Can you imagine sitting at home without any power on a hot summer day? You are sweating and wish for some cold breeze. To make things worse, you cannot even switch on the fan or air conditioner because of an unscheduled power cut.
However, things wouldn’t have been so bad if you were prepared for the hot summer, and frequent power cuts. Instead of relenting at the last minute, investing in an emergency power source like an inverter would have rid you of all the heat and frustration.
But the problem lies that there are so many modular inverters and industrial power inverters to choose from. You can’t buy the first unit that you set your eyes on. You need to consider a few factors while selecting a suitable inverter for your emergency power needs.
1. Know which appliances it can power
Inverters are more commonly used only for powering lights, fans, and most computers and microwave ovens. It, however, doesn’t mean that that you cannot use them to run large appliances like fridges and air conditioners.
You just need to buy the suitable inverters for powering them.
It’s because the motors of these inverters are specially built with compressors. They consume lots of current, especially while starting up.
So if you want your industrial power inverters to power these heavy-current drawing appliances, look for inverters with high VA values and sizes. You can also look for inverters designed especially for refrigerators and air conditioners.
2. How much power you will be requiring
You need to calculate and find out what your total power requirements are. It’s because inverters are not generators, and you cannot use them to power your entire home.
They are meant to power only your selected devices. However while they may not power all your appliances, they do ensure you don’t get a single minute of power downtime. It’s unlike generators where you will have to wait for them to start, or you may even have to switch on the generator.
However, do calculate how much power you require, and accordingly buy the rightly powered modular inverters. You can quickly do this by calculating the total wattage consumption of fans, lights, and devices like computers and microwave ovens you want the inverter to power.
3. Remember that starting and running power are different
While calculating your power requirements, don’t forget that all appliances have different starting and running powers.
Some devices like the refrigerator consume about double power to start when compared to its average running power. Others like CFL lights need about 1.5 times the power.
This initial burst in starting power in the devices may last only a few seconds. However, the combined starting powered of all appliances can take a significant toll on your modular inverters.
4. Warranty
As always, look for inverters where the manufacturer offers a stipulated warranty period. While the inverter needs only minimal maintenance, there is always the chance of it stopping functioning. However, a warranty can help minimize your repair costs or provides for a replacement if anything like that happens.
That’s why it’s better to buy your inverters from more reputable companies like Exeltech. They offer warranties with all their inverters and even offer maintenance plans where their professionals maintain your unit periodically. They, in the process, prevent significant problems from occurring and prolong your inverter’s life.
With the right inverter in place, you no longer have to suffer or detest the hot summer months. You will be able to face the heat thanks to the modular inverter powering your fan, or maybe even the air-conditioner.