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Every so often, I poke through random pages at SolidSignal.com to try to find things that even I didn't realize we carry. That's when I came across this page. There are a lot more power inverters than I realized, and at quite a price difference. I have an inverter in one of my vehicles, I'm glad I do, and I have a feeling that if you had one you'd be glad you did too. So let's take a dive into the world of inverters. I bet by the time this article's over you'll wonder why every car, truck, and SUV doesn't have one.
In order to understand what an inverter is, you need to understand the difference between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). There are plenty of articles that will give you a "deep dive" on this, but here are the two things you need to know.
I know some really old-school folks will scoff at that description because I know it's vague and incomplete. But it does cover the high points and lets you know a bit of why cars run on DC and houses run on AC. Cars get electricity from a battery in the car. Houses get electricity from a power plant far from the house.
Yes I know, if your house has solar then you are generating DC right at the house. You're then converting it to AC because that's what your house needs.
An inverter is the thing that converts DC to AC. It sets up the alternations that gives alternating current its name. An inverter generally also functions as a transformer, converting low-voltage/high-amperage current to high-voltage/low-amperage current. Why? Your car battery has a lot of "amps" because amps are what's needed to give the car's starter the power to turn the engine on. A typical device plugged into a home uses more volts than amps because it doesn't have to turn a 500-pound chunk of metal.
Again, there are a lot of deep-dive articles on volts and amps but I like to think of it this way. Volts will make your fingers buzz if you touch a bare wire. Amps will throw you across the room.
Pretty much everything you use at home plugs into an outlet. Very few things with the exception of cell phones have plugs that can go into the utility socket in the car (what we used to call a lighter socket.) If you want to use a computer, a plug-in light, or if you want to charge almost anything you'll need a regular old power outlet. An inverter solves your problems. Plug it into the car and bingo, instant electricity for anything you want to do.
Almost anything. I have been reminded by a colleague that you can't use an inverter to plug an electric car into itself and have it charge. Any more wiseacres in the audience?
Well, some cars do. You'll find this capability in some SUVs, but for the most part they don't. I really can't tell you why that is other than, it's another thing that costs money to do and maybe they think people don't want it. It seems kind of silly to me but oh well. Getting back to the subject of electric cars, you would think at least those would have inverters in them but… they don't.
Of course, you can fix that easily. Solid Signal has a great selection of inverters in all shapes and sizes. Choose the one that works best for you from our selection of inverters for land and sea. If you're not sure which one works best for you, call the experts! We're here for you during East Coast business hours at 888-233-7563. If it's after hours, just fill out the form below and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.
The post Trust me, you need an inverter appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
What is an inverter?
In order to understand what an inverter is, you need to understand the difference between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). There are plenty of articles that will give you a "deep dive" on this, but here are the two things you need to know.
- DC current is the simplest way to get electricity from point to point and it's really efficient for short distances.
- AC current is different because the flow of electricity actually changes direction over and over. This makes it really good at traveling long distances but it's more complex to make things work with AC.
I know some really old-school folks will scoff at that description because I know it's vague and incomplete. But it does cover the high points and lets you know a bit of why cars run on DC and houses run on AC. Cars get electricity from a battery in the car. Houses get electricity from a power plant far from the house.
Yes I know, if your house has solar then you are generating DC right at the house. You're then converting it to AC because that's what your house needs.
An inverter is the thing that converts DC to AC. It sets up the alternations that gives alternating current its name. An inverter generally also functions as a transformer, converting low-voltage/high-amperage current to high-voltage/low-amperage current. Why? Your car battery has a lot of "amps" because amps are what's needed to give the car's starter the power to turn the engine on. A typical device plugged into a home uses more volts than amps because it doesn't have to turn a 500-pound chunk of metal.
Again, there are a lot of deep-dive articles on volts and amps but I like to think of it this way. Volts will make your fingers buzz if you touch a bare wire. Amps will throw you across the room.
Why get an inverter for the car?
Pretty much everything you use at home plugs into an outlet. Very few things with the exception of cell phones have plugs that can go into the utility socket in the car (what we used to call a lighter socket.) If you want to use a computer, a plug-in light, or if you want to charge almost anything you'll need a regular old power outlet. An inverter solves your problems. Plug it into the car and bingo, instant electricity for anything you want to do.
Almost anything. I have been reminded by a colleague that you can't use an inverter to plug an electric car into itself and have it charge. Any more wiseacres in the audience?
Why don't cars just have this built in?
Well, some cars do. You'll find this capability in some SUVs, but for the most part they don't. I really can't tell you why that is other than, it's another thing that costs money to do and maybe they think people don't want it. It seems kind of silly to me but oh well. Getting back to the subject of electric cars, you would think at least those would have inverters in them but… they don't.
Of course, you can fix that easily. Solid Signal has a great selection of inverters in all shapes and sizes. Choose the one that works best for you from our selection of inverters for land and sea. If you're not sure which one works best for you, call the experts! We're here for you during East Coast business hours at 888-233-7563. If it's after hours, just fill out the form below and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.
The post Trust me, you need an inverter appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
15 Replies
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1579 views
S
I have a question for all the inverter experts here. 
I have a champion generator, and I want to use it to power up my natural gas furnace if the hydro goes out. Unfortunately the furnace won't come on when connected to the generator.
I borrowed my friends inverter and it works just fine on the furnace. I am thinking that the generator AC output is too dirty for the sensitive board on the furnace.
I am thinking about purchasing a UPS and plugging the furnace into that. I would then simultaneously plug the UPS into the generator. Would that work?
Thanks
I have a champion generator, and I want to use it to power up my natural gas furnace if the hydro goes out. Unfortunately the furnace won't come on when connected to the generator.I borrowed my friends inverter and it works just fine on the furnace. I am thinking that the generator AC output is too dirty for the sensitive board on the furnace.
I am thinking about purchasing a UPS and plugging the furnace into that. I would then simultaneously plug the UPS into the generator. Would that work?
Thanks
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n43A0sNukCg
Direct YouTube Link - SpaceX Seeks to Conduct 450 Starship Launches a Year in Texas!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n43A0sNukCg
Direct YouTube Link - SpaceX Seeks to Conduct 450 Starship Launches a Year in Texas!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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2 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68506 Replies
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2671289 views
Marques Brownlee
Time for another AWESOME video from Marques Brownlee!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwlR0QHGOk
Direct YouTube Link - The NEW Tesla Roadster: My Honest Reaction
The official MKBHD Website!
The MKBHD Store
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwlR0QHGOk
Direct YouTube Link - The NEW Tesla Roadster: My Honest Reaction
The official MKBHD Website!
The MKBHD Store
0 Replies
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5 views
iJustine
Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m44iKsdN1-Q
Direct YouTube Link - NVIDIA RTX Spark launch party!!!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m44iKsdN1-Q
Direct YouTube Link - NVIDIA RTX Spark launch party!!!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
0 Replies
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14 views
For quite a while now, people with a VIP211k have been losing their recordings on their activated external HDDs... even when there's nothing physically wrong with HDD. I believe this is an intentional and underhanded tactic that Dish is pulling in an attempt to force users away from the VIP211k.
They are obviously regretting that they ever let users have a "non-dvr" dvr in the first place. You would think they would be happy charging you a $40 one time fee... and then be happy letting the customer be the one responsible for HDD failures.
Dish clearly hates the 211k bitter-clingers. This recording deletion problem is intentional (IMO), and I think it is just one more tool that they are using. Hopper and a 2-year agreement... that's what they want you to have. Think about that... a 2-year agreement... with a company $30 Billion in debt (that's with a B). What happens when all that debt causes them to drop the channel that may have been your whole reason for having Dish in the first place? Guess who's stuck with a service that no longer suits their needs... for the remainder of the 2-year agreement.
On top of that, they don't want you to install it yourself. I purchased and installed all my equipment myself. That used to be common. Now, they lie to me and tell me that my dish must be updated to use a Hopper. Funny thing is... they don't even know what dish I have because they didn't install it, and I didn't tell them. If you ask what type of dish/LNBs the hopper needs... good luck getting an answer. All they know is that whatever you have needs to be upgraded by an installer.
It is quite apparent to me that they care much more about staying in their box, than they do working with the customer. That's too bad, because it hasn't always been that way. It's like they are totally unaware of the current business environment that they are trying to compete in.
I have been a customer since 2010. I will be cancelling my service before the next period. Yeah, I know, my $1,200 a year won't make a difference to them. It just seems like they have forgotten who needs who, especially when you consider the competition in today's streaming world. But hey, they will have succeed in forcing me off the 211k.
They are obviously regretting that they ever let users have a "non-dvr" dvr in the first place. You would think they would be happy charging you a $40 one time fee... and then be happy letting the customer be the one responsible for HDD failures.
Dish clearly hates the 211k bitter-clingers. This recording deletion problem is intentional (IMO), and I think it is just one more tool that they are using. Hopper and a 2-year agreement... that's what they want you to have. Think about that... a 2-year agreement... with a company $30 Billion in debt (that's with a B). What happens when all that debt causes them to drop the channel that may have been your whole reason for having Dish in the first place? Guess who's stuck with a service that no longer suits their needs... for the remainder of the 2-year agreement.
On top of that, they don't want you to install it yourself. I purchased and installed all my equipment myself. That used to be common. Now, they lie to me and tell me that my dish must be updated to use a Hopper. Funny thing is... they don't even know what dish I have because they didn't install it, and I didn't tell them. If you ask what type of dish/LNBs the hopper needs... good luck getting an answer. All they know is that whatever you have needs to be upgraded by an installer.
It is quite apparent to me that they care much more about staying in their box, than they do working with the customer. That's too bad, because it hasn't always been that way. It's like they are totally unaware of the current business environment that they are trying to compete in.
I have been a customer since 2010. I will be cancelling my service before the next period. Yeah, I know, my $1,200 a year won't make a difference to them. It just seems like they have forgotten who needs who, especially when you consider the competition in today's streaming world. But hey, they will have succeed in forcing me off the 211k.
168 Replies
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7494 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Has anyone subscribed to NBA League Pass for 2026-27 and try to link their account to NBA.com to stream League Pass? I purchased it for 2026-27, and when I linked, I got a message saying success, but then I receive an error that my linked subscription does not include the preseason games for NBA League Pass. Is that how it has always been? I know satellite doesn't have the preseason games on the NBA League Pass channels, but I thought that I was able to stream the preseason once I linked my account on NBA.com?
2 Replies
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85 views
Supporting Founder
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
143 Replies
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1465 views
Nah, you just don't understand how ignore works, which is why you made your own NFL thread thinking there wasn't one
For some reason, the satelliteguys.us site is loading a lot slower than usual on both Chrome on my Asus laptop and Safari on my iPhone.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
530 Replies
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18123 views
Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat. 
WTF… …What the Foxbat!Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat.
S
wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming youWTF… …What the Foxbat!
I know. Here's what Scott has in store for me if I get out of line:wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming you
S
OMG to freaking funny
You're no fun.
I thought I would come here and find lots of complaints about the update to the dish anywhere mobile app, but am not seeing any. It used to look just like the desktop webpage. Now you can no longer filter by sports channels or movie channels. Plus that they made it look like a big button telephone and you see fewer channels in the screen which requires more scrolling. Yes I realize you can look at sports then select which sport you want to look at, I just liked being able to see all sporting events in the guide with all other channels being filtered out. Am I alone in the wilderness on this?
7 Replies
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156 views
Supporting Founder
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Apple has finally released their Apple TV 4K with built-in Siri and a microphone so it can respond to your queries even if you don't have the remote. It also increases in price, to $299. I had been planning on updating my current Apple TV 4K streamers, but that's $600 for the two of them, and that's a pass at this point.
At $299, it had better come with 256 GB of Storage, Gigabit (or better) Ethernet, the latest HDMI tech and standards, and one year of free Apple One. But it probably won't…
At $299, it had better come with 256 GB of Storage, Gigabit (or better) Ethernet, the latest HDMI tech and standards, and one year of free Apple One. But it probably won't…
Apple TV 4K
Apple TV 4K. New Siri AI and hands-free control. Stunning picture and immersive HomePod surround sound. Works with your Apple and smart home devices.
www.apple.com
20 Replies
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330 views
S
. apple's been making money off of software and not hardware for a while
they all do that anyways.. ever notice your cell phone slows down when you come up for an upgrade..
. apple's been making money off of software and not hardware for a while
You should have looked in the APP STORE instead.
