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Inverters |
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Inverters simplify the process of living on renewable energy, because they produce conventional electricity ---Alternating Current (AC). This allows the use of conventional AC appliances from battery power. Inverters come in all shapes and sizes, and can be specialized for certain applications. Today, most solar electric homes are primarily using inverters to power most of their electrical needs. In the early days of solar electricity, most homes used DC power and only used the inefficient inverters available for intermittent use of some AC appliances. But with the technological breakthroughs in the late-80's, and continuing in the nineties, inverters have become an efficient, powerfuL and above all, reliable component in renewable energy systems. Today's inverters offer the home power resident most of the modern conveniences of the average grid-powered home. Sine Wave vs. Modified Sine Wave There are basically two types of inverter output. Sine wave is a relatively new development in inverters, while modified sine wave constitutes the output of most of the inverters on the market. Utility power companies and gas AC generators produce sine wave AC (alternating current) power. All conventional electric appliances are designed to operate on sine wave AC, so some appliances have problems accepting modified sine wave. Loads like copiers, laser printers, audio equipment, some computers, etc. have electronic circuitry that is very picky about the wave form of its power supply. But in every category there is an exception to the rule. In most cases modified sine wave inveTters are satisfactory running most household appliances. At this stage of development they are more efficient running smaller loads than sine wave inverters. Sine wave inverters will run loads more quietly, and motors more powerfully. Only sine wave inverters can be synchronous with grid or generator power. Trace Engineering's sine wave inverters are capable of selling power to the grid. Choosing an Inverter With the exception of water pumping, refrigeration and fans, most household loads, because they are intermittent, will operate efficiently and cost-effectively on inverter power. Determine what your overall needs are in your system. What is the total continuous power that you might need from an inverter at peak demand times (powering two or more large appliances simultaneously, like a deep well pump and an automatic washer.) In choosing an inverter, continuous power ratings and surge power ratings (for starting motors), idle power consumption and their overall efficiency are the most important factors. If there are just too many choices for you, ask the friendly folks at Rocky Grove for a recommendation. (Tip: Trace Inverters have been around since '86 and they quickly set the standards for the rest of the inverter market. We generally recommend Trace over the others in most full-time residential systems.) |
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