If I convert 12 volt DC, 50 amps to AC 115 volt, how many watts probably could I get?

Question

From car alternater I'd like to convert DC to AC. The alternater produces 12-14 volt, 40-50 amps DC approximately. How many watts probably could I get the most? If I hook up directly between alternator and rectifier to get AC, how many watts,volt could I get without regulater? I have tried to find out but confused. Thank you.

Answer 1

Your alternator generates ~14 volt AC as its raw output, (before the rectifier). Your most efficient transfer of power would be to run it through a simple transformer with the correct winding ratio to increase the voltage to 115-120 AC. In such an arrangement you might be able to get about 10 amps output, since the rectifier wastes over 50%, and you would be eliminating this waste.

Answer 2

The answer is around 540 watts at 115 Volts.

50 amps at 12 volts converts to 5.2 amps at 115 volts. (think 12 x 50 = 115 x 5.2, power in = power out)

But there is the inefficiency of the inverter (90-95%). Assuming 90% as kind of a worst case, then your 12 volt dc amps go to something like 11.1 amps (better efficiency is attainable with new units).

As mentioned, inverters are not perfect when convertering 12V into 115V. If the converter consumes 600W from the 12V battery (50ampsx12volts=600watts), then a 90% effecient converter would generate 540W of 115V AC power best case instead of 600watts. The other 60W is lost primarily as heat.


But always remember to deduct by a 20% margin of error for the inductive transformers in the electronic equipments. SO to be safe, you will only have 600watt-30% = 420 watts readily used.

cheers.

Answer 3

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RE:
If I convert 12 volt DC, 50 amps to AC 115 volt, how many watts probably could I get?
From car alternater I'd like to convert DC to AC. The alternater produces 12-14 volt, 40-50 amps DC approximately. How many watts probably could I get the most? If I hook up directly between alternator and rectifier to get AC, how many watts,volt could I get without regulater? I have tried to...

Answer 4

115 Volts To Watts

Answer 5

Power is volts x amps=watts
50 amps times 12 volts equals 600 watts
X amps times 120 volts equals 600 watts
X x 120 = 600
X = 600/120
X = 5 amps
As the voltage increases and the resistance remains the same in a circuit, the amperage drops proportionately to the rise in voltage.
Wattage is equal in each circuit.
Plugging a 500 watt converter load into the vehicle power source would produce 5 amps @ 120 volts or 600 watts. This would work for a limited amount of time because the battery would be adding its energy to the energy of the alternator. When the battery loses its charge the alternator would carry the full load. At this point it would be operating at its full rated capacity and would not last for a substantial amount of time before self destructing.

Electrical equipment is always used at 80% or less of its rated capacity . Any equipment, such as your car engine, would not last to its 36,000 mile warranty if ran at 100% continuously.

Be cautious working with this electric as you could produce a voltage that is hazardous to your health.

Answer 6

Firstly, the piece of equipment you need to convert DC from your battery to AC is called an inverter. An inverter is usually 70-80% efficient in this process.

12 voltsx50 amps = 600 watts from your battery
Assuming 75% efficiency, the conversion will result in about 460 watts. 460 watts/115 volts = 4amps Good Luck and stay out of puddles.

Answer 7

50 amps at 12 volts is 600 watts. If you convert it to 115 volts, the maximum theoretical amperage you can get is 600 watts.

But realistically, there is always loss involved. Common inverters are about 85% efficient, and at this kind of amperage, ohmic loss in the wire will cause you additional loss. You'll probably get about 500 watts of usable power.

Answer 8

First, you don't start with an alternator and "convert" its output to AC. It's already AC, that's what alternate in alternator means.

Second, assuming you have a DC generator with 12V and 50A; power, Watts is = EI =12 X 50 = 600W for the DC generator.

Third, if you were to invert (as one responder put it) you would not get the full 600W potential of the DC generator. You would get about 420W of equivalent power minus the power lost in the inversion (you don't get something for nothing). The reason for the lower power is simple, when causing the voltage to alternate between plus and minus 12V, the average voltage over time is equilvalent to .707X12V = 8.4 effective volts if the shape of the alternating voltage is a sine wave, which it will be from an alternator.

PS: I noticed some answers supposed 115V AC. As you said nothing about a transformer, I did not change the voltage you started with.

Answer 9

All I know is watts = volts x amps. The way I remember this formula is west virginia (w=va).

Answer 10

Ok max output 12V*50amps=600watts.so at 120v your 600wats would only give you less than 5 amps(600/120V=5 amps).However if you increase (to 24v)the voltage(or halve the resistance) on the rotating field(require rewireing) you could quadruple the output to 20 amps.