So
you have decided to purchase a pure sine wave power inverter. Well, good for you! Over the last few of years, this
electronic device has proven to be a reliable mobile power solution and an
excellent alternative to power generators. Because of its versatility, you can
expect many great things from this nifty power equipment.
When
buying a power inverter, meanwhile, some
of the most typical questions many buyers have are those concerning the size of
the inverter. We're not talking about the physical size of the device because
most users are aware that inverters usually come in a standard, compact size.
What we mean is the size of the power supply the device is capable of
generating. When it comes to inverters, take note that they need to supply two
needs: peak or surge power and the typical or continuous power.
Surge
or peak power is basically the maximum power it can provide, usually for only a
short period of time. This is a key requirement when powering up appliances
that have electric motors and those that require a much higher start-up surge
power than they do when running. Examples of these appliances include pumps,
compressors, air conditioners, freezers, and refrigerators.
On
the other hand, typical or continuous power is what the power inverter has to supply on a steady or
continuous basis. Continuous power is typically lower than the surge power. For
example, this would be what a refrigerator will consume after the first few
seconds it takes for its motor to start up. Take note that when buying an
inverter, make sure that you will select a pure sine wave inverter with a continuous power rating that can handle the surge
power rating of your appliance or device. This way, you can prevent the
inverter from burning out prematurely.
Also,
you should not rely on the inverter's surge power to start your electronic
appliance or equipment. It is because according to experts, the typical pure
sine wave power inverter doesn't usually like to operate in its surge mode all
the time. Unless the inverter has a longer surge time than normal, using its
surge power to start up electronic appliances might have a detrimental effect
on the inverter.
Before
you make your purchase, therefore, you should consider the type and the power
requirements of the electrical appliances and devices you would like to use
with the pure sine wave power inverter. This will help narrow down your choices
as it allows you to easily determine the size of the inverter you should get.
