Appendix C – Power Consumption & Output Waveforms
©
2017 Sensata Technologies
Page 48
Figure C-1, AC Waveforms
Table C-1, Typical Appliance Power Consumption
Device
Load
Device
Load
Device
Load
Blender
400W
Coffee Maker
1200W
Light (Flo)
10W
Computer
300W
Color TV
150W
Light (Inc)
100W
Drill
500W
Hair Dryer
1000W
Microwave
1000W
Hot Plate
1800W
Iron
1000W
Refrigerator
500W
Appendix C – Power Consumption & Output Waveforms
C-1 Appliances and Run Time
The ME Series inverter/charger powers a wide range of household appliances including small
motors, hair dryers, clocks, and other electrical devices. As with any appliance using batteries for
power, there is a certain length of time that it can run—i.e., “run time.” Actual run time depends
on several variables, including: the size and type of appliance, the type of batteries installed in
your application, as well as the battery’s capacity and age. Other factors such as the battery’s
state of charge (SOC) and temperature can also affect the length of time your appliances can run.
Appliances (TVs, VCRs, stereos, computers, and lights) can all be successfully powered by your
inverter. Larger electrical appliances, however, such as stoves, water heaters, etc., can quickly
drain your batteries and are not recommended for inverter applications.
All electrical appliances are rated by the amount of power they consume (See Table C-1). The
rating is printed on the product’s nameplate label, usually located on its chassis near the AC
power cord. Even though it is dif
fi
cult to calculate exactly how long an inverter will run a particular
appliance, the best advice is trial and error. Your ME Series inverter has a built-in safeguard that
automatically protects your batteries from over-discharge.
Info
: For optimum performance, a minimum battery bank of 200 AH is recommended
for moderate loads (<1000W) and greater than 400 AH for heavy loads (
≥
1000W).
TIME
VOLTAGE
40
80
0
120
40
160
200
80
120
160
200
Modified
Sine Wave
Sine Wave
Square Wave
C-2 Output
Waveform
The inverter’s output waveform is the shape of the wave that alternating current makes as its
voltage rises and falls with time (see Figure C-1 below). The three basic output waveforms are:
• Modifi ed Sine Wave
– Also referred to as
a “quasi sine wave” or a “modi
fi
ed square
wave”. This output looks like a one-step
staircase and the waveform changes its
width to continually provide the correct
RMS output voltage regardless of the
battery voltage. Most loads that run from
a sine wave will also run from a modi
fi
ed
sine wave. However, things such as clocks
and furnace controllers may have trouble.
• Sine
Wave
– An AC waveform that looks
like rolling waves on water. It rises and
falls smoothly with time. The grid puts
out a sine waveform. Any plug-in AC
equipment will operate from a sine wave
output inverter.
• Square Wave
– The simplest AC
waveform. Some types of equipment
behave strangely when powered from a
square wave inverter.
