There are four basic devices used for power conversion at the consumer level:
| Type |
Used to Convert |
| Travel Converters (1) |
AC voltage at the outlet into a different AC voltage for operation of foreign voltage devices on U.S. power or vice versa. |
| AC Adapters (2) |
AC voltage into DC voltage |
| DC Adapters |
vehicle DC voltage into a different DC voltage |
| Inverters |
DC voltage into AC voltage to allow AC devices to operate off of a DC source such as a car battery |
Note 1: |
Travel converters can convert a voltage to either a higher voltage or a lower voltage. Converting to a higher voltage requires a Step-up Voltage Converter, and converting to a lower voltage requires a Step-Down Voltage Converter. |
| |
| Note 2: |
There is a special type of AC to DC converter for providing 12V DC vehicle power from AC. It is called a 12V Power Supply and usually includes a cigarette lighter socket for connecting mobile devices. |
With the increased focus on mobility and power usage in today's electronics, power conversion has become more and more important. As our electronic devices become more and more a part of our daily lives, they are being taken with us and used wherever we go, whether in vehicles, or even out of the country. As we change our power source, we need devices which will convert that source into the power that our devices need. However, the wide range of different options, the often confusing terminology used to describe the conversion process and the problems which can be caused be improper selection can make it difficult for many consumers to determine what they need and why.
This guide will cover those concepts in order to demystify this process and make it easier for the consumer to understand the process. The first step in this is to understand the major concepts involved in power conversion. After that, we will cover when to use (and equally importantly, when not to use) a power converter, the types of power conversion available, and a step-by-step process for determining what type is needed, based on the consumer's requirements. Finally, we will go into each of the power conversion types in detail. The final section of this guide contains a breakdown of acronyms and abbreviations, and links to power conversion terms in our on-line glossary. |
