Last Updated on November 23, 2021 by Ellis Gibson (B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering)
Do you need a power outlet but don’t want to spend money on an inverter?
You cannot convert a car battery into a power outlet without an inverter. An inverter changes 12V DC (direct current) to 110V AC (alternating current). Without an inverter, appliances will not work.
If you have a car battery, you can use it to plug in some things. For example, if the power goes out at your house and you don’t want to be in the dark, and then plug in some lights or a radio. Or if your phone is low on battery then plug it into the battery.
A power inverter is a device that you can use to convert the 12-volt electricity out of your car battery into 120-volt electricity. This type of electricity can be used by many types of plug-in devices, like your TV. You can buy an inverter for your car’s battery, but if you want more than one, you should store spares around the house so they are charged up in case you need them.
Converting your car battery into a power outlet is not as hard as it sounds. All you need is some wire, a few tools, and the right instructions.
To do it yourself, you can find the instructions below.
How to Convert a Car Battery into a Power Outlet?
If you’re looking for an easy way to charge your phone on the go, all you need is a 12-volt battery and some wiring. It’s really not that hard to do.
You can change your car battery into a power outlet by following these tips and steps.
Necessary Tools:
- Car Battery
- Inverter
- Connecting Cable
Step-01: Choosing the Right Inverter
Your car’s battery doesn’t have a place to plug in your radio or light. A car battery only works on DC power, while the appliances in your homework are better on AC power. That means you need a device that can convert one to the other before you can use any of your devices from home with the car’s battery.
This is where the power inverter comes into play. You can find them at places like auto supply stores, hardware stores, and online retailers. They have a cable or wires that clamp onto the terminals of your car battery. In this, there are one or more slotted outlets that accept plugs from household devices. An example of a household device might be a fan. If you plug something in to an outlet then it will work for a limited time unless the electrical power comes back on again first.
Many inverters now come with both battery clamps and a plug that you can plug into the power outlet (the lighter) in your car. You can use this when you want to use the battery in your car.
If you want to use a car battery with an inverter, remember these things:
You need to buy an inverter that will work on a 12-volt battery. Most of these are labeled with words like “12-volt to 110-volt converter.” You can read the label for this information.
To use an inverter, you need to have a cable clamp and plug-in connector. This will allow you to use the inverter with both batteries and cars.
Step-02: Take a look at the wattage
You need to make sure that the inverter has enough power (wattage) for the devices you want to use. A low-power consumer is like a light, radio, or phone charger and an inverter with 150 watts will work. But if the device has a motor or heats/cools something like a space heater or electric food cooler, it will not work unless it has an inverter with 500, 1000, or more watts. The higher wattage can drain down your battery faster.
Step-03: Connect a power inverter to a car battery
The inverter switch should be in the OFF position. Connect the black clamp to the negative post of your battery. Then, connect the red clamp to the positive post on your battery.
If you want to use the battery in your car, and your inverter has a plug, just put it into the socket (cigarette lighter) in your car.
To use your device, first turn it off. Next, plug the power cord into a slotted outlet on the inverter.
First, you turn the switch on the inverter to the ON position. Then, you can turn on whatever device you want to work. If it does not work, then either your battery is not charged enough or that there are no good connections. Usually, though, your device will start working if that is what you want it to do.
When you are done using the device, turn off it and unplug it.
Conclusion
Converting a car battery into an outlet without an inverter is not possible. You would need to use an inverter, which changes 12V DC (direct current) to 110V AC (alternating current). Without this electrical device, appliances will not run. If you want to convert your car’s battery for power usage outside of the vehicle, you can do so by removing it from the engine and using jumper cables. As long as the battery doesn’t lose all its power, you can charge it again. If your car is not running and you want to use a car battery for electricity, use a friend’s vehicle with a charged battery.
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FAQ:
How do I convert my car battery to AC power?
If you have a battery in your car and the inverter has a plug to it, just put the plug into your car. When you are using a device at home turn it off. Then use its power cord to put it into the slotted outlet on the inverter. Turn the switch on the inverter to ON.
You can use any type of appliance at home with the car’s battery because you will have an inverter. You can charge your laptop or cell phone because both are battery chargers. Some appliances, like hairdryers, microwave ovens, and coffee makers can run on DC current but it is better if they run on clean sine wave AC current for its efficiency.
Your inverter may not be able to handle the high wattage appliance that you would like to try out first before buying one. Car batteries are cheaper than deep cycle batteries which are used by marine applications, solar off-grid homes, and RV applications
How many batteries do I need for a 2000 watt inverter?
Typically, you need two batteries for a 2,000-watt inverter. However, if you live in a very hot area, such as the Sonoran Desert, you may need to add another battery. And if you live in an area with low voltage power lines (under 110-volts), you should also add an extra battery.
How long does a 12v battery last on an inverter?
A 12-volt battery that is 50Ah and has a regular depth of discharge (DoD) of 80% will last 13 minutes if you use it with a fully-loaded 1500W inverter.
Can I use a car battery to power appliances?
Yes, electric car batteries can be used to power a house. An average American home can be powered by a car battery for 12 hours. If you use a lot of energy, it might not last as long. But if you are careful, you can make it 12 hours.
An electric car battery is a type of rechargeable battery. A rechargeable battery can be used over and over again. It can be used for a very long time.
Electric car batteries have a lot of energy in them. A car battery has 12 volts. You can use one or more batteries together.
You do not need to put an electric car battery in your house. But if you like, you can use an inverter (a machine) with a battery to power things like lights and fans. You could also use small things that run on normal household electricity. Small things are safe because they do not give off any dangerous gases or anything like that when they are turned on.
