Knowing the voltage of your inverter critical in order for everything to run correctly.
Using the wrong voltage inverter can even lead to irreparable damage to your equipment.
That’s why you need to know the difference between common inverter voltages such as 12V vs 24V.
What’s the Difference Between a 12 and 24 Volt Inverter?
The difference between a 12V and 24V inverter is the amount of input volts it can handle.
This is the voltage flowing from the battery into the inverter before the electricity is converted from DC to AC.
So a 12V inverter is designed for 12 volts input from the battery.
And a 24V inverter is designed for 24 volts input from the battery.
What are volts?
Voltage is the force of electricity. It is the force at which electrons flow through a wire.
It’s a little bit like water pressure in a pipe.
This is important as inverters are built to work with a very specific force of electricity.
Too much force (over voltage) and it will overload like a burst pipe.
Too little force (under voltage) and electricity won’t flow – like low pressure in a tap.
Can I Use a 12V Inverter with a 24V Battery?
No you can’t use a 12V inverter with a 24V battery. The voltage from the battery will be too high and will overload the inverter. Most inverters are built to automatically shut down if it senses an over voltage. You also run the risk of overheating and burning out your inverter. It will cause damage!
Can I Use a 24V Inverter with a 12V Battery?
You can’t use a 24V inverter with a 12V battery. This is because the voltage is too low and leads to under voltage. If an inverter senses under voltage it will signal an alarm and shut down. You might also hear a squealing noise as the inverter struggles to run with such small voltage.
If your battery voltage is lower than your inverter input voltage it won’t have enough electrical force to run. You may as well have a depleted flat battery!
Is a 24V Inverter Better than a 12V Inverter?
No, one is not better than the other. You should always match your inverter input voltage and battery input voltage otherwise it will not work correctly and risks damage. That means a 12V battery with a 12V inverter and a 24V battery with a 24V inverter.
Generally, 12V inverters are most common to use in things like RVs, trucks, boats, vans, solar panel systems, and small cabins. They are great for smaller power setups!
24V inverters offer better performance with more power intensive systems such as homes or larger appliances. Usually, 24V inverters are great for 1000 – 5000 watt inverters.
Final Words on 12V vs 24V Inverters
You don’t need to go too much further into inverter voltage. All you really need to know is that you should always match the inverter and voltage battery.
If you try to use a 12V inverter on a 24V battery it will be overloaded. Contrastingly, using a 24V inverter with a 12V battery will lead to a lack of electrical force.
