Converting DC Power to AC: What You Should Know

Whether you have a battery-equipped camper van, or just want further to utilize the battery power in your recreational vehicle, there’s a lot to understand. We’re able to get more out of our battery packs because we convert the DC power into AC power. But what do these different power types mean? What are some of their significant differences? What should you know about converting DC power to AC power to get the most mileage out of your electrical systems? BigBattery is here to help answer some of these common questions.

What Is AC Power?

AC stands for alternating current, and it’s the phrase that describes one of the most common types of electricity. This current gets its name because the electricity alternates between positive and negative as it completes a circuit. The up-and-down wavelength we see on monitors is called a sine wave that creates hills and valleys as it moves.

How often the current switches between positive and negative in a single circuit is what determines the hertz. For example, most electronic devices in the United States operate at 60 Hz. That hertz level means the current alternates 60 times to complete a circuit. Likewise, many European countries operate at 50 Hz. Trying to use electronic devices with an incompatible hertz level can cause them to burn out.

People typically use AC power for everyday electronic devices. Televisions, appliances, phone chargers, and other objects that use a two- or three-prong plug and an outlet utilize AC power.

What Is DC Power?

DC stands for direct current, and unlike AC power, it doesn’t flow in multiple directions. Because DC power is direct, the electricity only flows in one direction and has a hertz level of 0 since it doesn’t alternate back and forth.

We commonly find DC power in battery-operated electronics since the battery can provide a constant, steady power source so long as it has enough charge. Common examples of DC power are phone batteries, the batteries in your television remote, and car batteries. Another often overlooked example of DC power is a USB charger since the voltage remains steady and only flows in a single direction to charge your devices.

Important Differences Between AC and DC

The easiest way to think about AC and DC is that AC power comes from an electrical source, such as your home or vehicle’s wiring system, while DC power comes from a battery bank. Because alternating current moves around, it’s much easier to control and transport from place to place. Many electricity companies raise or lower the voltage of AC power through transformers to transport it hundreds or even thousands of miles without losing power.

On the other hand, DC power needs to remain near what it powers since the longer it moves, the weaker it becomes. Many of the electronic devices we use, such as phones or tablets, operate on DC power but utilize AC power to charge the battery.

How To Convert DC to AC

Converting DC power to AC is possible thanks to an H-bridge. This is a circuit with four switches that make a shape similar to the letter H. This circuit opens and closes the switches to control the flow of electricity. In doing so, the H-bridge can manually adjust the flow of DC power and essentially guide the waves into a proper replication of the AC power sine wave. Specialized converters that help safely transform DC power into AC power contain H-bridges.

Why This Conversion Is Important

If we can power many of our electronics using DC power, why do we need to convert DC to AC in the first place? The simple answer is that we can store DC signals or power in a device like a battery. Being able to safely store this energy until we need it is vital if you have a solar panel system or are camping in an RV.