Very small inverters are available that connect to a car cigarette lighter, with a single three-prong AC outlet as the output. Large inverters are generally designed to be hardwired into a building electrical system. Some inverters offer 240 volt output, others can be connected to a transformer to provide 240 volt power. The right inverter for any specific use can be found with the help of an experienced inverter dealer. When choosing a specific inverter, the inverter's output capacity must be matched to the size of the electrical loads it will run.
Inverters have two different capacity ratings.
One is the inverter's continuous output rating. This is the maximum wattage the inverter can output on a long-term basis. The second rating is the inverter's surge capacity rating. This is the maximum wattage the inverter can output on a momentary basis. Surge capacity will often be 2x or more in excess of the continuous rating.