[QUOTE=Dodger;158699]No I'm not confused ,I merely left out the rectifier for the sake of simplicity ,I assumed that everyone would realise that vehicle systems run on DC .It is the inverter that produces the 240volt AC from the 12volt [rectified] DC.

When you said "Maybe I should have made myself clearer , charging from the VEHICLE'S alternator directly to the transformer charger on the appliance is more efficient than :
Alternator - 12v to 240v Inverter- 240 volt transformer - appliance ."

I took that to mean you thought the vehicles alternator could work a transformer, which it can't.

which is why I wrote "Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
The vehicle may well be equipped with an alternater, but you wont see any ac without performing some electronic surgery on it. The ac it generates is rectified and regulated to dc internally. Certainly it would be better to use the inverter with the motor running, as that will try to replace the power drain from the battery.
If you need more than 12v go with the inverter, below that there will almost always be an in car converter/reducer.

sadly after 40 years of working on mainframe computer hardware and writing BIOS and diagnostic software for them I tend to read documentation very literally

[QUOTE=oldbmw;158871]
Whereas , I am just a bungling amateur and poor with terminology .
Enjoy your late riding season [ 4" of snow here- dammit !].

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