How many methods are there to convert DC to AC?

[Noirgheos]

The only one that I'm aware of and that pops up from a Google search is using an inverter. Fairly simple, but there must be other methods?

[dany_boy]

Inverters have different topologies and function generating modes, so answering inverter is like saying "how can I make a car move? With an engine". Just like a car can have 4,6,8 or more cylinders in line, or in V or in other configs. You can have an H bridge in a push-pull config that poduces a square wave directly into a transformer, you can have a modified sine wave or even pure sine wave. You can use fully isolated transformers or auto-transformers. If you dont want to power appliances, you can even use fly-backs and LC resonators. Read more about inverters here: http://www.dieselduck.info/machine/04 auxiliary/2000 Inverter technology.pdf