Pick Your Power Inverter

On any kind of road trip, a DC-to-AC power inverter is key to supporting any kind of electric creature comfort. Shopping around can feel a little confusing, but it gets easier once you know the right one for your needs.

What most people assume is that more is better. The higher the wattage of the power converter, the better the deal, right? Not necessarily... It isn’t necessary to waste hundreds of dollars on a massive power inverter, when all you need is a simpler, less expensive one.

Let’s first get to know what types of power inverters are out there so we can determine what type of power inverter suits you best.

You’ll see two types of power inverters out there on the market: True-sine wave and modified-sine wave (aka "square wave"). True-sine wave inverters best emulate the type of electricity that you’d receive from a normal electrical outlet. Modified-sine wave inverters are sufficient for most electrical devices and are easier to use. In fact, most modified-sine wave inverters that are under 300w can simply plug into the vehicle's cigarette lighter.

What's important is to decide which of these two types best match the types of devices that you need to power on your trip.

The true-sine wave inverter is usually the top choice; just by it's high compatibility. A true-sine wave inverter is recommended for equipment that may depend on a strong, steady power signal. High voltage cordless tool chargers, printers, and medical and scientific testing equipment almost require the use of true-sine power inverters.

Those that have entertainment equipment installed in their vehicle will also benefit most from a true-sine inverter. Since a modified-sine inverter’s signal can be choppy, this will create distortions in the audio/video quality of TVs and other entertainment devices. This may defeat the purpose of using high-end equipment like HDTVs or Blu-Ray players. Using a true-sine inverter will maintain the clear signal necessary to avoid distortions.

The biggest drawback, of course, is that true-sine wave inverters tend to also be the most expensive. If you have any electrical devices that almost require a true-sine signal, it’s best to only buy one with a power level just above your equipment’s needs. For most other applications, you should do just as well with a less expensive modified-sine wave inverter.

In fact, modified-sine inverters will cover just about any small device you might carry with you on your trip. This includes laptops, phone chargers, fans, coolers, or most other common household devices.

There are two types of modified-sine wave inverters:


Cigarette Lighter

These are best for household devices, like small TVs, computers, DVD players, or small office equipment. Most of these power inverters can connect to a standard 12-volt cigarette lighter socket.

There are some important things to note when using a cigarette lighter power inverter. Most high-wattage power inverters may only be able to work while the vehicle is turned on to avoid any massive drain on the car battery’s charge. The cigarette lighter has a limit of 115-watt output. If you need a power inverter that’s 115 watts or higher, it’s best to connect it directly to the battery.


Direct Battery Connection

Connecting your power inverter directly into the battery may not be as convenient as simply plugging it into the cigarette lighter, but it does allow you to connect a greater amount and more powerful equipment. This type of power inverter connection is recommended for using power tools, large-screen TVs, household appliances, and office equipment.

While the alternator is running, a vehicle's battery can put out 14 volts of DC power output. In order to protect the vehicle’s battery charge, most power inverters will shut down once they reach 10.5 volts. If you need to use your power inverter often without the vehicle’s engine running, you may need an AGM or marine deep cycle battery to keep it going.

Loads reaching 3000 watts or greater may also need special wiring or battery banks.


For most of our customers, a lower-watt power inverter may be all they need to power their gear. In fact, we’ve added to our product line a slim, lightweight XR100-12 100-watt power inverter. This power inverter is great for any kind of travel and comes with adapters to connect with cigarette lighters and airplane outlets.