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www.procontechnology.com.au
Phone: (03) 98306288
WHAT IS AN INVERTER?
Inverters are designed for powering household appliances from a battery or low voltage
DC source. They are electronic devices that convert battery power to AC mains power.
Inverters are compact and often lightweight making them an ideal source of portable
mains power. Thanks to their portability they are commonly used in cars, caravans,
motor homes, boats, 4WD's, utility vehicles, trucks and buses.
Using an inverter with standard household appliances is a much cheaper option than
purchasing specialized 12V or 24V appliances for times when mains power is not
available.
There are two different types of inverters, Modified Sine Wave (MSW) and True Sine
Wave (TSW). The difference between the two is how close the output replicates normal
mains power.
These graphs show the difference in output between mains power, MSW and TSW
inverters.
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MAINS POWER (SINE WAVE)
MODIFIED SINE WAVE
TRUE SINE WAVE
Logically it follows that the process used in a TSW inverter is more complex than a MSW
inverter and subsequently they are a lot more expensive.
In reality most electric appliances operate unaffected on a modified sine wave and hence
they are more common in applications requiring intermittent use.
True sine wave inverters are reserved for use on sensitive electrical appliances (such as
medical equipment) and in permanent or continuously operating installations.
Inverters are available with different power output levels to suit the type of appliances to
be powered. Small inverters are designed for powering one small low power electrical or
electronic appliance. Larger inverters can be used to power multiple small appliances or
one larger appliance. Typically inverters are not suitable for running appliances with very
high power requirements such as electric heaters, stoves and air conditioners. This is due
to their high current draw and the resultant battery consumption.
