Power converters are electrical devices that are used to convert DC (direct current) from a battery or other power source to standard household AC (alternating current). They are also commonly known as power inverters and DC to AC converters and inverters. DC to AC inverters are available in various styles. These include printed circuit board (PCB) or card mount, laboratory bench or portable configuration, rack mount, DIN rail mount, wall mount, and stand alone or tower mount. Nominal DC input values for DC to AC inverters can be 12 VDC, 24 VDC, 48 VDC, 110 VDC, 125 VDC, and 250 VDC. Power conversion is needed when taking an output from a battery or UPS for commercial and domestic use.

DC/AC inverters are used in a variety of applications, from small power supplies for items such as computers to large industrial applications which transport bulk power. An inverter can have one or two switched-mode power supplies (SMPS). Basic inverters have an oscillator driving a transistor which is used to interrupt the incoming direct current to create a square wave. This is sent through a transformer to create the required output voltage. Many advanced types of inverters are now using more advanced forms of transistors or similar devices such as thyristors.