How to Run House Appliances Off of a 12-Volt Battery
Most household appliances operate using 110 volts of alternating current (AC). In order to use a 110 appliance on a 12-volt direct current (DC) system, it is necessary to invert the power. This can be done using 12-volt batteries and a power inverter plugged into a power source. An inverter is a device that converts 12-volt power into 110-volt power.
Materials
- Battery cables
- Alligator Clips
- 12-volt battery
- Power inverter
Methods
- Purchase the appropriate power inverter. Choosing one should be determined by the appliance to which power will be supplied. Appliances often have a power rating indicated on them. The inverter should have a rating that is larger than that of the appliance.
- Connect the positive battery clamp on the power inverter to the positive on the terminal of the 12V battery. Next attach the negative clamp to the negative of the battery terminal.
- Plug the appliance into the inverter then turn it on. The power will run for a period of time that is determined by the wattage of the appliance and the battery. Some batteries have higher power rating than others, which means that they can last longer and withstand recharging over and over again. You can also connect the inverter into a cars cigarette lighter.
- Connect an inverter directly to a cars battery using cables to get capacity of more than 300 watts. The cables should be attached to the battery using ring terminals. To do this however, the car has to be running the entire time, which might not be very efficient.
- Realize an inverter is only efficient for small power loads over a short period of time. Building a large battery system to run a powerful inverter can be quite costly.