# DC to AC transformer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546 "2010-08-07T20:35:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![\_xiao\_wenti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b782af/32.png) [@\_xiao\_wenti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_xiao_wenti)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/1 "2010-08-07T20:35:00Z")
I want to get a 12VDC (cigarette lighter) to 120AC (standard socket) for my car. Is there a place where I can get on for less than 100USD? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/2 "2010-08-07T20:39:25Z")
it is called an inverter, $20 to $40 for least expensive usually. local stores that have electrical items might carry or big department/discount stores. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/3 "2010-08-07T21:38:36Z")
Try a hobby electronics shop. such as Radio Shack (although there are likely to be cheaper places). ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/4 "2010-08-07T22:39:13Z")
Radio Shack, Best Buy, usually Wal-Mart, Target & K Mart sell them. [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) lists a bunch at under US$30. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/5 "2010-08-08T02:26:07Z")
Auto parts store. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/6 "2010-08-08T02:36:38Z")
Be aware that cheap inverters can give jagged electricity. Instead of nice smooth waves of AC like the utility provides, they chop up the DC and give unsmooth approximations of utility current. This may or may not matter, depending on what youi want to plug into it. AC motors? No prob. Electronics? Some can be sensitive to unsmooth AC supplies. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/7 "2010-08-08T02:59:42Z")
You need to look very closely at how much power you need and the rating of the inverter you are buying. In general, the less money you spend, the less power it will invert. If your load is 1000 watts, and your inverter is only rated for 250, you have a serious problem. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/8 "2010-08-08T05:46:31Z")
Some other stuff about inverters - cheap or pricey… 1. As mentioned, the output can be pretty choppy… 2. The higher the wattage, the more they will cost…a 1000 watt inverter is available, but look to pay much bigger bucks as power out put increases 3. they are VERY inefficent… even a twenty watt load on your inverter will drain a 12 v car battery pretty quickly 3b) Because they are inefficient, they get hot, cheap ones can get real hot so be sure to mount/place them where they get air flow. what is it you want to power with your inverter? ---
**Author:** ![snowmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@snowmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowmaster)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/9 "2010-08-09T15:58:52Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Try a hobby electronics shop. such as Radio Shack (although there are likely to be cheaper places). Yes, here. [shameless plug:rolleyes:] Call your local Shack and ask which stores have item 220-0118. Its a good 175 W model on clearance for wicked cheap. [/shameless plug:rolleyes:] What do you want to plug into this thing? 175W will cover the vast majority of laptop power supplies. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/10 "2010-08-09T17:07:43Z")
I bought one at a local Battery Store and have used it many times for my RV television without issue. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/11 "2010-08-09T21:27:04Z")
I’ve seen inverters getting less expensive at Harbor Freight and auto parts stores. They seem to do fine for brushed motors and anything that will just convert the AC back to DC anyway, like most electronics. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-to-ac-transformer/549546/12 "2010-08-09T21:28:15Z")
I bought one at Fry’s in Los Angeles. It is a SmartAC 150 with one 110 outlet. It has continuous power 24 hrs, 150 Watts. Just plug it into the cigarette lighter and you have power for most 110 volt items.