Here's one for you inverter lovers.

[highdesertranger]

zil I don't think that is correct. a transformer can step up or step down ac or dc. I doesn't have to be converted to ac to step it up. highdesertranger

 

[Zil]

Yes I stand partially corrected. A transformer changes voltage when the magnetic field changes. AC currant makes this easy by reversing direction. To step up DC is a little more difficult as there has to be a means to interrupt the flow of electrons. Old automotive tube radios used a vibrating solenoid. The ignition coil, (a transformer), used points. But today we use electronic circuits to interrupt the DC flow so the magnetic field can energize the output side of the transformer. The output of the transformer is one direction on energize and the opposite when the field collapses. But that alternation is easily handled by diodes. Each step generates heat which is the inefficiency.