A power inverter converts direct current (DC) power into conventional alternating currency (AC). Power converters are normally used in cars mostly to power up a range of household appliances such as microwaves, power tools, Tvs, radios and even computers.

A power inverter converts direct current (DC) power into conventional alternating currency (AC). Power converters are normally used in cars mostly to power up a range of household appliances such as microwaves, power tools, Tvs, radios and even computers. A car battery does not give out an AC electrical output, and that is why inverters are necessary. The usefulness of converters is appreciated by campers or by anyone who has ever had their cell phone die on them while they were on the road. However, most of us do not know the first thing about a power inverter. All we do is hook it to the car’s battery then plug in AC gadgets and voila, the laptop powers up. Not all inverters are connected directly to the car’s battery; there are smaller ones that can fit right in the car’s cigarette lighter.

How do these devices work? This is the technical bit about any power inverter. The two factors that contribute to the working of power inverters are wave output and wattage output. Wave output refers to the physical appearance of electric signals as they travel through an oscilloscope. For instance, square waves appear exactly as their names suggest, like squares on a grid. Pure since waves, or true sine waves, appear as waves on the screen.

This is where a pure sine inverter comes in. This power inverter produces oscillating waves that is near perfect to a sine wave. Its output is similar to that of a utility grid power station, although the magnitude of the voltage might differ. The main advantage of a pure sine inverter from other power inverters is, modified sine wave inverters have as a feature, a zero volts reading for a short while which quickly changes to either a positive charge or a negative charge to simulate an alternating current.

However, a pure sine inverter does not at any one point feature a zero reading. It alternates from positive to negative reading so as to simulate an alternating current. This is one of the advantages of using a pure sine inverter; it continuously gives a high AC without any fluctuations. This makes the inverter more suitable for large jobs that require high voltages, such as wielding.

When choosing a power inverter, it is crucial to first of all determine the power needed. This is simply done by considering the task at hand. Does the equipment used require high voltage outputs? If so then a pure sine inverter is the best inverter for the job. However, there are a few other things that need to be considered before making the final decision on a power inverter. First of all, an inverter needs to be matched to the battery or any other source of DC current. In most cases, a 12 volt car battery is used, and as such, a 12 volt inverter is the best fit.

Conversely, some appliances have higher wattage rating than others. This means that while a 12-volt pure sine inverter might run a computer, it’s not recommended to use the same power inverter to power up an iron box. Both may have the same voltage rating, but the wattage rating for each appliance is different. Note the wattage rating of the appliance that will be used, and match this rating with a power inverter. The higher the wattage an appliance requires, the higher the watt rating a pure sine inverter should possess. For instance a microwave with a wattage rating of 400 watts should be matched with at least an 800 watt inverter.

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