Friday, February 28, 2014

Things To Consider Before Buying A Power Inverter

Power Inverters are used to convert DC input to a fixed AC output of required voltage and frequency which are required for powering the appliances in our homes. These inverters are commonly used to run typical appliances like rechargeable lamps, fans, juicers, blenders, hair dryers, ovens, mobile phones, laptops and many more depending on the capacity of the particular inverter. There are many different kinds of power inverters available in the market, but before buying them, some practical things must be kept in mind. They are as follows:

Sine Wave:
Before buying an inverter, check if the inverter comes with a true sine wave instead of a modified sine wave. It provides better quality power and helps in running the appliances smoothly. Try not to compromise on this feature.

Wattage:
Check the peak power and continuous power of the inverter. Inverters run only for a while at peak power. Of Continuous power is the amount of power that the inverter can carry safely to run appliances. Try to buy an inverter with power somehow greater than that of the required power for the appliances that you have. For example, if you want to run a 3 tube lights which consumes almost 90watts of power, go for the inverter with 100 wattage or greater. If your stuff requires 1000 wattage, then you should get a 1300W power inverter or higher to make sure that your appliances will be able to run smoothly.


Installation:
Check the installation requirements of the inverter that you are planning to purchase. The wiring should meet the requirements and make sure all the relevant cables are available.

Battery capacity:
Always choose a good battery that can support your inverter’s power rating. It is futile to buy a 5000W inverter, if your battery can only deliver 3000W of power.

Certification:
Try to purchase the inverter which is properly certified by proper and licensed authorities so that you can get better quality and output. Check whether it meets all the safety standards and also check its warranty period.

Power Stability
Nowadays, many inverters are coming with the microcontrollers that helps in regulating the power output and provide stable power. Opt for these types of inverters.

Number of Outlets
Determine the number of appliances that you will want to connect to the inverter. This will surely help you in the decision making process.  

Voltage Input
Knowing the input voltage of your car is essential, even if it is apparent that most US vehicles can provide a 12 volt DC input. Better be sure than sorry. Check and see to it that the power inverter that you have chosen can actually convert the DC voltage of your car to the required output.

Size and Space Requirement
The inverter’s size and space requirement are also important. You have to make sure that the power inverter that you will buy is not too big for your vehicle. If you shop around, you will surely be able to find a smaller one or an inverter that is right size for your car.

Low – Battery Indicator

This will warn you if your battery needs recharging. You will not be able to use your inverter to run your household appliances if your vehicle’s battery is discharged. This feature is usually a LED indicator that lights up when the voltage level of your car’s battery drops. 

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