What device is used to convert a vehicle's DC into AC power?

The correct answer is an inverter. An inverter is a device specifically designed to convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC), which is essential for many applications, particularly in scenarios where DC power from sources like batteries needs to be used with AC appliances or systems.

Inverters enable the functioning of equipment that operates on AC power, thereby facilitating the use of DC sources (like solar panels or car batteries) in a wide range of applications. This conversion is necessary because most household and commercial electrical systems are designed to operate on AC power.

For context, a transformer is used to change the voltage of AC, but it does not convert DC to AC. A generator typically produces AC power from mechanical energy, and while it can create power, it doesn't perform the specific function of converting DC to AC. A rectifier, on the other hand, performs the opposite function—converting AC to DC, making it essential for applications where DC is required but not relevant for the conversion process in this question.