This information courtesy of Trace Engineering Company. We hope that as you read this and review our web site you will become familiar with our product line and be able to make well-educated choices as to how Trace Engineering products can work for you. To begin with one of the most common questions, most inverters are installed and used in conjunction with a battery bank of some sort. The exception to this rule is when an inverter is used to sell locally made power to the utility grid.
Batteries are the heart of an inverter-powered electrical system, storing power for use on demand.
Such systems are commonly referred to as low-voltage DC systems. Powered by a 12-volt DC system, you can enjoy the benefits of electric lights, entertainment systems, laptop computers, and other devices that can be operated off a car battery. In many countries 230 volt 50Hz is the norm. To run your standard appliances, one alternative is an engine-powered generator. In other words, you would have to draw 100 watts of battery power to run a 60-watt bulb.