Are you considering investing in a sine wave inverter to power your electronic devices?
But you wonder if it’s worth making the investment, mainly because these inverters are on the pricier side.
Well, the proper reply to the question is whether or not you need sine wave inverters depends on what it will be powering. It is because a modified sine wave inverter’s efficiency, and undesired interference from additional harmonics, necessitates investing in sine wave inverters.
Sine wave inverters can efficiently power devices using the AC input without first rectifying it. They are thus a better option for powering sensitive equipment like radios that may suffer from any interface.
Determining questions
The following questions will help you decide if you need a pure sine wave inverter:
- Can a DC adapter power the device?
- Do the devices or appliances use a rectifier?
- Is the device something sensitive like medical equipment?
- Do the devices or appliances use a motor?
You might be fine without a pure sine wave inverter if your reply to the first two questions was affirmative. However, if you conform to either the third or fourth question, then it may mean that you may need one.
When you need a sine wave inverter
A modified sine wave inverter is usually more than enough to power your devices or appliances during a power outage. However, there are also some cases where it may end up causing more damage than good and even result in efficiencies.
For example, electronic devices that run on AC motors like compressors, refrigerators, and microwave ovens generally run more efficiently on a pure sine wave inverter.
It’s not that they do not run when powered by other modified inverters.
The problem is that the modified inverters may lead to excessive heat accumulation and possible damage.
For example, you may want to use a pure sine wave inverter to power most hospital equipment. Though it is always better to check with the device’s manufacturers, most recommend using pure sine wave inverters.
When you may not require a pure sine wave inverter
You will probably not need a pure sine wave inverter if you have electronic devices with rectifiers that convert AC to DC. This means that while pure sine wave inverters are always a better and safer choice, you don’t need to invest in them if you don’t have the budget.
But if you can afford it, then you may as well invest in a pure sine wave inverter as you never know when you may need it in the future to power some device. If this happens, you will have to change and buy one, so you may consider investing in an inverter that’s compatible and safe for most devices.
So, in short, it is wiser to invest in a sine wave inverter if:
- You use more sensitive equipment like medical devices
- You plan to invest in sensitive equipment in the future
- You can afford it
- You don’t want to end up with heated and possible damaged devices
How to select your sine wave inverter
There are a few factors to consider while selecting suitable inverters for your powering needs. These include:
- Your budget because there are so many inverter types and sizes in the market
- You’re powering needs depend on the number of appliances you plan to power
