Inverters are an integral part of any home, office, and industry. They provide the necessary power during outages and power fluctuations. Unfortunately, despite its importance, it’s also one of the most neglected pieces of equipment.
It’s usually a consequence of poor maintenance, and wear and tear, which leads to possible inverter failure.
Modular inverters are either entirely electronic or work at combining mechanical effects with electronic circuitry. They generally work at converting the DC electricity from batteries into the same AC electricity you find at wall sockets.
So it’s no wonder that there are so many types of modular and industrial inverters. They are especially necessary to power appliances with electric motors. They can power anything ranging from fans to ventilators to conveyor belts to pumps.
With inverters having such an essential role in an industry, it’s quite understandable that inverter failure or breakdown can interrupt work and production and incur significant losses.
Common causes for inverter failure
Wrong installation
Improper installation is the most common cause of inverter failure. This usually happens if the installation is done by a novice, and not by someone professional like Exeltech technicians.
Not following manual user recommendations is the prime cause of a subpar installation. Other common causes are using the wrong cable type, line fuses, or gauges.
A professional will not commit this mistake, which is why it’s better to let them handle your installation. It helps avoid possible future inverter failure.
Worn out capacitors
Another common reason for inverter failure is capacitor electro-mechanical wear. Electrolytic capacitors work at providing a smooth power output at varying power levels.
However, they have a limited lifespan and tend to age or wear out quicker than other dry parts.
Besides, they are also very temperature-sensitive. Sometimes the high current can lead to an increase in the inverter operating temperature levels. And as electrolytes quickly evaporate at high temperatures, they end up worn-out.
All this is avoidable if the inverter runs at a lower than usual operating temperature. Besides, maintaining a consistent maintenance regimen and replacing capacitors also help prevent problems and possible inverter failure.
Overexertion
Like any other device, the overuse of inverters by choice, oversight, or lack of knowledge can lead to inverter bridge failure. The best way to avoid and prevent inverter failure is by periodically checking and ensuring inverters run correctly.
Ultrasonic vibrations
Ultrasonic vibrations can also contribute to the mechanical stress on inverters. It’s because vibrations in the cores of inductive parts cause friction, which adds to the inverter’s heat. This added heat further damages inverter parts.
The most viable preventive solution
The inviter connections may loosen or corrode with time, along with its parts. The best way to avoid all these problems and possible inverter failure are with proper and regular maintenance.
Prevention is always better than cure, including when it comes to inverters. So you can have technicians from your favorite company Exeltech schedule regular inverter maintenance checks.
Their typical maintenance schedule includes cleaning the battery box terminals, fuses, and connections at least once in six months. The cleaning should be correct and thorough. If not, it only ends up creating more problems than providing solutions.
The best way to clean the terminals will be by using a wire brush and a greaser dissolvent agent. Then a protective sealant is usually used to cover battery terminals to minimize and prevent wear and tear.
Avoid grease-based coatings because they only end up attracting more contaminants like dust. Dust only helps with the decay of the terminals by preventing further visual inspections.
You now know the common causes of inverter failure and how you can avoid it. You can use your knowledge to prolong your industrial power inverter’s life and your investment to serve you longer and better.
