12V to 120V Inverter

Home > Circuits > Power Supply > 12VDC To 120VAC Inverter

Author	Views	Views Today	Rank	Comments
	1,115,896	68		682

Have you ever wanted to run a TV, stereo or other appliance while on the road or camping? Well, this inverter should solve that problem. It takes 12 VDC and steps it up to 120 VAC. The wattage depends on which tansistors you use for Q1 and Q2, as well as how "big" a transformer you use for T1. The inverter can be constructed to supply anywhere from 1 to 1000 (1 KW) watts.

Important: If you have any questions or problems with the circuit, see the forum topic linked to in the Notes section. It will answer all your questions and provide links to many other (and better) inverter circuits.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
C1, C2	2	68 uf, 25 V Tantalum Capacitor
R1, R2	2	10 Ohm, 5 Watt Resistor
R3, R4	2	180 Ohm, 1 Watt Resistor
D1, D2	2	HEP 154 Silicon Diode
Q1, Q2	2	2N3055 NPN Transistor (see "Notes")
T1	1	24V, Center Tapped Transformer (see "Notes")
MISC	1	Wire, Case, Receptical (For Output)

Notes

Q1 and Q2, as well as T1, determine how much wattage the inverter can supply. With Q1,Q2=2N3055 and T1= 15 A, the inverter can supply about 300 watts. Larger transformers and more powerful transistors can be substituted for T1, Q1 and Q2 for more power.

The easiest and least expensive way to get a large T1 is to re-wind an old microwave transformer. These transformers are rated at about 1KW and are perfect. Go to a local TV repair shop and dig through the dumpster until you get the largest microwave you can find. The bigger the microwave the bigger transformer. Remove the transformer, being careful not to touch the large high voltage capacitor that might still be charged. If you want, you can test the transformer, but they are usually still good. Now, remove the old 2000 V secondary, being careful not to damage the primary. Leave the primary in tact. Now, wind on 12 turns of wire, twist a loop (center tap), and wind on 12 more turns. The guage of the wire will depend on how much current you plan to have the transformer supply. Enamel covered magnet wire works great for this. Now secure the windings with tape. Thats all there is to it. Remember to use high current transistors for Q1 and Q2. The 2N3055's in the parts list can only handle 15 amps each.

Remember, when operating at high wattages, this circuit draws huge amounts of current. Don't let your battery go dead :-).

Since this project produces 120 VAC, you must include a fuse and build the project in a case.

You must use tantalum capacitors for C1 and C2. Regular electrolytics will overheat and explode. And yes, 68uF is the correct value. There are no substitutions.

This circuit can be tricky to get going. Differences in transformers, transistors, parts substitutions or anything else not on this page may cause it to not function.

If you want to make 220/240 VAC instead of 120 VAC, you need a transformer with a 220/240 primary (used as the secondary in this circuit as the transformer is backwards) instead of the 120V unit specified here. The rest of the circuit stays the same. But it takes twice the current at 12V to produce 240V as it does 120V.

Check out this forum topic to answer many of the most commonly asked questions about this circuit: 12 - 120V Inverter Again. It covers the most common problems encountered and has some helpful suggestions.

Related Circuits

Comments

Add A Comment

jimithy 12VDC To 120VAC Inverter Saturday, August 11, 2012 5:10:02 AM

It took me a little while, but I got this circut so work on a SPICE program. Thanks for the schematic. It's badass!

cidfred 12VDC To 120VAC Inverter Tuesday, July 24, 2012 6:17:49 AM

i have made this circuit and its good. i have been updating some component to make it more good.. this is what i have to share.. If your making your own transformer for this project with the output of 230v or 240v... first you have to wind the secondary windings which is the 230v or 240v output. after you finish the first windings. take a secondary windings which is the output transistor is connected... okay this is the explaination why the 220v first. lets take first the input side of the transformer... to make the transistor will take not overload due to resistance. the transprmer will have to wind more to build additional resistance from the copper wire. due to this effeciency will take 80%-89% for the whole power has been transmitted to the other side of the transforme.

Haroon 12VDC To 120VAC Inverter Tuesday, July 10, 2012 5:16:48 AM

when i run the crkt the capacitors burst but my crkt is working by changing the polarity of capacitors............ :)

Kareem 12VDC To 120VAC Inverter Friday, July 06, 2012 11:18:03 AM

I found a good transformer at Radioshack for those who were looking for one. It's the 25.2V CT 2.0A Heavy-Duty Chassis-Mount Transformer with Lead item number 273-1512. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102703 If the link doesn't work just search the item number.

spiralnexus 12VDC To 120VAC Inverter-Reply to kultus Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:38:45 PM

All you need to get 220 is two of them. bridge the neutral and have the two hots plugged to either side of your main breaker.

jabeeru 12VDC To 120VAC Inverter Saturday, February 18, 2012 2:38:17 PM

i made this connection. but it didnt working,because in my area i didnt get a tantalum capacitor, that is why, i used aluminium elecrolytic capacitor 100uf instead of 68uf tantalum capacitor

Ammu 24VDC To 120 / 240VAC Inverter Saturday, February 18, 2012 10:57:32 AM

I have step down transformer 240 vac to 24 vdc in an system and i want to use the same as reverse as most of the time i don't get 240 vac current. i want to use it for charging my laptop

gene 12VDC To 120VAC Inverter Tuesday, February 07, 2012 5:30:33 PM

A 6 volt battery has 1,350 watt hours. When fed into an inverter does it still have 1,350 watt hours of 120 V AC? Thanks PS How will I know if a responce to my question happens

mayengo 12VDC To 120VAC Inverter Tuesday, January 24, 2012 4:56:39 AM

thanks alot for the post. is there a way i can connect a relay switch to help automate my inverter? how is the connection? can i charge my dc battry using the output from this very inverter? how do i do it aswell?

ben 12VDC To 120VAC Inverter Saturday, January 14, 2012 11:49:15 PM

woul it be posiible to invert the 12 VDC transformer? and plug it back to the 220AC out? for the perpose of floerecent bulb lighting.? because the problem in our place is no electricity.

The last 10 comments are currently shown. Show All Comments. Add A Comment

If you would like to leave a comment, you can do so using the form below. Comments can be things like suggestions, successes or failures, improvements, similar circuits, error reports, an answer to a previous commenter's question, or anything in between. However if you would like to ask a question it is suggested that you use the forum instead. The forum provides a more robust environment for discussion.

Important: If you post a technical question here, there is no guarantee it will be answered. All technical questions should be posted to the forum. The owner of this site generally does not answer questions in comments.

All comments are subject to approval before they are displayed here, so your comment will not appear immediately. This is done mainly to prevent spam and other abuse. If you wish to remain anonymous, simply enter "anonymous" for your name and/or email.

Name:
Email:
Subject:
Comments:
Anti Spam Code:	Please enter the exact text shown in the image above into the box below. Browser cookies must be enabled to comment on circuits.

Privacy Policy

jimithy	12VDC To 120VAC Inverter	Saturday, August 11, 2012 5:10:02 AM
It took me a little while, but I got this circut so work on a SPICE program. Thanks for the schematic. It's badass!
cidfred	12VDC To 120VAC Inverter	Tuesday, July 24, 2012 6:17:49 AM
i have made this circuit and its good. i have been updating some component to make it more good.. this is what i have to share.. If your making your own transformer for this project with the output of 230v or 240v... first you have to wind the secondary windings which is the 230v or 240v output. after you finish the first windings. take a secondary windings which is the output transistor is connected... okay this is the explaination why the 220v first. lets take first the input side of the transformer... to make the transistor will take not overload due to resistance. the transprmer will have to wind more to build additional resistance from the copper wire. due to this effeciency will take 80%-89% for the whole power has been transmitted to the other side of the transforme.
Haroon	12VDC To 120VAC Inverter	Tuesday, July 10, 2012 5:16:48 AM
when i run the crkt the capacitors burst but my crkt is working by changing the polarity of capacitors............ :)
Kareem	12VDC To 120VAC Inverter	Friday, July 06, 2012 11:18:03 AM
I found a good transformer at Radioshack for those who were looking for one. It's the 25.2V CT 2.0A Heavy-Duty Chassis-Mount Transformer with Lead item number 273-1512. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102703 If the link doesn't work just search the item number.
spiralnexus	12VDC To 120VAC Inverter-Reply to kultus	Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:38:45 PM
All you need to get 220 is two of them. bridge the neutral and have the two hots plugged to either side of your main breaker.
jabeeru	12VDC To 120VAC Inverter	Saturday, February 18, 2012 2:38:17 PM
i made this connection. but it didnt working,because in my area i didnt get a tantalum capacitor, that is why, i used aluminium elecrolytic capacitor 100uf instead of 68uf tantalum capacitor
Ammu	24VDC To 120 / 240VAC Inverter	Saturday, February 18, 2012 10:57:32 AM
I have step down transformer 240 vac to 24 vdc in an system and i want to use the same as reverse as most of the time i don't get 240 vac current. i want to use it for charging my laptop
gene	12VDC To 120VAC Inverter	Tuesday, February 07, 2012 5:30:33 PM
A 6 volt battery has 1,350 watt hours. When fed into an inverter does it still have 1,350 watt hours of 120 V AC? Thanks PS How will I know if a responce to my question happens
mayengo	12VDC To 120VAC Inverter	Tuesday, January 24, 2012 4:56:39 AM
thanks alot for the post. is there a way i can connect a relay switch to help automate my inverter? how is the connection? can i charge my dc battry using the output from this very inverter? how do i do it aswell?
ben	12VDC To 120VAC Inverter	Saturday, January 14, 2012 11:49:15 PM
woul it be posiible to invert the 12 VDC transformer? and plug it back to the 220AC out? for the perpose of floerecent bulb lighting.? because the problem in our place is no electricity.