Types of Power Inverters And How To Choose

An inverter is a device that converts direct current into alternating current, which is required by many electrical appliances, including household and industrial equipment. We all know that alternating current cannot be stored in batteries. What can be stored in batteries is direct current, but direct current cannot drive electronic devices. This is where the role of the inverter comes into play. You can use an inverter and a battery to create a portable, removable AC power supply.

As a professional manufacturer of inverters, we will share with you the classification of inverters in this article. Different types of inverters have different characteristics.

Types of home inverters

JCPOWER will list our common inverter classifications for you and explain their characteristics for you:

Grid inverter

Grid-tied inverters (GTI) can be used with batteries and the public grid. It converts DC power from the battery (from the solar system) into AC power required by the load. It enables the solar panel system’s excess energy to be fed back into the grid, synchronizing the current’s frequency and phase to fit the utility grid. Power is transferred from a DC source to the utility grid by increasing the voltage level of the inverter.

Standalone inverter

Standalone inverters, also known as off-grid inverters, are often used with battery banks to provide backup power in the event of a power outage.
One end of the inverter is connected to the battery, and the other end is directly connected to the load. They cannot be connected to the public grid because they do not have a synchronization function and are not affected by the public grid.

My common pure sine wave inverters, modified wave inverters, and square wave inverters can be used as independent inverters.

Hybrid inverter

Hybrid inverters combine the functions of a stand-alone inverter and a grid-tied inverter. This type of inverter can effectively manage the current operation between the solar system, the battery, and the public grid. It can inject the excess capacity generated by the solar power generation system into the public grid to obtain compensation when the power is sufficient. It can also be used to generate electricity. When the system and battery are unable to carry the power supply, the public grid switches to power the home. In other words, a hybrid inverter can operate as a standalone inverter or as a grid-tied inverter, depending on the load requirements.

For solar photovoltaic systems, when there is sufficient sunlight during the day, the electricity generated by the solar panels can supply your electricity needs, and the excess electricity can be used to charge the battery. At night or when there is insufficient sunlight, you can draw power from the reserve battery. exist
When electricity supply is abundant or electricity prices are low, power can be supplied from the grid and added to the battery for charging. When the power supply is tight or the electricity price is high, you can give priority to using battery power to further save on electricity bills.

When a power outage occurs on the grid, the hybrid inverter can automatically switch to battery power mode to continue supplying power to your electrical equipment. This makes hybrid inverters particularly suitable for areas with unstable power supplies or frequent power outages.
This flexible way of managing power supply can significantly improve power usage efficiency and save power expenses, while also ensuring that power is still available when power supply is interrupted.

Pure sine wave inverter

Pure sine wave inverter is a type of high-frequency inverter which is the most advanced and efficient type of inverter. They produce a smooth sinusoidal waveform that is nearly identical to the current supplied by the grid. This type of inverter is therefore ideal for sensitive electronic equipment that requires a stable power supply. They can run almost anything, from computers to televisions to medical equipment, without causing damage or interference, making them the first choice for most users. Pure sine wave inverters are suitable for camping, home use, maritime navigation, RV power supply, solar systems and other scenarios. Although it is more expensive than a square wave or modified sine wave inverter, the price is negligible compared to the cost of damage to electronic equipment.

square wave inverter

Square wave inverters produce square waveforms. It is the simplest inverter that converts DC power into AC power. They produce a simple square wave output, are cheap, and are suitable for running some low-sensitivity electrical equipment such as lighting and fans. However, this type of inverter is not commonly used in home solar power systems because it can cause excessive heat and damage sensitive electronic equipment.

Modified sine wave inverter

The modified sine wave inverter is an improvement on the square wave inverter, providing a waveform that is closer to a pure sine wave. The structure of the modified sine wave inverter is much simpler than that of the pure sine wave inverter but more complex than that of the pure square wave inverter. Although the final output waveform of these inverters is not a pure sine wave, the harmonic distortion of the output is still reduced to 24%. Filtering further reduces distortion, but the amount is still significant. These inverters can run a wider range of equipment and are more energy efficient than square wave inverters. However, they can still cause problems with some sensitive electronic equipment and can produce audible noise in devices such as audio systems. Correction waves may permanently damage electronic devices with timers in circuits. All appliances with electric motors, if connected to a modified wave inverter, will not work as efficiently as if connected to a pure sine wave inverter.

Some parameters to consider when choosing an inverter

Total load wattage: Calculating this value is as easy as a child’s addition. You just need to find the nameplate of the electronic device, record the wattage the device is running at, and finally add the values. For example: electric fan (1500W) + computer (110W) + refrigerator (150W) + coffee machine (1000W) = 2760W. An additional 20% load needs to be added because the inverter itself will have losses, so the final result is 2760 + 552 = 3312W, so you may need a 4000W inverter to drive these loads with confidence.

Rated power rate of the inverter: This parameter will be marked on each inverter, usually between 300W and 12000W. The rated power must be greater than the total power of the load!

Input voltage: that is, the battery voltage, generally 12V, 14V, or 48V. The battery voltage must match the inverter input voltage.

Output voltage: North American and some South American countries, as well as places such as Japan and Thailand, commonly use grid voltages of 110 to 120 volts. In Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, India and other places, power grids with a voltage of 220 to 240 volts are generally used.

Socket type: When choosing an inverter, you should choose the socket type in your country.

Battery capacity: If you are using a standalone inverter, it is important to choose a battery with enough capacity to power your home during a power outage. The battery’s capacity should be able to provide enough power to meet your home’s maximum power needs for a given period of time.

Calculation of battery working time: battery capacity * single cell voltage * 0.8 (battery effective working capacity) * 0.9 (inverter efficiency) / load power. Assume that the battery is two 200AH cells and the load is a 200W computer, Then the battery is fully charged When the working hours are 2002/120.80.9/200=17.2 hours,.

Inverter efficiency:
Calculation
Efficiency = output power/input power
Input power = input voltage * input current
Output power = output voltage * output current
For example, if the working state of 1000W is measured as input voltage 12V, current 100A, output voltage 225V, and current 4.8A, then the efficiency is (2254.8)/(12100) = 0.9%. Generally, the maximum efficiency of JCPOWER’s inverter is 94%, which varies with power and voltage.

Choose the right inverter

Has choosing the right inverter for your home become a headache for you? JCPOWER will list for you the factors you need to consider when choosing an inverter:

Are you using an inverter in your solar power generation system? Or does it simply work by connecting the battery?

On-grid or off-grid systems: Another factor to consider is whether you need an on-grid or off-grid system. Grid-tied systems connect to the utility grid and allow you to sell excess electricity back to the grid. Off-grid systems, on the other hand, are not connected to the utility grid and require inverters and battery banks to provide backup power.

If you live in an area with a reliable utility grid, a grid-tied system may be your best option. This will allow you to save money on your electricity bill by selling excess electricity back to the grid. However, if you live in an area with frequent power outages, an off-grid system may be a better option.

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT): Some inverters are equipped with MPPT, which allows solar panels to operate at maximum efficiency. The inverters offered by BSLBATT have multiple MPPTs built-in, which help maximize the power output of the solar panel system.

Efficiency: An inverter with high conversion efficiency will make it easier for you to use.
Manufacturer’s warranty: Generally, manufacturers provide a one-year warranty. The warranty should cover any defects or malfunctions that may occur during the life of the inverter.

Price: Inverters vary in price and quality. Keep in mind that lower-priced inverters may not have all the features you need, and the parts used may have quality issues.

Conclusion

There are many types of inverters available on the market, each with its own characteristics and advantages, corresponding to different usage scenarios. When choosing an inverter, consider your total load power, usage scenarios, power factor, battery capacity, and whether it will be used in a solar system.

Selecting an inverter made by a reliable manufacturer is also crucial. JCPOWER has ten years of experience in inverter manufacturing. The components used are all high-quality electronic components that have passed US and EU quality certifications. We offer a one-year warranty and 30 days of free returns. Provide you with professional power solutions.