Final answer:
To use direct current (DC) supplied by a battery-generator system for household appliances that require alternating current (AC), an inverter is needed to convert the DC output to AC.
Step-by-step explanation:
Converting Direct Current to Alternating Current
A battery-generator system provides direct current (DC), which is a unidirectional flow of electric current with a constant voltage. However, most household appliances and systems require alternating current (AC), where the current periodically reverses direction and the voltage varies sinusoidally. To convert DC from solar cells or a battery-generator system to AC, a device called an inverter is necessary.
This inverter changes the DC output into AC, which can then be used to power household appliances and if there is any surplus energy, it can be fed to the electrical grid to be sold to the utility company. Electric generators, which are commonly used to produce AC, work by rotating wire loops in a magnetic field, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. The relationship between DC and AC is crucial in our everyday usage of electrical devices, as most household systems are designed to operate with AC.