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.

Key Technical Terms You Must Know When Buying Pure Sine Wave Inverter in Australia

When you're shopping for a pure sine wave inverter in Australia or even when reading user's manual, you will often encounter certain technical terminologies that are related to the equipment you want to buy or use. Knowing what these key terms mean can be a huge help when determining and understanding the type of inverter you want to purchase and/or use.

Technical and Electrical Terms Related to Inverter Use

The grid

When you say "the grid," it basically refers to the utility grid or the public power distribution system. If you're located on the grid, it means you have access to available and usable household electricity. On the other hand, "off the grid" means you are in a location that is not connected to the power system in any way, like when you are in the middle of the ocean or in the Outback.

AC/DC electricity

There are two ways in which electricity flows: either in alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). AC reverses its direction while flowing in a circuit, while DC flows only in one direction in the circuit. The type of electricity supplied by the grid and used to operate most electrical appliances is AC, while the electricity supplied by car batteries, PV solar panels, and other alternative sources is DC. A 24v or 12v pure sine wave inverter converts DC to AC to make it usable for standard household appliances.

Load

Load refers to any electrical equipment or appliance that draws power such as the TV, radio, washer, coffee maker, refrigerator, etc.

Input voltage

The amount of electricity needed to power up the inverter. It helps you determine which type of inverter you should get for your vehicle. If your car uses 12v battery, then you should get a 12v inverter. On the other hand, if you drive a truck or any larger vehicle that uses 24v battery, you should buy a 24v pure sine wave inverter.

Output waveform

Output waveform refers to the shape of the wave that AC makes as it exits the inverter and its voltages rises and falls with time. The grid produces sine wave output waveform, which looks like rolling waves on water. This is similar to the AC power converted by pure sine wave inverters. On the other hand, modified sine wave inverters produce a square output waveform.

When buying power inverters, it is always advisable to choose an inverter that produces an output waveform similar to the one generated by the grid. This is to ensure maximum efficiency and to avoid compatibility issues.

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.