Inverters are devices that change the alternating current from a power grid to a direct current. If you’re planning to buy an inverter, there are two main types you need to consider: they are the modified sine wave inverter and the pure sine wave inverter. They’re necessary for using electric tools and appliances in your leisure time, as well as for running things like computers and other electronic devices.
Read this till the end to find out how to convert a modified sine wave inverter to a pure sine wave and many more things you are unaware of.
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What is an Inverter?
Inverters are the gateway that connects the photovoltaic system to any devices that need to be powered. Inverters are the ‘middleman’ between your solar panels and whatever device you’re using. Inverters can be a key part of your PV system. Inverters act as mediators to convert the Direct Current (DC) power from the panels to Alternating Current (AC) power. Please research well and buy one best suited for your needs because they can be installed in various places.
Think of investing in solar panels. These panels convert the sun’s energy into DC or direct current, stored and used as needed. These panels’ purpose is to convert the DC output from your solar panels into AC, which is the standard that all commercial appliances use.
Pure Sine Wave Inverter
A pure sine wave inverter output voltage comes in sinusoidal waves. A pure sine wave is a theoretical mathematical waveform representing the perfect shape of an alternating electrical current. It has no amplitude or frequency variations and moves with a continuously varying polarity.
The Pure Sine Wave Inverter produces clean power as strong or even better than what you get at home, which means it’s safe for all kinds of electronics. Pure sine wave inverters can produce cleaner, smoother, quieter electricity to operate appliances and electronics without interference. This type of inverter is necessary for digital microwaves, televisions, fridges, laptops, and other electronic equipment. Pure sine waves are a type of electric signal used in appliances with AC motors medical equipment, such as CPAP machines with humidifiers, laser printers, and TVs. They also feature kitchen appliances and ones with electronic timers or digital clocks.
Modified Sine Wave Inverter
A modified sine wave inverter is also known as the quasi-sine wave inverter. Its waveform is more like a square wave but with an extra step. The power produced in pure sine wave inverters matches a simple sinusoidal wave in a modified sine wave, or the square wave inverters, the polarity switches from positive to negative.
This kind of inverter is also great for simple systems despite the name. If you don’t have an AC motor, you can use a modified inverter – which is more suitable for delicate machinery. This inverter can power various devices: old tube TVs, water pumps, and phone chargers.
Pure vs. Modified Sine Wave Inverter
The main differences between pure sine waves and modified sine waves are interference, efficiency, and cost.
A pure sine wave’s output voltage is much cleaner than that of a modified sine wave, which could cause interference when powering clocks and audio devices.
Modified sine waves, in addition to their efficiency issues, produce smaller waves of power than the pure inverter and cannot run at full capacity. This may cause a buildup of excess heat that damages the expensive equipment.
Modified sine wave inverters use fewer components and are cheaper than pure sine wave inverters, so modified sine wave inverters tend to be the better option for most people.
While both Pure and Modified sine wave inverters can convert DC power from batteries to AC, trade-offs are to consider. These inverters offer unique characteristics that may make one better suited for your needs than the other.
Are Pure Sine Wave Inverters necessary?
In 95% of cases with modern electronics, modified sine wave Inverters are all you need. Pure Sine Wave inverters are mostly unnecessary. 95% of devices run equally well from an MSW inverter, but 0% of devices are required to run from an MSW inverter.
Green Energy would be unnecessary if all devices were made to utilize MSW power, allowing utilities to cut costs and shifting the cost of producing PSW AC to manufacturers. The retail market for MSW is usually selling the lowest possible cost end.
For emergency power, a pure sine wave inverter is the best choice. Most Modified sine wave Inverters are rock-bottom. Inverters used for emergency power must have less than 5% distortion or prove that they are compatible with the load.
However, I had trouble running my fridge on a modified sine wave inverter. The inverter in my vehicle seems everything I use on a modified sine wave inverter runs louder and hotter.
I used a modified sine wave inverter in my work van, and everything worked fine. However, I ended up switching to a pure sine wave inverter when I was upgrading the layout, and things ended up running much smoother and quieter. Nothing seems to have been damaged, and the pure swine performs better with my tools.
There is no such thing as a “Perfect” Sine-Wave, except maybe on paper or in theory. There will always be deviations. How large those deviations are, and at what frequency those deviations. A Pure Sine-Wave Inverter has very small, very high-frequency deviations. Modified Sine-wave inverters are crude devices with substantial deviations from a Pure-Sine-Wave.
Converting MSW to PDW
I have a friend who uses the Xantrex Freedom inverter charger 2500 watts. Everything is okay, but sometimes it doesn’t run well on a modified sine wave. To change modified 120V to a sine wave, buy a new inverter.
You can get a PSW as a second inverter. I have a 1000W PSW wired over to the 2000W MSW inverter next to the battery bank. The 1000W inverter gets to the battery through the big inverter’s fat wires. The shore power cord went into the entire house (converter off). The shore power cord goes into the 1000W PSW inverter for the whole home, and a second wire (extension cord) runs back from the big inverter to where the shore cord goes into the trailer at the back and are used for the microwave, kettle, and toaster.
If you want PSW for the MSW, you have to get a big inverter, but we don’t need PSW to run our MSW. Maybe, but it would be more expensive than just getting a new inverter.
An inductor (or LC network) cannot reshape the waveform and maintain the on-time or duty cycle. You can also change MSW to PSW if you use a power conditioner or isolation transformer, but it will be very loud and more expensive than purchasing a PSW unit.
