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sine wave power inverter


By brianschanafelt, Section Newbies
Posted on Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 07:56:40 AM MST
wind energy

what is the difference between a sine wave inverter or just a power inverter or are they the same thing. should i use a sine wave inverter over the basic inverter???
moved to a more sensible section. Apparently google doesn't work for some folks?
sine wave power inverter | 7 comments (7 topical)

Re: sine wave power inverter (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by wpowokal on Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 04:16:10 AM MST

Ok try google this board top right hand side, then read, and or try this link.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/images_uploaded/inverter.pdf

Or simply google the world.

But basically use a pure sine wave wherever possible, some components ie transformers (wall warts for some) and motors on fixed load like refridgeration will run hotter on modified square wave.

In the case of transformers like mobile phone chargers they are made so cheep and run so close to destruction all the time that a modified sine wave inverter will fry them. It is a bit hard to explain other than the DC component of modified sine wave gives rise to extra heating.

I have used a modified sine wave inverter, although my main unit is a pure sine wave.

allan down under
"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." James Dean



Re: sine wave power inverter (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by ghurd on Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 07:55:01 AM MST

"In the case of transformers like mobile phone chargers they are made so cheep and run so close to destruction all the time that a modified sine wave inverter will fry them"

For years, most people I know charge their cell phones with cheap inverters.  I do.
I never had a failure. Not sure I heard of a failure.
The newer phones have switching regulated chargers.  
My last phone used a wall wart that ran a little warm, but it lasted 5+ years and was working fine when I upgraded.
I don't own a pre sine inverter.
G-

Ghurd.info
[ Parent ]



Re: sine wave power inverter (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by wpowokal on Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 04:23:25 AM MST

Oh and one more point although I am sure you will be told, you would have received a much more positive feed back by posting all your 3 questions in one post, albiet they cover different sections.

allan down under
"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." James Dean



Re: sine wave power inverter (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by jacobs on Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 07:54:41 AM MST

I've personally used modified sine wave inverters for 26 years and I don't have any plans on replacing it with a sine wave inverter. Modified sine wave inverters are less expensive to purchase, has fewer components to fail, and typically uses less power at idle. Yes, there are some applications that won't run on modified sine wave but they are very few. I use dc motors whenever possible as they are more efficient that ac even when they are used on pure sine wave.


Re: sine wave power inverter (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by brianschanafelt on Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 12:43:59 PM MST

ok so is a modified sine wave inverter a cheap one that u buy from radio shack for about 110 dollars and a pure sine wave is about 12 to 24 hundred dollars?
"something free is money well spent"
[ Parent ]


Re: sine wave power inverter (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by ghurd on Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 01:14:35 PM MST

Wholly Crap!
Don't go to RatShak!!!  That $110 inverter is worth about $40.
OK, now that has been said.

Cost is related to watts.  
Is $50 good for a Vector?
Yes if it is 3000W.  No if it is 65W.

A modified sine wave can be $10 to $1000+.
A pure sine can be $200 to ???.
G-
Ghurd.info
[ Parent ]



Re: sine wave power inverter (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by TomW on Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 01:21:34 PM MST

brian;

Well, so called "modified" sine wave inverters are usually really square wave inverters. Bottom of the barrel junk usually. The modified bit is sales drone talk to make it sound better than it is in reality.

Motors like the pure type sine wave.

Its not rocket science to find this information on a Google search of the internet.

Well, there you go.

I find that it is lots better to spend some effort hunting information rather than just ask to be spoonfed the information.

It seems the effort expended repays in knowledge of other things as you look for the info you want.

Hope that clears it up some.

Cheers.

TomW

The Truth is the Truth, even if no one believes it; and a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it


[ Parent ]



sine wave power inverter | 7 comments (7 topical)
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