How to select the inverter
Selecting an inverter for home is not as tough go through the article and you would know what type of inverter? which type of battery? etc. you need for your home.
Types of inverters
Before selecting the inverter we should know how many type s of inverter are there
Basically there are three types of inverter i.e. sine waves(also called as pure sine waves), modified sine waves and square waves
| Square wave | Modified sine wave | Pure sine wave |
|---|---|---|
| These have the step up and step down down graph with interrupted flow of power. They are hardly used now a days. | These are like square waves but has some long patterns. The power consumption is 20 % more | Continuous flow of power back up as required by most of the devices usung mtor |
| Noisy | Little bit noisy | noiseless functioning |
| Cheapest inverter technology | No so cheap and costly | Are 2 to 3 times costly than the other inverters |
click here to read :Best Inverter/UPS For Home in India (2021)
How to select the inverter for home
Selecting the best inverter for home is not a big deal you need to do just a little homework so, let’s do it
Step 1.
First of all check the no. of items you want to run on the power back up.
For example we take 3 CFLS, 2 Fans, one TV, one refrigerator
the watts are as follows
3 CFLS = 15 w x 3 =45 watts
1 fan = 70 watts
1 TV= 220 watts
refrigerator = 250 watts
total= 45 +70+ 220 +250 = 580 watts
Step 2.
Secondly note the VA( volts ampere) of the inverter. The VA is the output power given by the inverter. It is mostly 60 to 80 % of the full VA. There fore the power factor vary from 0.6 to 0.8
Lets us calculate it in our example
Power supplied= power required/ power factor
hence power supplied= 580/.8 = 725 VA
So, you can buy a inverter with a power supply of 750 VA or 800 VA, which is easily available in market.
Step 3.
Now the next thing is battery. Which and what kind of battery will be suitable. For this we have to decide for how much time we need to have the power back up. Let us say we need it for 4 hrs.
Battery capacity = Power requirement (watts) x Back up hours (hrs.) / Battery Voltage (volts)
= 580 x 4/12 Ah
= 193 Ah (where Ah is the ampere hours)
Therefore, you will need a inverter with 750 or 800 VA and the battery capacity of 200Ah.
You can find inverter batteries with various capacities in the market ranging from 100 Ah to 220 Ah.
Moreover the inverter batteries are available in a multiple of 12V i.e. 24V, 36V etc. so, if you need a large battery you will need two battery of 12V and hence forth
Some of the best batteries available online are
- Amaron Inverter 150Ah Tall Tubular Battery
- Luminous Red Charge 50 Ah, Recyclable Tall Tubular Inverter Battery
- Luminous Red Charge 200 Ah, Recyclable Tall Tubular Inverter Battery
- V-Guard VJ145 135AH Flat Tubular Inverter Battery
- EXIDE INDUSTRIES 150Ah Insta Brite Inverter Ups Battery
Types of batteries
There are basically three types of batteries available in the market.
lead Acid Batteries
These are the oldest and most commonly used batteries in the inverter. The battery has a two electrodes of lead and lead di oxide are dipped in the solution of sulphuric acid which lead to the generation of the DC current. Hence names lead acid batteries. These batteries need to be filled with sulphuric acid from time to time in order to perform well. These are also called as flat plate batteries.
PROS:
- These are rechargeable batteries so can be used for a long time.
- The batteries are less expensive as compared to other batteries.
- They produces a large amount of current.
CONS:
Though convenient it has some flaws also.
- the battery need water topping from time to time.
- It releases harmful as while charging and discharging.
- Need more maintenance as compare to other batteries.
Dry batteries
As the name suggest these batteries has the packed electrolyte which does need to be refilled. The only thing this battery need is to keep it charged and cleaned. The batteries are not rechargeable thus you need to replace the old one with the new once it gets over.
PROS
- No maintenance required for it
- Do not emit any type of chemical fumes
- electrolyte is slowly absorbed
- Fast charging
CONS
- These are expensive as compared to the lead acid battery
- have a short life span
Tubular batteries
The tubular batteries are most efficient and popularly used in home for inverters. These have pencil type tubular plate to give uninterrupted power supply for long hours. These are leak proof, energy efficient and environment friendly. The batteries are long lasting and require a least maintenance and ideal for home.
PROS
- Great efficiency
- longer life span
- Require less maintenance
- need less water topping
- Longer warranty periods
CONS
- Costly as compared to flat one.
CONCLUSION
Choosing a right inverter is very important you must follow the above process to select the inverter and be tension free for years. Moreover select the right battery as per your requirement and take care of it regularly for in order to use it for a long time.