5 Things You Wish You'd Knew before Using a Pure Sine Wave Inverter in Australia

A pure sine wave inverter in Australia is one of the most popular electronic devices used not just by car owners and travellers, but households as well. It is because an inverter is what you'll need if you want to power up your favourite electric appliance or power tool using your car, boat, or caravan. You can also use it with alternative sources of energy like solar panels. If you're going to purchase and use an inverter, here are some important things you must know.

Must-Know Facts about Inverter Usage

1. Right connection is crucial

Inverters come in different sizes and how you connect them to your car's power source can affect their performance. Smaller inverters, or those with a capacity of 400 watts or less, can be connected through the DC plug or cigarette lighter. But if your inverter has a capacity of more than 500 watts, you should connect it directly to your car's power source using battery type cables because cigarette lighters cannot handle large loads.

2. Standard car batteries are big no-no

If you want to improve the efficiency of your 24v or 12v pure sine wave inverter, don't connect them to a standard automotive car battery. Conventional car batteries are designed to provide starting power for your car. They are not suitable for repeated long discharge and recharge cycles, which are bound to happen when you're using an inverter.

3. Ensure your car's alternator and batteries are in good shape

If you're going to use a device for an extended period of time, you should let the car running so as to not completely discharge the batter. However, make sure that your car's alternator and battery are in good condition. This will help ensure that you'll have no problem with the extra draw when you use the inverter while the car is running.

4. Never place the inverter in the engine compartment

As mentioned earlier, a larger 12v or 24v pure sine wave inverter should be connected directly to your car's battery. However, don't make the mistake of placing the inverter inside the engine compartment. Such devices should always be placed in a cool and dry place to avoid accidents.

5. Always account for surge wattage

When buying an inverter, experts recommend getting one that is rated 10% to 20% higher than the total wattage of the devices you'd like to use with your inverters pure sine. This is to prevent overloading and potential damage to the inverter and your appliances.

Troubleshooting Hints and Tips for Your Pure Sine Wave Inverter

Are you having problems with your pure sine wave inverter in Australia? Before you panic and waste your money on sending back the device to the seller or hiring a repairman, it would be wise to take a good look at the device first. According to experts, most of the inverters that are returned to the seller without hands-on troubleshooting are often problem-free when tested on the bench. As such, to avoid inconveniences and wasted time, you should give your inverter some basic troubleshooting before doing something drastic like sending it back or buying an immediate replacement. Here are some tips to help you out.

Quick Fixes for Your Inverter

1. Change back all the settings to factory defaults

Factory settings are the values that allow the inverter to work in almost any environment. As you use your inverter over time, you might have decided to change a couple of settings to get the best results. If you're currently having problems with your inverter, the first thing you should do is to revert all settings to factory defaults. Check them one by one until you're able to identify the cause of the problem, or the right settings that will allow the device to function.

2. Reboot

If there are no problems with the settings of your 24v or 12v pure sine wave inverter, the next thing you need to check is the installation. Disconnect all loads and remove the inverter from the battery or power source. Wait a few minutes before reconnecting the inverter. This will "reboot" the inverter's processor.

3. Switch on the inverter

If rebooting your inverter works, you should connect all the loads or appliances you have disconnected earlier one by one. If the inverter suddenly stops working, this may help you determine if incompatibilities with a particular appliance or device is the one that's causing the problem.

4. Ensure the DC voltage stays within the voltage range of the inverter

If you suspect that the battery is the one causing the problem, then pay attention to the DC voltage at the inverter and see to it that it stays within the device's voltage range. If the voltage is erratic, then you should disconnect the 12v or 24v pure sine wave inverter from the battery and replace the latter.

Some Quick Reminders

When testing your power inverters, you should always prioritise your safety. Make sure the circuit is powered down while you're working on it to avoid risk of electrocution. And if you haven't experienced working with electrical circuits before, it would be wise to leave this task in the hands of experts.