Peak power output
The highest total power supply (peak) that the autoinverter can deliver to the load for a relatively short time is 2-3 s. Usually, this power is higher than the nominal one (see above) by 30-50%. At the same time, if you choose an inverter for maximum power, the same rules apply as for the nominal one — the device performance should be 15-20% higher than the total power of the connected load. And to work with devices that consume a large amount of energy at startup (vacuum cleaners, power tools, etc.), it is also worth specifying the peak power of the inverter — it should not be lower than the "starting" load power.
Output waveform
The shape of the graph of the voltage produced by the autoinverter.
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Pure sine. The classic alternating voltage graph has this form - incl. and what is present in 230 V household networks. Thus, a sine wave indicates a high quality of the output signal - the voltage changes evenly, without sudden changes and as close as possible to the parameters of conventional sockets. This allows you to connect almost any load to the autoinverter - even audio systems and other delicate electronics that are sensitive to power quality. On the other hand, such quality requires the use of complex control circuits and has a noticeable impact on cost, but there is a real need for it not so often. Therefore, a sinusoidal signal is typical mainly for premium autoinverters.
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Modified sine. This term (also called “approximate”) means that this output signal shape is only approximately similar to a sine wave. As a rule, such a graph looks like “steps”, sometimes quite large. This is enough to power most types of load used in cars - from lamps and power tools to televisions and laptops; At the same time, the autoinverters themselves are not as expensive as models with a pure sine wave. Their disadvantage is the inability to work with sensitive electronic devices, but this point cannot be called critical: the list of such devices is quite small, and they are used very rarely in cars.
Efficiency
Efficiency of the autoinverter.
Efficiency is the ratio (in percent) between the amount of energy that the device delivers to the load and the amount that it consumes from the vehicle's on-board network. Accordingly, the higher this indicator, the more efficient the work and the less loss during conversion. In fact, this means that, other things being equal, a device with a higher efficiency will allow the load to run longer on battery power; this is especially important at high power consumption.
In modern auto inverters, efficiency values of 80 – 85% are considered average, 90% or more are good.
USB-A
Number of
USB outputs in the auto-inverter design.
USB A is a standard (but already outdated) connector used in computer technology for various peripheral devices. It was originally intended for information exchange, but is intended for portable gadgets (smartphones, tablets, players, etc.) charged via USB. Actually, in autoinverters this port is used exclusively as a charging connector; and several of these connectors allow you to connect several charging devices at the same time.
Low battery alarm
The presence in the auto inverter
of the low battery alert function to which the device is connected.
This function significantly reduces the risk of “landing” the car battery through the use of an inverter and at the same time eliminates the need to manually monitor the battery status. The alarm, usually, reacts to the voltage at the input: with a significant decrease, indicating a deep discharge, the device gives a warning signal. Many models also have the function of automatic shutdown some time after the alert is triggered (by timer or when the voltage drops to the maximum allowable). The sensitivity threshold is usually adjusted in such a way that after the alarm is triggered and the inverter is turned off, the battery is still able to start the car engine.
Screen
The presence of its own
display in the design of the auto-inverter.
The display allows you to display various additional information: input and output voltage, load power consumption, battery status, malfunction messages, etc. In modern auto-inverters, usually, the simplest monochrome LCD screens are used — they are inexpensive, and their capabilities are quite enough for the information described.
Remote control connection (RJ-45)
The presence of
an RJ-45 connector allows you to connect a wired remote control to the inverter. Using a cable with RJ-45 connectors at both ends, the auto-inverter is connected to the remote control for remotely turning on/off the device, setting parameters, monitoring system status, etc. It is worth noting that the remote control is not always included in the kit; you will often need to purchase it separately.
Operating temperature
The range of ambient air temperatures in which the car inverter is guaranteed to maintain normal performance. It is necessary to focus here on the expected minimums and maximums
of operating temperatures. For example, if in a harsh winter the thermometer readings do not fall below -15 ° C, then the devices from the “-20 ° C and below” item for such operating conditions will be enough with a margin.
Dimensions
General dimensions of the autoinverter.
In modern cars (especially passenger cars), usually, there is not much space for installing additional equipment. This parameter allows you to estimate the space required to place the inverter, make sure that the selected device fits into the “footprint”, and, if necessary, choose another location or another model. At the same time, it must be remembered that for many auto-inverters a certain margin is needed in place — for the normal operation of the cooling system; this margin is usually specified in the detailed documentation.
