Abstract: A power converter provides an AC output selectively using power from either a battery source or an alternator. The power converter includes a static converter (100) that is connected to receive DC from a battery (30), converting the DC to a relatively high frequency AC using a pulse width modulator (200). The high frequency AC is transformed to a higher voltage AC that is rectified and is used to charge a capacitor bank (104). The DC on the capacitor bank is converted to 120 (or 240) volts AC at 50/60 Hz by an inverter comprising an inverter (106) to provide power for an AC load. As the requirement for power by the AC load increases above a predefined level, a dynamic converter (24a) is energized to supply power to charge the capacitor bank in place of the static converter. The dynamic converter draws its power from a three-phase alternator (12) that includes three-phase AC output terminals connected to three-phase primary windings (140) of a transformer having a plurality of secondary windings.