Inverters

Inverters are devices used to convert 12-volt DC battery electricity to AC 110-volt or 220-volt electricity. Special electronics in the device take constant level current and turn it into an alternating sine wave-shaped current. Kudos to the engineers who invented them.

Inverting Current

Inverters come in a variety of sizes and capacities. Small ones are simply plugged into a 12-volt DC outlet (formerly called cigarette lighters) and produce a modest AC power supply for running small devices like computers or small battery chargers for a cell phone or camera, for example.

Larger capacity inverter units will convert DC power from banks of batteries into AC power capable of powering a microwave oven or hair dryer. However, running devices like microwaves using energy derived from the batteries can deplete the batteries rapidly.

On a boat, if a large inverter is present, there will be a specially labeled AC outlet plug denoting it is an inverter outlet.

Charger-Inverter Devices

Many larger boats have a charger-inverter device as one unit. Electrical shore power comes into the boat at 110v or 220v AC, the charger/inverter charges the batteries from the shore power. Once the device is disconnected from the shore power, the charger-inverter will invert 12v DC power from the batteries into 110v or 220v AC power and supply to those devices on the boat requiring AC power including AC outlets. The Victron Quattro shown below is such a device.