used in testing the operation of a car inverter

Car inverters are a whole class of devices that allow connect consumers designed for AC power supply, to low-voltage DC circuits (12 or 24 V). There are many applications for such devices:

• Arriving by car to the country house, you can use a power tool if necessary, without buying separately;
• If necessary, the car battery will be able to light up your house in case of a sudden power outage;
• If you need frequent trips with a laptop, you will not need to carry an additional car with you;
• When building a homemade one, you can successfully use a ready-made automobile in its scheme;

You can list many other ways to use a boost auto-inverter. A separate type of these devices - step-down inverters that allow connecting consumers designed for 12 V power supply to a 24 V network - this is important for owners of heavy trucks, where the voltage in the on-board network does not allow the direct use of common accessories (chargers for navigators, phones, etc. etc).

An autoinverter is electronic voltage converter, wherein dC current is converted into a pulse train (therefore, such a converter is also called a pulse converter), which are fed to a step-up or step-down transformer. Due to the high operating frequency, the dimensions and weight of the used transformers can be significantly reduced in comparison with devices operating at the mains frequency. Then the current at the output of the transformer is rectified and smoothed by the output filter. According to this principle, for example, converters 24-12 V.

With devices designed for AC output, everything is much more complicated. It is impossible to give out just an alternating current of high frequency to most consumers - only the simplest devices like incandescent lamps can work from it. Consequently, it is necessary to use both sufficiently large low-frequency transformers and more complex circuits for generating a signal that is as close as possible to an ideal sinusoid. This is especially critical for powerful inverters with which the power tool is used - since the electric motor has a high self-inductance, deviations of the supply voltage form from the planned one significantly increase losses. The operation of an electric motor from an imperfect inverter is accompanied by a noticeable hum of the electric motor core and overheating of the output stages of the converter, a loss of motor power.

Criterias of choice

When choosing a step-down auto-inverter, the most attention should be paid to two parameters: the rated output current and the presence of overload protection.

• Rated output current - this is the highest current that the auto-inverter can supply to the load without overheating the converter. Do not confuse it with the maximum current indicated in the most conspicuous place - its value, of course, will be much higher, but the inverter can only maintain such a current for a very short time.
• Overload protection - this is a system that, when the current consumption of a given value is exceeded, turns off the converter, which allows to save its output stages from overheating and destruction. Even with very careful operation, this option is never superfluous.
• Low battery warning and automatic shutdown in case of a critical discharge, they are extremely useful if you connect the load to the car battery for a long time.

WITH A SOCKET ON THE ROAD

A long road ... Or maybe - just to the dacha. But the cell phone was already discharged, the wife, as always, did not change the battery in the camera, and the son would not go anywhere further until the addicted player started playing again. Unhappy driver! Well, how to stick all this into the cigarette lighter so that everything is charged at once? You can stick it in. But not in the cigarette lighter. In this situation, by the way, there will be converters of direct voltage 12 V to alternating 220 V. And you will not need an expensive and powerful inverter - a simple voltage converter with a power of 150 W will quite cope with this task. Take a tee with you and it will charge players, phones, cameras and even cope with a laptop. With everything at once.

Low-power inverters are good because they are inexpensive and can be easily turned on through the cigarette lighter socket. Inside the car, you can always please yourself and other passengers with your favorite 220 V socket. And how surprised the son will be when he sees the familiar USB connector - for recharging the player! Some Porto and AcmePower inverters are endowed with a USB output (sure? Maybe some more).

... So we arrived at the dacha, and what then? They opened the door, and the cliff - there is no light in the house. Let's take a favorite small inverter from the car, but it will not work to connect lighting, a microwave oven or a power tool, not the power. For such cases, there are powerful inverters - up to 5 kW. They connect directly to the battery terminals. The most powerful of them are colossal in size. The price of such inverters in rubles already greatly exceeds the number of watts for which they are designed ...

This is where the problem of choice comes in. What are you willing to pay for: an electric kettle at a picnic or a charged laptop on the road? We have divided car inverters into two large groups in terms of power: up to 1 kW and up to 3 kW. In this issue we will focus on the first group of inverters and divide it into two parts. Inverters up to 200 W are connected to the cigarette lighter socket, more powerful ones - directly to the battery. In addition, some manufacturers have taken care of hesitant consumers and created intermediate models with a power of about 300 watts: they can be connected to the cigarette lighter and directly to the battery.

What was tested

Each inverter has been tested for output voltage versus applied load. Of greatest interest is the operation of the inverter in a state close to overload. Almost all devices coped with normal operation. And when you connect a load slightly exceeding the maximum, interesting details become clear.

In addition, the shape of the output signal is an important characteristic. The ideal voltage versus time curve is pure sine. Such a signal can be observed, for example, in a home network of 220 V. However, only one inverter from the entire test was able to please us with the beauty of the output signal, all other inverters use the so-called modified sine shape. It turns out that the ideal waveform is quite expensive (this can be seen on the example of the "Calm" inverter). In addition, for such purposes as charging mobile phones and other devices, a modified waveform is sufficient. A pure sine is necessary when connecting high-precision measuring equipment. In addition, in a network with a modified signal shape, high-frequency interference occurs, which can emerge in the form of noise when connecting radio equipment.

How the test was conducted

To measure the output voltage of each inverter depending on the connected load, a load stand was created. This simple device is a conventional incandescent lamp of various wattage. For each inverter, the following operating modes were simulated: 25% of maximum rated power, 50%, 75%, 100% and 125% (overload mode). In each of these modes, the rms voltage at the output of the inverter was measured. At 75% of the maximum power, an oscillogram of the output signal was recorded - a graph of voltage versus time.

The test for non-standard loads turned out to be no less interesting: a pump "Trickle" (300 W) with a high starting current and a microwave oven.

Calm PS12 / 300 - car inverter, test

MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER: 300W

FREQUENCY: 49.6 Hz

PUMP START (300W): yes

MICROWAVE OVEN: yes, at 100 W

DISCUSSION OF THE TEST

This device has many features. Let's start with the fact that the Shtil PS12 / 300 car inverter is manufactured in Russia and is positioned as an inverter that provides the consumer with high-quality electricity. And this is true: at the output, the inverter gives a pure sine wave signal. This makes it possible to connect the most complex loads, including precise measuring equipment, to the Shtil PS12 / 300 inverter. The inverter coped with the pump and microwave without problems. But you have to pay for such a dignity, so you can't ignore the price ...

As long as the load is less than the maximum, the Shtil PS12 / 300 inverter behaves perfectly: it keeps the voltage at about 217 V. But an attempt to increase the load does not lead to anything good: the voltage begins to drop, and the actual load remains the same - 300 W. There is nothing unexpected in this, because this is an overload mode. But how will it be perceived by various devices for which voltage drops are critical? The protection is triggered in two stages: first, it goes into the power limitation mode, then it disconnects the load and, with a frequency of 1 s, checks whether the cause of the overload has been eliminated. In general, the recipe is obvious - do not overload.

Before putting the inverter back into the box, let's pay attention to the ergonomics and appearance. Manufacturers remain true to the old rules: the main thing is inside the device. Externally Calm PS12 / 300 is a gray parallelepiped with rubber feet. On the front panel there is a power button and a light indicator, on the back there are terminals for connecting wires and a socket for connecting a 220 V plug.

The last thing we will pay attention to is the way of connecting the inverter to the 12V network. Using wires that are easily fixed in the terminals of the inverter, it can be connected both to the cigarette lighter and directly to the battery. However, these wires are not included in the kit!

ADVANTAGES: The undisputed advantage is the shape of the output signal. The inverter provides the consumer with a truly pure sine wave.

DISADVANTAGES: The overload protection logic is more suitable for cases where the inverter operates without the presence of the user, "clumsy" design, rather large dimensions.

SUMMARY: The Shtil PS12 / 300 car inverter deserves the attention of experienced buyers who are demanding on the shape of the output signal. Those whose electrical appliances are not so demanding on the shape of the mains voltage should go on to describe other inverters.

AcmePower 120 - car inverter, test

MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER: 107W

FREQUENCY: 50 Hz

DISCUSSION OF THE TEST

The AcmePower 120 car inverter stands out from all other inverters, its design is truly unique. Any owner of a small cozy car will pay attention to it first of all. Why are there so many rave reviews? The secret lies in the exterior: the body of the inverter is made of pleasant plastic and measures no more than the palm of your hand.

The manufacturers should be given their due: the inverter has a lot of pleasant surprises. The USB port allows you to charge devices such as an iPod. The inverter comes with adapters for charging various models of mobile phones. Well, and a soft, almost velvet case for the inverter (how could it be without it!). Thus, at first glance, the inverter clearly wins.

But back to the test. The AcmePower 120's overload mode is not so smooth. First, it comes too early: only 107 watts, and the inverter is already shutting down. At the same time, in order to turn it on again, you must remove and then insert the power cable (the inverter does not have a power button). Despite the low maximum power, the inverter is equipped with a fan, which does not allow it to run absolutely silently.

ADVANTAGES: Great design, extremely small dimensions and weight, the presence of a USB output and adapters for charging mobile phones.

DISADVANTAGES: High cost, low declared (and even less real) maximum power.

SUMMARY: Without a doubt, there are many buyers of the AcmePower 120 car inverter. Manufacturers have tried to attract the consumer. If 100 W is enough for the buyer and the high cost does not bother, then this is what you need.

MeanWell A301‑150 ‑ F3 - car inverter, test

MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER: 175W

FREQUENCY: 50 Hz

DISCUSSION OF THE TEST

Lovely design of car inverter

MeanWell A301-150-F3 does not detract from its other qualities. For a low price, the consumer gets a device without bells and whistles, but also without unpleasant surprises. The inverter runs absolutely silently (no fan). It also does not emit a squeaking noise when overloaded. The shutdown occurs quietly upon reaching 175 W.

ADVANTAGES: Absolutely silent work.

DISADVANTAGES: Not noted

SUMMARY: Inverter without additional functions and no surprises. For simple purposes and light loads - an excellent choice.

MeanWell car inverters proved to be very worthy. One of the important advantages of these inverters was the adequate behavior when entering the overload zone.

MobilEn SP-150 - car inverter, test

FREQUENCY: 50 Hz

DISCUSSION OF THE TEST

At first glance, the MobilEn SP-150 inverter showed very good results. The maximum power was 125% of the nominal, while the voltage did not fall below normal. When approaching an overload condition, the inverter warns with a periodic low beep. If the load continues to increase, it shuts down with a loud constant squeak.

A serious advantage of the MobilEn SP-150 car inverter is absolutely noiseless operation. The user will know that the inverter is "alive" by the light indicator.

ADVANTAGES: Warning of approaching overload mode, high real maximum power.

DISADVANTAGES: Not noted

SUMMARY: The MobilEn SP-150 car inverter is not surprising at all: neither in design, nor in price, nor in its behavior during overload. Quite a smart choice.

Neodrive 200 - car inverter, test

MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER: 265W

FREQUENCY: 49.7 Hz

DISCUSSION OF THE TEST

Quite unexpectedly, another cheap Chinese inverter turned out to be a kind of champion. The Neodrive 200 car inverter absolutely confidently holds the 220 V voltage under a load of 125% of the maximum. The record shown is the maximum load, which is 133% of the declared maximum. When an attempt is made to increase the load further, the inverter shuts down and signals an overload with a quiet periodic beep. Of the shortcomings, you should pay attention to the very short power cable from the cigarette lighter - this is also a kind of record ... The Neodrive 200 car inverter is endowed with a fan that turns on as it heats up and, after cooling the device a little, turns off.

ADVANTAGES: Low cost, high real maximum power.

DISADVANTAGES: Short power cord.

SUMMARY: During the test of the Neodrive 200 car inverter, no serious flaws were identified. Due to its relatively low cost and sufficient power, the inverter can be recommended for simple purposes.

Porto HT-E-150 - car inverter, test

MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER: 190W

FREQUENCY: 49.8 Hz

DISCUSSION OF THE TEST

Let's now turn to one of the lowest-power automotive inverters, the Porto HT-E-150. It does not pretend to be solid (the body is partially made of blue plastic). It can be said that there is something toy in it. But one of the biggest advantages of an inverter is that it runs completely silent. The exclusion of forced cooling by the fan was made possible by the small value of the loads for which the device was designed. The fact that it is in the switched on state is signaled only by the indicator button, backlit by blue light. As for the data received, the little Porto also made me happy. As the load increases, the voltage increases slightly, but everything remains within normal limits. In addition, it maintains a stable voltage of 230 V at 125% of the maximum load. If you try to raise the load above 190W, the inverter simply shuts down without any warning. To revive it again, it is necessary to remove (or reduce) the load, turn it off and on again. Manufacturers have tried to endow this seemingly simple Porto HT-E-150 inverter with a special twist. And, admittedly, they succeeded quite well! It may be the smallest power source, but what other inverter can charge your iPod via USB? The presence of USB is undoubtedly a big advantage. For some unknown reason, there was no voltage surge after the overload protection tripped. For unclear - since the rest of the tested Porto inverters have this drawback.

ADVANTAGES: Stable behavior under load up to 125% of maximum. Complete absence of noise and sound signals. The presence of a USB port.

DISADVANTAGES: Not noted.

SUMMARY: the Porto HT-E-150 car inverter is an excellent choice for the simplest purposes: charging laptops, phones and other small loads. The inverter will save space and money.

Porto HT-E-150 P4-12 - car inverter, test

MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER: 170W

FREQUENCY: 49.5 Hz

DISCUSSION OF THE TEST

The Porto HT-E-150 P4-12 car inverter has no global differences from the HT-E-150‑12. But there is no limit to perfection: this inverter is even less and there are even more pleasant surprises. In addition to the USB port, the inverter is equipped with an air purifier!

According to the manufacturers, the ionizer cleans the air from dust, disinfects it and neutralizes electrostatic fields. The device generates an electrical discharge of low power, which forms a flow of negative aerions that ionize the air in the room. Dust particles, allergens and other pollutants become negatively charged and precipitate. However, it was not possible to verify this fact within the framework of the test.

Here again we are faced with the same disadvantage as in the 600-watt inverter: after the overload protection is triggered, the device turns off, but then turns on again for one second.

ADVANTAGES: Complete absence of noise and sound signals. The presence of a USB port and an air purifier.

DISADVANTAGES: Voltage surge after tripping of overload protection.

SUMMARY: Porto HT-E-150 P4-12 car inventory has no significant differences from Porto HT-E-150-12.

Powermate-003 Tamaks - car inverter, test

MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER: 172W

FREQUENCY: 50.5 Hz

DISCUSSION OF THE TEST

What is the difference between the car Powermate-003 Tamaks inverter from its cylindrical brother? Longer cable, different body shape - let the consumer choose what he likes. As for the dependence of voltage on load power - everything is the same. The voltage rises quite noticeably with increasing power.

The behavior of the Powermate-003 Tamaks inverter in overload mode is different. He did not warn about approaching maximum power, but simply turned off and began to emit an incessant squeak. But no power surges after disconnection.

ADVANTAGES: Same as Powermate-012 Cyler. Does not turn on again for a short time after the overload protection has tripped.

DISADVANTAGES: Not noted.

SUMMARY: There are no fundamental differences between the Powermate-003 Tamaks car inventory and the Powermate-012 Cyler model. When choosing between these two models, you can safely be guided by considerations of aesthetics and the choice of a place in the car.

Powermate-012 Cyler

MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER: 185W

FREQUENCY: 49.8 Hz

DISCUSSION OF THE TEST

Let's move on to considering inverters from the famous Povermate brand. Inverters were created to achieve the simplest goals - charging laptops, phones, iPods. Let's immediately pay attention to the extremely low price. Povermate inverters have many drawbacks, but they are compensated to some extent by their low cost. The cylindrical shape of the case allows the inverter to be installed in the standard car cup holder. Even if this is not available, there is no problem in the cabin for the inverter. The power cable is made by analogy with a telephone wire ("accordion"), has a length of 70 cm in an extended state. The front panel (cylinder base) contains a 220 V socket and two light indicators - green and red. It should be noted that all the inscriptions on Povermate inverters sold in Russia are in Russian. The output voltage of the inverter rises strongly as the load increases and reaches 240 V at 150 W. Further, the voltage begins to gradually decrease. The inverter turned out to be one of the few who can keep the load 125% of the nominal at a voltage of 220 V. Approaching the state of overload, the inverter begins to amaze with its behavior - both in a good way and in a bad way. So, at a load of 170 to 190 W, it emits a constant squeak, which cannot but attract attention. But what is most interesting, all this time the inverter keeps the voltage stably and does not turn off! If the load is increased a little more, the electronic shutdown system will work. And then a surprise happens: after 2 seconds, the inverter turns on again, detects that it is overloaded, and turns off. And so it goes on endlessly. It is quite obvious that some power consumers (such as a computer without an uninterruptible power supply) will not like this inverter behavior.

ADVANTAGES: Low price. Nice and comfortable design. Alert about entering an area close to overload.

DISADVANTAGES: Constant switching on and off when connecting power exceeding the maximum.

The test was conducted by Mikhail Krutyansky

The maximum peak power for this automotive power converter is 400W and the continuous operating power is 200W. The inverter connects to the car's cigarette lighter and converts the input voltage received from the car with a power of 12V. The product is activated by connecting the connecting wires supplied with the inverter.

The inverters have a built-in USB 5V socket for powering and charging mobile devices and a cigarette lighter socket for connecting devices powered by 12 volts.

The warranty period for AIRLINE products is from 6 to 36 months, depending on the product, but not more than 1-4 years from the date of manufacture of the product (see the warranty card).

RULES FOR RETURNING GOODS DECLARED AS DEFECTIVE
Only products that meet the following conditions are accepted for evaluation:
1. The warranty period is from 6 to 36 months, depending on the product (see the warranty card), counting from the date of sale indicated in the warranty card and certified by the stamp of the trading organization, but not more than 1-4 years from the date of manufacture of the product (see. warranty card).
2. The warranty for the product is provided subject to the rules of operation.
3. The warranty is terminated when:
3.1. Lack of a branded warranty card, as well as upon presentation of an unfilled or incorrectly completed coupon;
3.2. Use of the product for industrial or professional purposes;
3.3. Mechanical damage (cracks, chips, etc.) and damage caused by exposure to aggressive environments and high temperatures, penetration of liquids, ingress of foreign objects into the product, instability of the parameters of the electrical network exceeding the norms established by GOST 13109-87, as well as damage that occurred due to improper storage (corrosion of metal parts);
3.4. Natural wear and tear of the product (full depletion of the resource, strong internal or external pollution);
3.5. For products that have been opened or repaired on their own during the warranty period.
Buyer's actions when returning products:
1. Carefully read the instructions and make sure that the product is connected and used in accordance with all the requirements specified in the instructions.
2. Make sure that there is no external damage, check the fuses (in compressors, distributors, converters, etc.) and the oil level (in the jacks).
3. If the product does not work, return the product to the store (sales organization). The dealer that sold the product to you must, after following the necessary formalities below, replace it. In this case, you must provide the product with packaging, "Warranty card" with the marks of the trading organization, or a check issued by this organization.
4. When making a return of goods, the buyer must remember the requirements for the returned product:
- It should not show signs of use;
- Preserved its presentation;
- Consumer properties are preserved;
- Seals saved;
- Factory labels are saved;
If a trade organization refuses to accept products declared as defective, without reason, please write a letter to the address. In the letter, briefly state the essence of the problem, the name of the defective product, the date of purchase and the address of the retail outlet, with the phone number and full name of the seller who refused to exchange products for you.

The development of home appliances and electronics is placing new demands on car owners. For normal use of a laptop and other electronic or electrical devices, a voltage of 220 volts is required, which is not in the car. The car inverter converts the standard 12/24 volt voltage to 220 volts at 50 hertz.

How does a car inverter work?

The basis of the inverter is a digital generator with pulse width modulation (PWM).

The generator operating frequency is from 10 kilohertz to 20 megahertz, depending on the model, power and manufacturer. The signal from the generator goes to the power switch, which controls the operation of the high-frequency transformer. At the output of the transformer, a voltage of 220 volts is obtained. With a small load on the inverter, the duty cycle of the generator pulses is minimal. This is monitored by a feedback system. The higher the load at the output of the inverter, the greater the duty cycle (maximum value 1: 1). Such a system allows to reduce the power consumption and the load on the power switch in the minimum consumption mode. After rectifying the alternating current, the output is a constant voltage of 220 volts. The direct voltage is again converted into alternating voltage, but with a frequency of 50 hertz. Such a scheme can seriously reduce the size, weight and cost of the inverter, because a transformer for a frequency of 50 hertz is hundreds of times larger and more expensive than one operating at a frequency of 100 kilohertz and higher.

Most often, an inverter is used to connect a laptop, printer, scanner and other devices to the vehicle's on-board network. Often there is a need to connect a small, powerful, drill or angle grinder to the on-board network. Using an inverter allows you to use a microwave oven, hairdryer, vibration massager and other useful devices on the road. The inverter allows you to connect any electrical or electronic device to the vehicle's on-board network, which requires an alternating voltage of 110/220 volts to power it.

Inverter and electrical / electronic devices

Any inverter affects electrical and electronic devices. The complex output waveform, which is derived from a square wave of hundreds of kilohertz, produces a large number of harmonics, which can adversely affect some devices. The table below will help you understand how the inverter affects various electrical and electronic equipment.

How to choose a car voltage converter

When choosing an inverter, consider the following:

• battery voltage (12/24 volts);
• output voltage (110/220 volts);
• total load power;
• connection to a cigarette lighter or battery;
• a certificate of conformity and registration in accordance with the law on consumer protection.

When choosing an inverter, remember that converters for voltages of 12 and 24 volts are not interchangeable, unless it is written on the device's case and in its operating instructions. Connecting a 12 volt inverter to a 24 volt battery will lead to overheating and rapid failure of key transistors and other parts due to excessive input voltage. Connecting a 24-volt inverter to a 12-volt battery will lead to rapid overheating and failure of key transistors due to too large duty cycle of the collector current increase pulses.

Inverters must be used to power those devices and equipment that match them in voltage. Many electronic devices are designed to operate on voltages ranging from 100 to 260 or 380 volts. Any converter can be used for such devices. If the device is designed to work with a voltage of 110 or 220 volts, then it is necessary to select the corresponding inverter.

An equally important parameter is the total load power. To determine it, it is necessary to calculate the power of all devices that can be turned on at the same time, while they will not necessarily be used constantly. Here is an example of determining the total power:

• laptop (70-100 watts);
• phone charger (10 watts);
• small refrigerator (50 watts);
• home theater (200 watts);
• total power 330-360 watts.

When choosing an inverter, keep in mind that the maximum DC current of the cigarette lighter should not exceed 15 amperes, so the maximum power you can get without risk of damaging the wiring or blowing a fuse is 180 or 360 watts, depending on the battery voltage. Therefore, it is advisable to connect the adapter with a capacity above this value not through the cigarette lighter, but directly to the battery. To do this, it must include the appropriate connectors and adapters. If you change the power cord, you will void the product warranty.

Despite the fact that such devices are not subject to mandatory certification, all large and reliable manufacturers or suppliers not only receive a certificate of conformity confirming the safety of the device, but also formalize the device in accordance with Russian laws. That is, they attach a user manual in Russian to it, and on the packaging describe all the characteristics, operating conditions, manufacturer's data, as well as a phone number and email address for sending claims related to product quality.

Inverter and car battery capacity

If you plan to connect electrical devices to the battery, then keep in mind that its capacity will not last long. A 45 amp hour battery is capable of delivering 540 watt hours or 0.54 kilowatt hours until full discharge. That is, by connecting a 100-watt device to it, you can use it for 5 hours. By connecting a total load of 1 kilowatt, you can use it for 20-30 minutes. Then you will not be able to start the engine. If the car engine is on, the main load will fall on the generator, which is capable of generating up to 1 kilowatt hour of electricity. If you need more power, you will have to install a non-standard generator.

Review of the best auto inverters

• power;
• the quality of the output voltage;
• overload behavior;
• equipment;
• additional functions (if any);

In this review, we will be testing a 12 to 220 V car portable inverter with a declared maximum power of 200 watts manufactured by the Chinese company ONEVER.

According to the manufacturer, this voltage converter from 12 to 220 volts at the output should produce a pure sine wave with a frequency of 50 Hz. This will allow it to be used to power both electric motors and devices with switching power supplies.

In this review, we will test the operation of the inverter in practice by connecting various loads to it.

An inverter is a device for converting direct current into alternating current with a change in voltage value.

Specifications of the voltage converter declared by the manufacturer

• Manufacturer: ONEVER
• Rated power: 200W
• Coefficient of performance (COP): 90%
• DC input voltage: 12V
• Maximum current consumption: 8.3 A
• Output voltage: AC: 220V ± 10%
• Maximum output current: 0.45 A
• AC output frequency: 50Hz ± 2Hz
• Output power: 200W
• Peak power: 400W
• Output voltage per USB port: 5V
• Output Waveform: Modified Sine Wave
• Overload protection: yes
• Overheating protection: yes
• Overheating protection threshold: 70 ° C
• Working temperature: 0 - 40 ° C
• Overvoltage protection: yes
• Reverse polarity protection: yes
• Low battery alarm: yes
• Low input cut-off voltage (no load): 10V ± 1V
• High input cut-off voltage (no load): 15V ± 1V
• Built-in cooling fan: yes
• Body material: aluminum
• Dimensions: 87 x 64 x 38mm
• Weight: 0.23kg

The appearance of the inverter 12 to 220

Disassembling the voltage converter

Equipment used in testing the operation of a car inverter

Power consumption meter - will be used to monitor the power consumption of devices connected to the inverter.

DC power supply up to 10 A - will be used to supply input voltage to the inverter and control current consumption.

An electric drill from Bosch with a power of 550 W will be used as a load for a voltage converter at half its power.

The system unit of my computer will be used as an inverter load.

Inverter idle test

I decided to start testing the operation of this voltage converter by measuring the output voltage without load when changing the input voltage in the range from 10 to 14 V in steps of 1 V.

The results are as follows:

• 10 V input - 209 V output
• 11 V input - 224 V output
• 12 V input - 237 V output
• 13 V input - 247 V output
• 14 V input - 257 V output

It turns out that an increase in the input voltage after 12 V by 1 V leads to an increase in the output voltage by 10 V.

Inverter overvoltage protection tripped at 14.83 V, which corresponded to 264 V at the output. When the voltage falls below this threshold, the inverter starts working again.

The low input voltage protection of the inverter did not work even when the input voltage dropped to 5 V.

The current consumption in idle mode is 0.5 A.

Testing a voltage converter 12 to 220 under load

In the test, I will try to squeeze the maximum power out of it. As a result, it turned out that the protection is triggered at a load consumption power of 110 W.

This is quite enough to charge a laptop, but you will not be able to use a power tool. For a computer, this is also enough, but hardly anyone will test a PC in a car.

Inverter advantages

Low cost. Miniature size. The presence of an adapter for our plugs. The basic protections really are and work.

Disadvantages of an inverter

Lack of power button. Large no-load current. Leaky housing. With a powerful load, the wires get very hot. Built-in Silent Cooling Fan (as stated by the manufacturer): Really silent as it simply isn't there.

The manufacturer lied about the power - I would not recommend connecting a load with a consumption of more than 100 W, but nothing bad will happen - the protection will work.

General impression

The thing is interesting. You can safely use to charge your laptop or tablet. In case of urgent need, you can power up some low-power power tool. If you decide to sit on the shore of the lake with a fishing rod and watch the "Hunting and Fishing" channel on a 40-inch TV on a warm summer evening, this voltage converter will cope with it. I can recommend it for purchase.