What does the inverter do?
The inverter converts the battery DC voltage (usually 12, 24 or 48 volt) to 240 volt AC to allow the use of normal AC power appliances.

What is the continuous rating?
Every inverter has a rating for continuous and surge usage. The continuous rating is the wattage of appliance that the inverter can run continuously for hours at a time (provided there is power available from the battery bank).

What is the surge rating?
The surge rating shows the inverter's ability to operate short-term loads for the starting of heavy appliances such as motors.

As an example, a 700 watt inverter with 2000 watt surge capacity would be able to operate a 400 watt washing machine that requires 1200 watts to start its spin cycle.

What is the ability to operate appliances?
Some manufacturers also publish 30 minute ratings for their inverters which indicates their ability to operate appliances with a higher wattage for short periods (e.g. a 1200 watt inverter operating a 1400 watt vacuum cleaner).

Previously only modified square wave inverter models were available. Modified square wave inverters will run most appliances successfully, especially if they are not electronically or multi-speed controlled.

Because of their imperfect wave form, these inverters will cause some interference on AM radio and may cause background hum in stereo equipment, minor interference with TV and video recorder pictures and problems with variable speed appliances, such as fans.

What are the most common inverters?
Most inverters on the market today are sine wave inverters (that is, they have a wave form similar to the power from the electricity grid, if not better).

What are the advantages of sine wave inverters?
Sine wave inverters have the advantages of fewer equipment compatibility problems and lower distortion, noise and radio frequency interference.

Some companies have ceased to manufacture modified square wave inverters in favour of a better variety of sine wave models.

Privacy Policy

© 2007 SolarWorks :: Web Design by MultiMedia Projects