Inverters have become vital appliances in modern homes, businesses and even vehicles. Nowadays, due to dependence on electricity, frequent power cuts and the need for efficient energy management, installation of inverters has become very important in more and more homes and industries. An inverter is an electronic device that converts direct current (DC) power into alternating current (AC) power. Let us know in this article about the use of inverter, its types and how to choose the right inverter as per your requirement
What is an Inverter
The inverter is a small electronic device but not an ordinary one. Do you have any question in your mind that who invented inverter? David Prince is credited with inventing the “inverter” in 1925. Toshiba, a Japanese electronics company, invented the inverter in 1980.
Application of Inverters are extensively in every homes and offices. Everyone knows why it is used, but very few people know what it actually is. See, an inverter is an electronic device that converts direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity.
DC power that flows in a single direction is usually obtained from batteries or solar energy, while AC power constantly changes direction.
AC power is used in homes and businesses. In fact, electrical appliances, such as lights, fans, computers, and televisions, are designed to run on AC power.
We use inverters when AC power is not available for some reason. The inverter converts DC power stored by batteries or solar energy into AC power, which runs lights, fans, computers and TVs.
Application of Inverters for restore backup power, especially in areas where power cuts occur frequently.
What is the Purpose of Inverter
The purpose of the inverter is to provide a continuous source of AC (alternating current) electricity from a DC (direct current) source, so that electrical appliances can be run even if there is no electricity from the grid. Let us know for what purposes we are using the inverter extensively:
1. Providing power backup during outages
The main purpose of use of an inverter is to get uninterrupted power supply even during power cuts.
The inverter automatically keeps providing backup power when connected to the battery. This keeps essential appliances and electronics, such as lights, fans, computers, and medical equipment, running without any interruption.
2. Use in Renewable Energy Systems
The application of inverter for solar energy is very economical, suitable for domestic or commercial use.
In many places, grid-tie solar inverters are used, which can push the excess electricity generated from solar energy into the power grid, providing energy efficiency as well as financial benefits.
3. Mobile Power Supply for Remote Locations
Application of an Inverter devices also offer special features, such as powering standard AC-powered devices in vehicles such as trucks and boats or in remote off-grid locations where conventional power is not available.
For example, an inverter can run a small refrigerator, charge a laptop, or power medical equipment in an emergency.
4. Smart Energy Management
Use of an inverter helps us reduce energy bills by using stored battery or solar energy from renewable energy sources.
Advanced inverters are programmed to switch between stored battery energy and supplied power, thus managing energy smartly.
Where is the inverter used?
Application of an inverter are Some of the key areas where inverters are commonly used are:
1. Use of Inverter at Homes
This question comes in the mind of many people that how to use an inverter or what is the use of inverter.
With battery Inverter use for power backup in homes when there are power cuts. Using an inverter keeps essential appliances like lights, fans, televisions, refrigerators and even computers working smoothly during a power cut. They are especially useful in areas with frequent power cuts.
Use of an inverter in AC – There are many advantages of using inverter in air conditioners in homes and offices such as:
An inverter AC controls the speed of the compressor as per the need. It operates continuously without switching the compressor on and off, leading to smooth and efficient cooling.
The inverter helps us to have precise temperature control. It helps to reach the desired temperature quickly and keeps the fluctuations to a minimum, ensuring the perfect comfort level.
Since inverter ACs eliminate the need to switch the compressor on and off repeatedly, there is very little wear and tear on them. This increases the life of the air conditioner.
Several type of inverter used in homes, In which it is used as per different needs and electricity requirements. Let us know about some types of inverter for home use:
- Pure Sine Wave Inverter: These provide a smooth and consistent waveform similar to grid power. This types of inverter is ideal for running sensitive electronic devices like laptops, televisions and refrigerators. But these are more expensive.
- Modified Sine Wave Inverter: These produce step-wise waves, which are suitable for basic appliances like fans, lights and simple kitchen appliances. They are more economical than pure sine wave inverters, but are not compatible with some sensitive electronics.
- Square Wave Inverter: Square wave type inverters are the simplest and least expensive. But they have low efficiency and are not compatible with many devices. They are suitable for small appliances like lights or fans, but are rarely used in modern homes due to compatibility issues.
- Grid-Tie Inverter: This type of inverter is used for homes or offices with grid-connected solar power systems. Grid-tie inverters convert DC from solar panels to AC and can also send excess power back to the grid, thereby smartly managing electricity bills.
- Hybrid Inverters: Hybrid inverters are suitable for both solar panels and batteries. They store the excess energy generated by solar during the day for use at night or during power cuts. The high flexibility and energy efficiency of this type of inverter for home makes it popular for solar-powered.
2. In Solar System
The use of an inverters is very important in solar energy systems. Solar panels generate direct current (DC) electricity, which the inverter converts into alternating current (AC).
This type of current can be used to run household appliances easily. This current can also be sent to the electrical grid. Solar inverters are used in solar energy for both residential and commercial setups.
3. In Business and Office
Many businesses use of an inverters to supply uninterrupted power for a variety of purposes.
Essential equipment such as computers, servers, communication systems and lighting need to be kept running without interruption. This is very important for day-to-day operations in offices and businesses.
4. In industries and factories
In many industries, use of an inverter to supply power to machinery and control systems during power outages. Such industries often use large batteries or solar panels to compensate for the lack of energy.
Use of an inverters help maintain production without interruption and reduce operational losses.
5. In Transportation and Recreational Vehicles
There are also some types of inverters that are widely used in vehicles such as RVs, boats, and trucks.
They are used to power standard AC-powered devices on the go. This includes powering small appliances, charging electronic devices, and even running appliances. This makes inverters valuable for long trips and camping.
6. In Telecommunication and Medical Facilities
Uninterrupted power supply is crucial for telecommunication towers and medical facilities. Hence, inverters play a vital role in this task.
In telecommunication, need of inverter is to keep the communication system operational, while in medical facilities, they ensure uninterrupted power supply to sensitive equipment such as diagnostic machines, ventilators and life-support systems in case of power disruption.
7. In Data Centers and IT Facilities
In data centers and IT facilities, application of inverter is very important to maintain uninterrupted power supply. Critical equipment such as servers and networking devices require uninterrupted power to run smoothly.
For this, inverters play a key role in the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, Where even minor disruptions cause significant operational and financial losses.
In addition, inverters regulate voltage and frequency in power conditioning systems, protecting sensitive IT equipment from power fluctuations.
Back Panel of an Inverter
- 1. AC supply mains
- 2. manual/bypass switch
- 3. output supply socket
- 4. normal/UPS switch
- 5. NC/HC switch
- 6. ELS cord
- 7. battery supply wire(+Ve and -Ve)
- 8. cooling fan
- 9. name plate
Due to frequent power cut, inverter has become a vital necessity for the house hold in the present time.
At the time of this inflation, it would be very foolish to use diesel generator for frequent power cut. but this problem is solved to a great extent by the inverter at very low cost.
At present, inverter function with Bluetooth connectivity and WiFi connection feature are available in the market, which can be easily controlled.
To avoid the burden of electricity bills, there are many such inverters available in the market, which can be connected directly to the solar panel and the battery can be charged.
How to Buy Inverter for Home
Now it comes to which type of inverter we should buy from the market. Well, there are many inverters available in the market but we can use it as per our requirement like.
- Pure Sine Wave Inverters
- Modified Sine Wave Inverters
- Square Wave Inverters
- Grid-Tie Inverters
- Hybrid Inverters
We have given complete information about this type of inverter. Let us find out what information we need to use of an inverter.
See friends, if you buy an inverter for your home, then keep this thing in your mind that you should always buy a pure sine wave inverter. Now you will say that we do not have such technical knowledge, don’t worry, you do not need to go into so much depth.
Just blindly buying a pure sine wave inverter. Always remember one thing that all the electrical appliances in our home are designed on the basis of pure sine wave.
Friends, we have given the picture of pure sine wave inverter for convenience so that you do not get confused.
We and you know that if you talk about pure sine wave in the market then 90% of the shopkeepers will say what is it. Therefore, for convenience, we have provided you this information.
Buy Inverter as per your Requirement
To Use of an inverter as per the requirement, first of all we have to calculate the power of the appliance installed in the house. This is a simple formula.
- Mobile phone charger 5W or less
- CFL bulb(room)- 10-25W
- Incandscent lamp- 100W
- LED bulb- 5-40W
- TV- 130W
- Fan- 60-90W
- Computer- 150-200W
- Aircoolers- 250-300W
- Mixers and grinders- 300-400W
- Induction cookers- 1000-1500W
- Iron- 750W
This is a general figure for appliances. To know the exact figure, every appliance used in the home has a wattage rating written on it. The total wattage is calculated by adding the ratings of all these.
For example, let us assume the total wattage of all the appliances is 1000W. Now we have to determine the capacity of the inverter which is simply called Voltage Ampere Rating (VA).
Now we have to calculate the VA of the inverter we are going to buy. Like other machines, inverters are also not 100% efficient, so we assume the maximum VA x 80% capacity of the inverter.
Yes, one more thing, the higher the power of the inverter, the more appliances you can run simultaneously in the house.
For backup power, you will have to choose the best quality battery. One more thing, the higher the Ah value of the battery, the more backup it will give.
At present, 100Ah, 150Ah, 180Ah, 200Ah, 250Ah batteries are available in the market. It is very important to choose the right battery as per the power requirement of the house as well as from an economic point of view. Know this with a simple formula.
Let my house power reqirement 1000W
so we brought inverter capacity 1150VA
then capacity = 1150 x 0.80%
= 920
if power backup continue require three hours
then 920VA x 3hrs/12V = 230 Ah ≈ 200 Ah battery required
One thing to consider is how many devices in your home run simultaneously when it comes to direct backup connectivity.
Conclusion
The use of inverters is very important for continuous and stable power supply in the home, especially during power cuts. They provide convenience, safety and flexibility in powering essential appliances and sensitive electronics. Inverters are a boon for home working setups and renewable energy sources like solar panels. With different types of inverters, homeowners can choose the most suitable model as per their power needs and budget.
FAQ(Use of Inverter)
I am an engineer in a government department and also a blogger. I write posts on topics related to electrical and electronics engineering.
