3 Things First-Timers Usually Get Confused About When Buying Pure Sine Wave Inverter in Australia

Throughout the years, inverters have proven to be a great help not just for travellers, but for homeowners as well. Even if you are in a place with no access to electricity, you can still use electrical appliances and power tools, thanks to the inverter's capability to convert DC power from batteries and solar panels into standard AC electricity. This is why there is a growing number of pure sine wave inverter in Australia being sold these days.

Tips for First-Time Buyers

If this is your first time buying an inverter, know that the results you will get will mostly depend on the inverter you will purchase. Therefore, it is a must that you know a thing or two about buying inverters. Here are some of the things most first-timers get confused about when buying an inverter. Make sure you know these stuff to ensure that you're purchasing the right product.

1. Starting power and running power

The starting power of all electrical appliances is always different from their running power. For example, an 18-watt CFL light needs around 25 watts to start before settling to 18 watts after a few seconds. Bigger electrical appliances, like refrigerators and washing machines, usually need double their running power to start. When purchasing a 12v pure sine wave inverter, therefore, make sure that it can sustain your appliance's starting power. Otherwise, you won't be able to use your device with the inverter.

2. Volts, amps, and watts

Another thing most first-time buyers got confused about when buying an inverter is the difference between volts, amps, and watts. Watts is basically the amount of power drawn by the appliances. It is also the amount of power generated by the inverter. Volts refer to the force of electricity, while amps measures the amount of electricity used.

3. Power source

Remember, inverters don't produce their own power. They need a battery or a DC power source to function. If you're going to buy 24v pure sine wave inverter , make sure to pair it off with a reliable battery. The capacity of a battery is usually expressed in amps hour (Ah), which indicates the rate of current a battery can provide over a certain period of time. For example, if the battery has a capacity of 100Ah, it can supply 100 amps for one hour or 1 amp current for 100 hours.

As the saying goes, "knowledge is power." By knowing a few important things about the basics of power inverters, it will be much easier for you to find the product that you need. So make sure to keep these important information discussed above in mind to avoid confusion when buying an inverter.

4 Things that Can Damage Your Pure Sine Wave Inverter

Buying a pure sine wave inverter in Australia is perhaps one of best investment you will ever make. Whether you want to use it for your travels or for your home, this nifty piece of electrical equipment can provide you with reliable mobile power solutions. But just like most things, the inverter is not indestructible. It can get broken if not handled properly. Here are some of the things that can damage your inverter.

What Can Damage My Inverter?

1. Lightning strikes

It is common knowledge that lightning is attracted to metal objects. And because an inverter has components made of metal and it gives of electrical discharge, there is a huge possibility that it can get struck by lightning. And when this happens, there is little to no chance that your inverter will be usable again. To avoid this problem, don't place your inverter in a wide open area when it is in use. Or better yet, don't use it when there is a thunderstorm.

2. Water

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that water can damage any electrical appliance or equipment, 12v pure sine wave inverter included. This is one of the biggest reasons why experts always warn users to keep the inverter in a cool dry place, whether it is in use or not in use.

3. Floating ground

Floating ground or floating earth connection can also damage your inverter. Most electrical circuits, like those in inverter, have a ground that is electrically connected to the earth, which is why it is called "ground." If this connection does not exist, the ground is said to be "floating" and is, therefore, bad for the equipment.

4. Overloading the inverter

Overloading the inverter is also one of the most sure-fire ways to damage the device. For example if you only have a 300w inverter and you decide to plug in multiple appliances that requires high starting load all at the same time, chances are, it will adversely affect both battery and inverter performance. Or even worse, the inverter's safety features won't be able to handle it, causing the device to fail. Therefore, it's best to avoid such a practice or if you're going to use high power appliances, you should get a bigger 12v or 24v pure sine wave inverter.

Proper handling and usage is your first line of defence against inverter damage. So if you want to make sure your power inverters will last a long time, keep them away from these objects and scenarios.