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How do you use a car battery to generate electricity?

There’s a power outage, and I don’t have a generator. I grabbed an emergency kit with food and water, and my boyfriend grabbed tools and supplies. We heard from our neighbor that we can use a car battery as a power bank. Can you use a car battery as a power supply?

avatar
Sarah Gray · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’ll need a 12-volt power inverter to use a
car battery
for power. Once you have one, follow these steps:
  • Lift the hood of your car and locate the battery.
  • Attach the inverter’s black clamp to the black (negative) terminal on your battery.
  • Attach the red clamp to the red (positive) terminal.
  • Plug a surge-protected power strip into the inverter’s plug-in connector.
  • Use the power strip as you would any household outlet to provide power.
When you’re attaching the inverter to your battery, make sure to connect the right clamps to the right terminals. Failure to pay attention to which terminal you’re attaching to could result in a fire, sparks, or electrocution, so be careful.
MORE: What is a power surge? 
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