Many people who are looking to purchase an inverter for their off-grid or backup power needs often encounter confusion about whether to choose a pure sine wave or a modified sine wave inverter. This is because both types of inverters have their advantages and disadvantages, and the decision often depends on the user's specific needs and the equipment they want to power. However, when it comes to powering sensitive electronic equipment or appliances, a pure sine wave inverter is generally considered the best choice due to its clean and stable output voltage.
What is a Power Inverter?
A power inverter is a device that converts direct current (DC) electricity, stored in a battery, into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the standard form of electricity used in homes and businesses. Power inverters come in various sizes and capacities, and are used in a variety of applications, including powering electronic devices while on the road, providing backup power during power outages, and powering tools and equipment in remote locations.
What is a Pure Sinewave Inverter?
A pure sinewave inverter generates a sinusoidal waveform that is a perfect replication of the AC power supplied by a standard electrical outlet. The sine wave output produced by a pure sinewave inverter is considered to be of high quality and is suitable for powering sensitive electronic devices such as laptops, smartphones, televisions, and other electronics that require a clean and stable power source. Pure sinewave inverters are more expensive than modified sinewave inverters, but they are also more reliable and provide a higher quality of power to sensitive electronics.
What is a Modified Sinewave Inverter?
A modified sinewave inverter generates a waveform that is not a perfect replication of the AC power supplied by a standard electrical outlet. The waveform produced by a modified sinewave inverter is often referred to as a "square wave" or "quasi-sinusoidal" waveform, and it is considered to be of lower quality compared to the waveform produced by a pure sinewave inverter. However, a modified sinewave inverter is often sufficient for powering less sensitive electronic devices such as power tools, lighting, and other non-sensitive electronics. Modified sinewave inverters are less expensive than pure sinewave inverters, making them a cost-effective solution for many applications.
How do I use a Power Inverter?
In order to correctly use a power an inverter, you will need a source of DC electricity, typically from a leisure battery.
Before connecting an inverter to a battery, it is important to determine the power requirements of the devices you want to power and to choose an inverter that is capable of meeting those requirements.
For example, if you want to power a large tool that requires 1000 watts, you need to choose an inverter that is rated to deliver at least 1000 watts of power. It is also important to choose a battery that is capable of discharging the necessary power to the inverter and that the battery has a large enough capacity to run your appliance for the duration you wish.
How to calculate battery size
When choosing a battery to pair with your inverter there are two main factors you'll want to consider.
- Discharge Capability - Typically measured in CCA
- Battery Capacity - Typically represented in AH
Discharge Capability
You may want to power a 1000W device like a blender, and this will mean your battery must be able to deliver 1000W all at once.
Battery discharge capability is measured in CCA (Cold Cranking Amps)
This will tell you how many Amps a battery may support at any given time.
If you take these Amps and multiply them by the battery voltage, you will get a figure in Watts.
Battery Voltage x Cold Cranking Amps = Max Power Draw (Watts)
For example a 12V battery may have a CCA of 200A meaning it can safely power loads up to 2400W
You'll have to make sure you battery can deliver enough watts in order to safely power your 240V devices.
Battery Capacity
It can often be easier to measure capacity in Wh rather than AH, and to do this we can use a simple calculation
Battery Voltage x Battery Capacity in AH = Battery Capacity in Wh
For Example a 12V with 100Ah will result in 1200Wh of storage.
This battery will then be able to power a 600W device for 2 hours, or a 1200W device for 1 hour.
There are other factors to include such as battery chemistry and natural losses so you should always have a larger capacity than what you're expecting to use. (Typically 20% more than what you need)
For example if you need 1000Wh of energy, then its best to have a 1200Wh energy storage.
In short, its best to choose your battery specifically for your application, making sure that you not only have enough storage (AH), but that your battery is capable of discharging to the level you need it to.
For more information or expert support, please feel free to contact our technical team directly.
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