dnw64
Veteran Member
What am I missing? An inverter takes power in and changes it in some way before sending it out. Where is the power coming from?
Modified Sine Wave Inverter,, Is There A List Somewhere??
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What am I missing? An inverter takes power in and changes it in some way before sending it out. Where is the power coming from?
Industrial Toys
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Stock up on Lemons to make batteries. :confused2:
Diggin It
Super Star Member
Finally, somebody got there. I thought I was missing something. Inverters modify power, they don't generate it. You need a power supply; batteries, generator, vehicle, solar panels, wind turbine, etc.
Very interesting concept using the UPS. I have a 3,000watt modified sine wave inverter in my plow truck and it will run almost everything except my Toyotomi oil heaters(sensitive circuit boards). Bought a Honda 2000 watt inverter generator for them.
I will try a UPS now.
Industrial Toys
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The UPS may sense crappy AC input and will make it's own power. I have a large ALPH 3000 watt transformer based telecom inverter that will not run on my Onan/Kubota generator, since the frequency is not spot on! Annoying!
AWSubie
Platinum Member
Most people use their car batteries for short power interruptions.
Diggin It
Super Star Member
^^ That may be OK for an hour or less. We have outages than can be days long.
UPSs are not inverters They are Uninterruptable Power Supplies. They have a battery charger and some circuitry to sense low and high power and boost or cut power as needed using the battery. 'Run Time' without utility power is usually rated at 30 minutes or less unless you seriously over size them, which I do. I usually get 800 or 1000 watt hour units to run small devices longer.
UPSs are not the clean power that inverters usually provide. Not even the ones with AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation) circuitry.
UPSs are not inverters They are Uninterruptable Power Supplies. They have a battery charger and some circuitry to sense low and high power and boost or cut power as needed using the battery. 'Run Time' without utility power is usually rated at 30 minutes or less unless you seriously over size them, which I do. I usually get 800 or 1000 watt hour units to run small devices longer.
UPSs are not the clean power that inverters usually provide. Not even the ones with AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation) circuitry.
Industrial Toys
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They MOST CERTAINLY ARE inverters.
AND, there are varying types. Some make excellent quality power (being an inverter) all the time. Some only start making power (using an internal inverter) when the AC incoming, quits.
AND, there are varying types. Some make excellent quality power (being an inverter) all the time. Some only start making power (using an internal inverter) when the AC incoming, quits.
PEJ5
Gold Member
A standard generator produces AC via the windings, but the voltage varies if the engine RPMs vary or oscillate which is not healthy for what is plugged in. (Avoid running out of gas during operation). They do produce a true sine wave.
An inverter generator produces AC that is converted to DC and then the inverter section creates AC again. The AC voltage, created electronically, remains stable even if the engine RPMs are not. The problem is that the cheaper units do not produce a smooth true AC sine wave, but instead produce a square wave which can damage some equipment.
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) uses batteries (DC) to produce AC via the same inverter technology when the input power goes out. Again, the cheaper UPSs produce a square wave AC output while only the more expensive units will advertise 'true sine wave output".
True sine wave is best (if stable), a stepped or modified sine wave is better and a square wave output is least desirable. A company could call their square wave output "modified" so be careful.
Also, most less expensive UPSs simply pass on the input voltage when it exists so they would not clean up a square wave generator output. Lipstick on a pig.
There are other details I did not describe here but these are the basics. Read the advertising carefully. A good product will show off and promote its output quality.
An inverter generator produces AC that is converted to DC and then the inverter section creates AC again. The AC voltage, created electronically, remains stable even if the engine RPMs are not. The problem is that the cheaper units do not produce a smooth true AC sine wave, but instead produce a square wave which can damage some equipment.
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) uses batteries (DC) to produce AC via the same inverter technology when the input power goes out. Again, the cheaper UPSs produce a square wave AC output while only the more expensive units will advertise 'true sine wave output".
True sine wave is best (if stable), a stepped or modified sine wave is better and a square wave output is least desirable. A company could call their square wave output "modified" so be careful.
Also, most less expensive UPSs simply pass on the input voltage when it exists so they would not clean up a square wave generator output. Lipstick on a pig.
There are other details I did not describe here but these are the basics. Read the advertising carefully. A good product will show off and promote its output quality.
Industrial Toys
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- Kubota R510 Wheel Loader + Cab and backhoe, JD 6200 Open Station, Cushman 6150, 4x4, ten foot 56 hp Kubota diesel hydraulic wing mower, Steiner 430 Diesel Max, Kawasaki Diesel Mule, JD 4x2 Electric Gator
It SEEMS that the highest quality inverters STILL have output transfomers.
It's why I am working on a generator project. Cummins/Onan Quiet Diesel 7.5 Inverter style generator, that I am putting a two hundred pound 10 KVA, transformer on,
one to make 120/240 since it only makes 120, and two, to provide that buffer, which seems to be so important. Like I said, I am no fan of inverters. This is an experiment of sorts.
It's why I am working on a generator project. Cummins/Onan Quiet Diesel 7.5 Inverter style generator, that I am putting a two hundred pound 10 KVA, transformer on,
one to make 120/240 since it only makes 120, and two, to provide that buffer, which seems to be so important. Like I said, I am no fan of inverters. This is an experiment of sorts.
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