A lot of people now use camping as a weekend getaway. They take their loved ones to a location far from the hustle and bustle of the city so they can enjoy the natural beauty and decompress. To ensure that the appliances and electrical devices we carry can function correctly in the wild, though, we require consistent power. An essential component of the power conversion process is the inverter.

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The-use-of-inverters-in-wild-camping
Why do we use inverters when camping?
First, we need to understand how we obtain electrical energy in the wild:
1. Vehicle battery: Most campers are equipped with high-energy vehicle batteries (output is DC).
2. Solar panels: Some camping enthusiasts will equip their campers with solar power generation systems, and the generated electricity is stored in batteries.
3. Fuel cell or portable power supply
4.Generator

Provides AC power to electronic devices
The power inverter will convert the DC power from the devices mentioned above into AC power, so that we can provide stable AC power for some household appliances, and we can also charge mobile phones, cameras, laptops, and other appliances.

Ensure that the lighting system at night is working properly.

Cooking
People can use some electric cooking equipment (such as electric hot pots, electric pressure cookers, portable induction cookers, etc.) to make delicious food in the wild. Emergency power supply: In the event of emergencies (such as severe weather, equipment failure, etc.), the inverter can provide backup power for key equipment.

Camping-cooking-with-an-inverter
How do I choose an inverter suitable for camping?
First, you need to calculate the power requirements
Calculate the total wattage of all the electronic devices you need (most appliances will have a product label on the back or bottom, or somewhere hard to see). The product label will usually include the manufacturer, model, and power rating of the appliance, and then Choose an inverter that can meet this power requirement (each inverter has its own power rating). Junchipower would like to remind you here that some equipment will require more power than the rated power when starting up, and this should also be taken into account.

Determine input voltage
The battery voltage you bring should match the input voltage of the inverter you choose. Normally, the voltage of household batteries is 12 volts or 24 volts, so the input voltage of the inverter you choose should also be 12 volts or 24 volts.

Determine the output voltage
Depending on the country you are in, the operating voltage of your appliance will vary. Buy an inverter with the same output voltage and frequency as your country; otherwise, it won’t work.
North America (including the United States and Canada): Operating voltage is typically 120V/60Hz.
Most of Europe: Most European countries operate on a voltage of 220-240 volts/50 Hz.
Australia and New Zealand: The operating voltage is 230–240 volts/50 Hz.
Asia (including China, South Korea, and India, etc.): The operating voltage of most Asian countries is 220 volts/50 Hz. The exception is Japan, which operates at 100 volts, 50 Hz in the east, and 60 Hz in the west.
South America: Many South American countries use 127 volts/60 Hz or 220 volts/60 Hz.
Africa: The operating voltage in African countries is usually 220-240 volts/50 Hz.

How to choose an inverter
Inverters suitable for camping are mainly divided into the following two types:

Pure Sine Wave Inverter: A pure sine wave inverter produces an output waveform that is consistent and of high quality, very close to the sinusoidal waveform of the main grid. Pure sine wave inverters are capable of driving all devices, especially those that are sensitive to power quality, such as medical equipment, audio equipment, microwave ovens, etc. The disadvantage of a pure sine wave inverter is that the price is higher than that of an ordinary inverter.


Pure-Sine-Wave-Inverter
Modified sine wave inverter (or approximate sine wave inverter): the voltage transformation is not continuously smooth. Its advantages are its simple structure and low price, and it can meet the needs of non-sensitive electrical equipment such as electric heaters, electric fans, and lights. However, for those that require precision power supply, such as computers and certain types of TV or audio equipment, using a modified wave inverter to drive may produce noise or even damage the equipment.


Modified-sine-wave-inverter
We recommend using a pure sine wave inverter because it will not cause damage to the appliance itself, even if it is used for a long time.

Inverter operating steps
1. Connect the power supply: Connect the DC power supply and the inverter in the off state, paying attention to the positive and negative poles of the terminals.
2. Connect the devices that need power: Connect your devices to the inverter’s output socket. The total power of the devices cannot exceed the rated power (working load) of the inverter.

3. Connect the load (electrical appliance): Connect the output end (socket) of the inverter to the load device that needs power supply, ensuring that the connection is firm and stable.

4. Turn on: Turn on the switch for the inverter. When the work indicator light is always on, the inverter will start working.

5. Monitor operating status: Inverters are usually equipped with a monitoring system (parameter display), which can view the input voltage, output voltage, frequency, power, and other parameters of the inverter in real time.

Precautions
Aim to stay away from utilizing the inverter in overly humid conditions.
To avoid the inverter overheating, keep it out of direct sunlight.
Please turn off the inverter right away and investigate the cause if there is an issue while it is operating.

Observe the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Go over all operating instructions and safety precautions in the inverter product handbook with great care.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect all my appliances to the inverter?
No, the inverter has rated power. When the power of the electrical appliance is greater than the rated power of the inverter, the inverter will stop working.

The inverter generates heat during use. Is this normal?
The inverter will generate a certain amount of heat when running, which is normal. If overheating or faulty heating occurs, use must be stopped. Junchipower’s inverter has a built-in overheating and overload protection mechanism.

Can the inverter be used on rainy days?
Yes, but since most inverters are not waterproof, the inverter should be placed in a dry place away from rain. Prevent short circuits from occurring.

Can I connect the inverter to the vehicle battery?
Yes, the vehicle battery also outputs DC power, but make sure that the vehicle battery voltage is within the working range of the inverter. Do not use it for a long time with the vehicle turned off to avoid running out of battery power and causing the car to be unable to start.

Why don’t my appliances work when I turn on the inverter?
Make sure the inverter’s output voltage and frequency are the same as those of the connected device.
Check the line connection and whether the contact is good
Check whether the equipment power is greater than the inverter power, causing the inverter to enter overload protection.
Is the power supply battery sufficient?

Conclusion
If you need to use electrical appliances when camping in the wild, then an inverter is your indispensable partner. Through this guide, I believe that you have learned something about inverters, how to choose an inverter that suits you, and how to use it correctly. Junchipower believes that inverters will make your camping experience more colorful.