A car inverter is a very handy tool if you are a frequent traveller or are someone who is always on the go. A simple device that lets you charge your mobile, power bank and pretty much any mobile appliance is a definite must for car owners.
An inverter basically converts the DC power in your car into household AC power that you can use for your charging powers.
While there are a lot of car inverters available in the market, the best car inverter is decided on three major factors.
- Type of car inverter: There are basically two types. The 12 volts version or the direct plug in one. Both have their pros and cons but if you are simply to buy the device to charge your mobile, power bank, earbuds while you are driving, then go with the 12 volts version.
- Number of outlets: While one could argue that the number of outlets is purely dependent on how many devices you have; I would say that it never hurts to have a few outlets in the bank. Go for models that offer atleast or more than 3 or 4 outlets in a single inverter.
- Price: Needless to say, this is yet another important factor that you need to consider while choosing a car inverter. General pricing range for good quality Car inverters lie between 2000 rupees or higher. There are car inverters that are available for lower prices as well. But please make sure you are going through the reviews thoroughly before picking them.
Speaking of the reviews, let us jump right into that and review the top 8 car inverters available in India. We have also included a detailed Buying Guide at the end of the article which will help you make a better informed decision.
Best Car Inverters to buy in India
| Car Inverters | USB Ports | AC outlets | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vantro Car Inverter | 4 | 2 | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Sketra 200W Car Inverter | 4 | 2 | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Portronics Car Inverter | 1 | 1 | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Fugen Smart Cup Car Inverter | 2 | 1 | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Protokart Car Inverter | 2 | 1 | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Targus Car Inverter | 1 | 1 | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Coromose Car Power Inverter | N/A | 1 | N/A | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Ducasso Car Power Inverter | 1 | 1 | N/A | CHECK ON AMAZON |
Best Car Inverters in India: Reviews
1. Vantro Power Inverter 200W with 4 USB and 2 AC Port
First on our list is the Vantro Power Inverter, a 200 watt inverter that comes with 4 seperate USB ports and 2 AC outlet ports.
The given 4 USB ports can be used to charge 4 devices at the same time. Now you can charge your phone, tablet, power bank or any other USB complaint device simultaneously with great ease.
As for the outlets, as mentioned before, you are given 2 outlets. Each of this outlet has a 2.4 A max output whereas the total max output is 6.2 A.
Simple to install with its long enough cigarette lighter cable, the inverter is good for the everday car user. This car inverter comes with an intelligent LED display that will give you the status of the charging and the current battery voltage levels.
The inverter comes with multi layers of protection. The built in fuse will protect it from any kind of current overcharging, overloads, short circuiting etc., The safe charging design will provide further protection against overheating, over or under voltage charges etc.,
Furthermore, it is integrated with a cooling fan which functions silently and helps in the reduction of the heat generated and also will further help in preventing shortages. It comes in a durable metal housing which provides an advanced protection against any startling drops or bumps that may occur.
Ultra compact and light in weight, the Vantro Power 200 watt car inverter comes with a 1 year after sales manufacturer’s warranty available from the date of purchase. For any further information, you can contact their customer support at 9368-253-215
Things we liked about this inverter:
- A 200 watt model car inverter
- Has 4 USB ports and 2 AC outlets
- Comes with an LED screen for the voltage level display
- Multiple layers of protection to protect it from any possible over charging, voltage fluctuations, short circuiting etc.,
- Comes with an integrated cooling fan to prevent overheating and shortages
- LED light for power indication. Red for OFF, Green for ON
- Durable metal housing for protection against any bumps or damage due to drops
- Sleek and simple design
- 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
- Good customer support
Things we didn’t like about it:
- Not ergonomic enough
2. Sketra 200W Car Inverter with Fast Charge USB 1, 2.4, 3 and 2 AC Ports
Next on our list is the Sketra, yet another 200 Watt USB- Power outlet combo car inverter. But what makes Sketra different than the Vantro Power car inverter is that this one’s USB section comes with a USB Quick charge 3.0 technology.
It has the usual 4 USB ports to the side along with the 2 AC output ports. The USB ports can be used for charging your smartphones, power banks and other USB compliant appliances. As mentioned before, the ports come with USB Quick Charge 3.0 thus will give you lightening fast charging prospects compared to a typical 15 or 20 watt charger.
The maximum output of all the ports combined is 6.2 A whereas the individual ports have about 2.1 A. The other 2 AC output ports can be used for charging laptops, TVs or other such mid sized appliances which are 200 watt compliant. It has multiple layers of protection to protect it against any possible overcharging, short circuiting etc.,
This one too comes with a bright LED display that will let you know of the charge level and the output voltage level. It also comes with a cooling fan that is silent in operation. This fan will help in making sure that the device is cool and prevents any overheating.
Strong in its built and most importantly; reliable, the Sketra Car inverter comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty available from the date of purchase. For any further information or support, you can contact their customer care at 1800-121-1225.
Things we liked about the inverter:
- Hybrid car inverter with 4 USB ports and 2 power outlet ports
- The USB ports have USB 3.0 Quick Charge technology
- LED display unit to monitor the output voltage level
- Good protection layers
- LED light for power indication. Red for OFF, Green for ON
- Made out of durable plastic material
- Reliable product
- 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
Things we didn’t like about it:
- Not ergonomic enough
3. Portronics CarPower One Portable 200W Car Inverter
Portronics is a leading brand in consumer electronics. The portronics CarPOWER One is a very car inverter with a very versatile design.
Starting off with its design, the Portronics CarPower has a cup holder fit design. While most of the car inverters are designed to be not ergonomic, this design lets you place the device in either of your cup holder with great ease. The 2 feet long cable easily fits into cigarette lighter from either door or the central cup holder.
Now to the specifications, the car inverter comes with 2 USB ports and a single Universal AC socket. Both the USB ports have a max output of 3.4 A and 5 V in voltage.
Sturdy in its built, the car inverter is built with fire resistant high quality plastic. It has a multi layer protection built into it. This will prevent it from getting short circuited, overcharged or even from any voltage fluctuations.
Now speaking of the drawbacks, one of the most obvious ones is the fact that you only have a single Universal AC port and just 2 USB ports. Another one would be the absence of the LED display. But apart from those, it is a perfect device that is ideal for light and frequent travellers. It even comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty from the date of purchase
Things we liked about the inverter:
- Very unique and user friendly design
- 200 Watts car inverter
- Has a small cooling fan fitted right inside the device
- Very sturdy design that is also fire resistant and has multiple protection layers built into them
- 2 feet long cable
- 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
Things we didn’t like about it:
- Only 1 universal AC port and 1 USB
- No display LED
4. Fugen Smart Cup | Can Shaped Modified Sine Wave Car Power Inverter
Next on our list is Fugen, yet another smart cup design portable car inverter. While the portronics CarPower is a 200 watt car inverter, the Fugen Smart cup comes in both 150 Watts and 200 Watt model for you to choose from depending on your charging needs.
The design is simple and versatile. You can directly place the device in any of the cup holders and it will fit perfectly without a lot of struggle or fall down or dangle like most other car inverters do.
This one too comes with a dual USB ports with each one has a 5 Volts rating and a 2.4 A output current. There is also one universal AC output port.
There is a cooling fan inside the device that will help in cooling the device and preventing any overheating. The auto shut down will prevent your device from being affected if the inverter gets overheated.
It has a multiple layer protection makes the device much safer. It does not have any output voltage frequency, has higher loading capacity, low load or high load protection, short circuit protection among others.
As mentioned before, the absence of multiple universal ports, more than 2 USB ports is one of the few drawbacks to this. This device too comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty that is available from the date of purchase.
Things we liked about the inverter:
- Unique and ergonomic designed car inverter
- 2 USB ports with 2.4 A current rating each
- Comes in both 150 watt and 200 watt models
- Has a max 2.4 A current output
- Cooling fan inside that also has an auto shut down option to prevent any kind of damage to your device due to overheating of the inverter
- Multiple layers of protection that will prevent any kind of damage to the device such as short circuit, high or low load protection, etc.,
- 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
Things we didn’t like about it
- Only 1 Universal AC output port
- Is compatible with only 12 V outlets
- No display LED
5. Protokart 12V DC to 220V AC Smart Car Charger Inverter
The Prokart Portable Charger Inverter is the same type of mini car inverter like the Fugen Smart Cup. This has a dual USB and a max wattage of 200 watts.
Similar to the Fugen, this one too has an ergonomic design that easily fits into the car’s cup holder with great ease.
It has the usual 2 USB ports and a single universal AC output port. While the USB (maximum output of the USB ports is the standard 2.4 A each) can be used for charging your mobile, power bank, bluetooth speaker etc., the universal AC outlet can be used to charge larger appliances such as laptops, DVD players and so on.
There is a fan inside whose main function is to cool down and maintain the temperature of the car inverter if it is being used excessively. As is the case, the device can only be used for 12 V outlets but not for 24 V outlets.
It comes with a complete intelligent SCM solutions that give you more stable output voltage and the frequency error is very small. It also protects the inverter from super loading and other possible short circuiting etc.,
Furthermore, there is the auto shut down feature that will turn off the device in case of overheating, possible short circuiting etc., Prokart also provides you with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty available from the date of purchase.
Things we liked about the inverter:
- Ergonomic in design that easily fits in your car’s cup holder
- 200 Watts of power
- 2 USB ports with each having 2.4 A current rating.
- Cooling fan to maintain the temperature and prevent overheating
- Auto shut down option to prevent any damage in case the heating is persistent
- Intelligent SCM Solutions for further protection
- 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
Things we didn’t like about it:
- Only single AC outlet port
- No LED display
6. Targus APV018AP 200W AC Automotive Power Inverter
Targus is yet another 200 Watt powered ergonomic shaped power inverter for a car that also comes with a fast charging USB port. What makes Targus different from most of the other ergonomic car inverters is its unique design.
It comes with a single USB port of 2.1 A current rating that can be used to charge smartphones, tablets, MP3 Players etc.,
It also comes with a single AC outlet that serves up 200 watts of power and can go as high as 400 watts of peak power as well. You can use to charge up your laptop or other appliances of similar order.
The car inverter comes with a built in temperature, over-current and surge protection. There is also a cooling fan to further help with the heating issue.
Targus has good features and feel to it but the product suffers from major reliability issues. There have been multiple reviews of the product where people have voiced out how the product seems to have stopped working all of a sudden or failed mid operation. While Targus provides you with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty from the date of purchase, they seem to be failing in service.
Things we liked about the inverter:
- Has an ergonomic and appealing design
- Good inline surge and overheating protection.
- Has 200 watts of output capacity but can perform at a 400 watt peak power
- 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
Things we didn’t like about it:
- Has only 1 USB and 1 AC power outlet
- Has heavy reliability issues with the product
- Needs to improve their customer service
7. Coromose Car Solar Power Inverter
Next one of the first solar based car inverter to be listed today. The coromose car Solar Power Inverter has a very unconventional and traditional inverter design.
It has a single AC outlet that can be used not just for mobile phone or tablet or MP3 player charging but also for Laptops, lights, fans etc., Instead of a simple press button, the Coromose inverter has a traditional switch for ON and OFF.
Very sturdy in design and casing, the car inverter has an in-built layer of protection against short circuits, overheating, low voltage, overloading or other voltage or current related fluctuations. It also has an internal cooling fan that aids in cooling down the inverter if it gets heated up excessively.
Apart from the absence of a cup hold design or USB plug ins, another major thing the Caromose Car Solar inverter loses points is with the absence of warranty.
Things we liked about this inverter:
- Has a very sturdy build
- Can also use Solar energy to charge things up
- Good inline protection against short circuits or overloading etc.,
Things we didn’t like about it:
- Has only 1 AC outlet and no USB ports
- No warranty
8. Ducasso Car Power Inverter
The Ducasso Car Power inverter says that it comes with an Oxygen Bar but does not exactly get into too much detail about this. But as there is, the oxygen bar is expected to calculate or let you know of the level of oxygen present in the car through the LED option.
Talking about the design, it has a simple yet interesting cylindrical design. Ergonomic enough, you can easily plug it into the cup holder or into your glove compartment as well.
It has a single USB port and a single AC output port with a small switch to turn the device ON or OFF. The inverter is lined with a safe operation protection from any kind of over or under voltage fluctuations.
Yet another drawback to this car inverter would be the absence of a warranty which almost all of the car inverters in the list have.
Things we liked about this inverter:
- Nice ergonomic cylindrical design
- Oxygen bar that lets you know of the oxygen levels in the car
- Safety lining to protect it from any kind of voltage fluctuations
Things we didn’t like about it:
- No warranty specified
- Only 1 USB and 1 AC outlet
Buying Guide: How to pick the right car inverter for your car
A car inverter might seem like a simple device but I personally know a lot of people who have spent thousands of rupees in buying redundant stuff. Chinese products which get damaged within a few weeks of usage.
In this buying guide, today,we are going to talk about all the important factors one needs to consider before buying a car inverter.
Understanding the types of car inverters:
The first and foremost part of buying any car inverter is to know that there are actually two types of car inverters (as we mentioned in the beginning of this article)
- 12 Volts DC Type
- Direct plug in type
1. 12 Volts DC type inverter
Ok so as the name suggests, this type of car inverter consumes just about 12 volts and is very popular and common as well. Most of the cars today use this type of car inverter as it is convenient and you can simply plug it into your cigarette lighter and use it.
A 12 volts car inverter is good for you if you want to charge a basic power bank, your mobile phone or anything else.
This type of inverter works only while the car engine is turned on and is thus ideal to use while you are on the go. But the only drawback with this type of inverter is that you only get about 500 watts of power output.
2. Direct Connection inverter
Now if you are looking for a higher power level, then it is best that you go with a direct connection inverter. They are bulky tools that you can use for a very long time for very long wattage. You can even use big devices such as coffee makers etc.for this too.
But the only drawback with these types of inverters is that you cannot use them while the car is moving. You need to pull over in order to use these types of inverters.
Factors to consider before buying a Car Inverter:
Now that you have an idea of the two different types of inverters, now let us look at all the other factors you need to look for before buying a car inverter.
1. Purpose
This might seem a bit cliched but it will come a long way. Before picking a car inverter, make sure that the reason you are buying it is legit and necessary. Like if you are using your car for more than just driving, then a direct connection inverter makes sense because you would be using it to even make coffee and what not. This also includes if you are a camper or are a frequent outdoor person, the direct connection is a best bet.
But if your use cases are simple and mostly involve charging your mobile etc., then go with a simple 12 volt DC car inverter. Even here you need to look at different types of inlets and other factors such as;
2. Size
The size of a car inverter kind of is totally dependent on why you are going to buy it. You would be plugging in the inverter into the cigarette lighter but where would you place the very bulky inverter? Certainly not on the dashboard, or your seat or your gearbox. A smaller inverter will solve this problem for you. All you need to do is to find a car inverter that has the required outlets, power capacity you want but also is compact enough to hang or fit some place handsomely.
3. Number of outlets
Now this is one of the major aspects that you need to look for before buying a car inverter. The number of outlets you will need is directly proportional to the number of devices you are planning to charge on and the number of pins each of that device needs.
Let us say you need to charge two mobile phones simultaneously. If both of the chargers need 3 pins each, then you would need a 6 pin outlet but not a simple 4 pin outlet.
The rule of thumb here is to go for higher number of outlets but then again, it would interfere with your choice of buying a compact inverter. In this case, carefully evaluate how many devices you are actually going to use with the inverter. Buy an inverter that has the same number of outlets as you need.
4. Safety Features
When we talk about safety features and measures in any inverter, the primary thing we need to focus on is the surge protection. Inverters are prone to current surge problems and given the portable nature of these inverters, the threat is large.
Surges will end up damaging your devices for good and hence it is mandatory that you need to protect your devices from any current or voltage surges.
Most of the modern day portable car inverters come with internal surge protection features. Usually, there are fuses that may or may not be visible which indicate the surge protection status. If the fuse is blown, it means that it has protected you against a surge. Change the fuse and you are good to go.
There are many other features among surge protection such as insulation, grip etc., all of which you need to consider before making a decision.
5. Length of the cable
The length of the cable refers to how long that connector cable from the cigarette lighter is to the device. This decides how convenient the inverter is for your usage when you plug in the cable to the inverter’s plug to get the battery charged.
Also try to make sure that the cables are made out of neoprene material or some other thick rubber. Cables built with large gauge conductors can transfer electricity without much heat build up.
6. Build Materials
Most of the budget friendly car inverters are made out of fiber or plastic origin materials. But if you belong to a hot city, then chances are that they easily get damaged accumulating a lot of heat along the process.
Car inverters that are made from strong metal alloys such as aluminium or steel are perfect. They are light in weight and also can hold up to any kind of heat or other environmental conditions.
7. Fan
This one is not a deal breaker but a very handy feature. A car inverter tends to get heated up very fast and if it is in a closed car working for a long time, then it may be hot very soon. Most of the car inverters come with a fan in them that will help it get cool down. If not, it is fine too. In such cases, make sure you are placing the inverter in a place where it gets a lot of cool air to maintain its temperature
8. USB Slot
One of the primary reasons why you will be buying a car inverter is because you would want to charge your mobile on the go.Also, a lot of the modern day gadgets are USB compliant to get charged and also to transfer data among others. A few car inverters also come with a USB option where you can directly plug in your phone with a USB cable to get it charged. Try getting a car inverter which has a USB slot to it so it will make your job of charging your mobile, music player, speaker or power bank easier
9. Misc accessories
Other factors you may need to consider while choosing a car inverter are mostly convenient and could also be ignored. But if it is more luxury you wish for, try to buy an inverter with a dashboard display that will let you know of the remaining charging available. These also let you know when it is time to charge or may come with an internal clock too. Such features are very handy. Other miscellaneous features include stuff like a remote control or torch etc.,.
10. Warranty
Another very important aspect that you need to check for is the warranty that is being offered for the machine. Most car inverters come with at least 1 year warranty period. There are products with 2 years warranty too and also products with just 6 months warranty as well. It all depends and changes from brand to brand.
While there are products with no warranty as well, but they are mostly low priced products with no brand value. A few of these actually end up giving good quality so go with them only if there are enough reviews to back up the quality of the product.
11. Price
Lastly, you need to look for a decent pricing. As mentioned before, a decent quality car inverter has its price range between 2000 to about 3000 rupees. There are obviously products with higher price ranges and lower price ranges too. This changes with the brand value, number of features offered, warranty and of course, the quality of the product.
How does a car inverter work?
A DC power is not enough to charge a normal device or does not even have a large voltage too. A car inverter essentially converts DC power of a car to usable household AC current.
Firstly, when the incoming high voltage of DC power enters the inverter, the inverter increases the DC voltage significantly in a rage the is suited for AC devices. Then this high voltage DC power is converted into AC using a transformer or a power inverter circuit (consisting of various MOSFET transistors and diodes) that are present inside the inverter.
Frequently Asked Question
The usual life time value of a car inverter is about 5 or 10 years. This is, considering that the quality of the car inverter is decent. For longer live spans, make sure that you are keeping the device cool and dry at all times. If the inverter does not come with a fan of its own, try to keep it in an area where it gets plenty of air flow that will help reduce the car inverter’s heat.
The time taken for a usual car inverter to charge a smartphone is totally dependent on the charger used. But there are a few types of car inverters come with a USB support so you can directly plug in your smartphone to the inverter. In such cases, the car inverter can charge up the phone as fast as the battery can support it.
Yes you can but it is not advisable. Using a car battery directly for an inverter might work for you in case of emergencies but car inverters will drain out your car’s battery very fast and this might actually either prove expensive or may lead to poor health of your car.
No. You can safely use a car inverter to charge almost any small to mid sized electronics. If you are using larger appliances, it is advised that you buy a direct plugged inverter. Using a constant power source to charge any electronic’s battery is perfectly safe
A car’s inverter is plugged into the cigarette lighter. Weather will have no impact on this and thus it is very much safe to use in any kind of weather conditions. But directly connected inverters which will be connected directly to the battery but not through the cigarette lighter may prove to be a little unsafe during the rainy season.
Wrapping it up:
Out of all the listed car inverters, we can come to a conclusion that Vantro Power Inverter 200W with 4 USB and 2 AC Port is the best pick of all. We came to this conclusion considering its other features such as the Bright LED screen for voltage level display, Multiple layers of protection from short circuiting or overcharging, an integrated cooling fan to prevent overheating, Durable metal housing for protection and most importantly, 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.
While those were our picks, we are interested in hearing you out. Did we miss out on anything? Do you want us to add or delete any entry from the list? Or do you have any other questions regarding car inverters or any other gadget? If so, feel free to write to us in the comments section below. Our team of professional product experts will write back to you as soon as possible.
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