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.