08-02-2013, 02:33 PM
Power Inverters
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INTRODUCTION
Power inverters are electrical devices designed to convert direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). DC is the power that is produced by batteries and solar panels while Ac is the standard power needed to run electrical equipment. A power inverter does the opposite of a rectifier and is used in places and situations where AC power is not available.
Power inverters produce one of three types of power wave signals. Each signal represents a quality of power output. The first set of inverters made which are now obsolete produced a Square Wave signal. Square Wave signals produced power that was not reliable or consistent.
The second wave signal is the Modified Square Wave also known as the Modified Sine Wave. Modified Square Wave Inverters are the most popular and produce efficient stable power that can run most standard electrical equipment.
Pure Sine Wave inverters produce the most reliable and consistent power wave signal. This makes them the most expensive to acquire. Some equipment that are sensitive such as rechargeable tools and medical equipment require Pure Sine Wave inverters.
Power inverters come in different shapes and capacities. The conventional models are small rectangular boxes with an attached wire and jack that can be plugged into the cigarette lighter port on the dashboard of a car. Some models have jumper cables that can be connected directly to battery terminals. The box would normally have about two outlets to plug in your electrical equipment.
You could use a power inverter in your car or boat to power devices such as laptops, video games consoles, a small television or DVD player. They also come in handy in emergencies when there is a power outage. They are also helpful sources of energy on camping trips, beaches and parks where conventional electricity is not available.
Power inverter can also be used in areas with unstable power supply. The inverter is connected to batteries and the main electrical source. When there is an electrical power supply the system is designed to charge the batteries to store power and when there is a power outage the inverter draws DC current from the battery
Power Inverter FAQ
What is a power inverter?
A power inverter is a DC to AC inverter device that is capable of turning DC power, like the power found in batteries or the kind collected from solar panels, into AC power that is used to run everyday things in the home such as appliances, electronics, and even household lighting.
What is a power inverter used for?
A power inverter transfers your readily available DC power, like from a battery or other stored power source, and turns it into readily usable AC power on the go or at home on devices you would normally plug into a home electrical outlet.
How do I know what size of power inverter I will need to get for my home?
It is a good idea to add up the wattage used in the home normally by the amount of wattage used in each appliance and electrical item, lighting, etc., and then also give extra wattage for startups and occasional surges that many appliances tend to put out at times. So the amount of wattage all your electrical items give out plus some additional wattage for surges and startups should indicate a close enough measure of the size of power inverter DC to AC your home will need. Remember that having excess power is much better than having a brown out because you depleted all of your available power.
Where should batteries that connect to the inverter be stored?
The batteries that connect to your inverter should be kept in fairly close proximity to the power DC to AC inverter so that the cables can be short and run a clean and clear signal. Power inverters are not weatherproof and should be kept from getting wet. It should be kept dry like any other electronic device seeing as wetness will destroy your device and cause an unsafe situation. You should not allow your power inverter to get struck by lightning. Lightning will destroy it. Make sure to keep your power inverter away from any kind of generated heat or flammable source that can cause overheating and fires.