There are hundreds of inverter manufacturers in the U.S. alone, and they all manufacture power inverters. Is there a difference between the companies, or do they simply saturate the inverter market and try to mop up as many sales as possible?

As it turns out, there are quite a few ways that inverter manufacturers can be distinguished. Below, we look at four ways that are especially important for end users.

1. Equipment Grade

Inverter manufacturers create equipment for residential, commercial, and industrial use. Using an industrial model for residential or commercial applications generally offers more load capacity than needed.

By the same token, residential and commercial models don’t offer enough capacity for industrial applications. Before you buy, ask an inverter manufacturer whether their equipment is designed for residential, commercial, or industrial use.

2. Product Certifications

Some product certifications are legally required in certain states and municipalities (e.g., RoHS certification and TUV – TL9000 certification), while other certifications are designed for specific operating conditions (e.g., NEBS Level 2 certification and NEBS Level 3 certification). The product certifications of an inverter can have a significant impact on how it performs.

3. Custom Equipment

Most inverter manufacturers create stock equipment whose features anticipate the needs of a broad range of users. However, when stock models aren’t an option, users need inverters that are tailored to their specific requirements.

If there’s a chance that you’ll need custom equipment in the future, it’s a good idea to form a business relationship with a manufacturer that offers both options: stock and custom.

4. Production Process

Some inverter manufacturers outsource the production process — or certain parts of it — while others keep the process in-house. There’s nothing wrong with letting a third party handle manufacturing, except the outsourcer has less real-time control over production. For the sake of quality control, it’s optimal to buy from an inverter manufacturer that performs manufacturing in-house.

Conclusion

There are several ways to separate inverter manufacturers. From a user standpoint, four criteria stand above the rest: equipment grade, product certifications, the option for custom equipment, and whether manufacturing is perform in-house or outsourced.

At Exeltech, we manufacture industrial grade inverters in-house and offer the equipment certifications listed previously. In addition, you always have the chance to order a customized inverter. To explore your options, please call us today at 800-886-4683, or use our contact form. We look forward to supplying best-in-class inverters!