Buyer’s Guide for 220 Volt Inverters

Question1: What is a 220 volt power inverter?

Answer 1:  A 220 volt power inverter is a device that converts low-voltage DC (direct current) power to standard household AC (alternating current) power. It allows you to operate household appliances and electrical equipment using the power produced by a battery. They are used to protect home appliances and equipment during a power rage. It is an exceptionally useful accessory with useful features to provide protection against improper voltage levels, short circuits and excessive temperatures. A 220 volt power inverter has 3 main components. The components are a charger, a battery and an inverter. The battery is the vital part as the performance and life of the inverter mainly depends on the battery. Generally high power lead batteries are used to power inverters. A 220 volt inverter takes mains power supply to charge the batteries.

Question2: What is the difference between 12 volt and 24 volt inverters?

Answer 2:  When anyone asks a question then we can easily say – an inverter is a device which is used to run 240 Volt electronic appliances from a reservoir which is a battery bank. But when someone asks a question that what is the difference between 12 volt and 24 volt inverters then most of us get confused. Actually, this number game is just the power of the inverter.

Your energy consumption determines the voltage of the power system. 1000 watt power is equal to 12 volts and 2000 watt power is equal to 24 volts.

12 Volt is used for extra low voltage power systems, but this type is not frequently used in common practice. 24 and 48 volt inverters are in general practices in now days.

Question3: Uses of 220 volt Power inverters

Answer 3:  There are many uses of 220 volt inverters. They are used for running electrical equipment and home appliances during power rage by converting low-voltage direct current power to standard alternating current. You can use them to charge and operate appliances like small refrigerators and electric stoves. You can also use a 220 volt inverter to operate specialized tools and equipment like welders, electric saws and power sanders. You can also use it to power small screen TVs, laptops, and portable DVD players. You can easily charge your kitchen appliances like toasters, blenders and grinders.

Question4: 220 volt Power inverter or Generator?

Answer 4:  Whether to use generator or a power inverter depends on the type of appliance you want to run and how often you will need emergency AC power.  An inverter is more economical to use. You can use it to run items under 1000 Watts. It is suitable for running small appliances such as TVs, VCRs, DVD players, laptops and low load devices. But if your power consumption is more than 2000 Watts, you should go for a generator. Operating a washer, dryer, freezer or a refrigerator requires more consumption of power. Inverters are silent and maintenance free. On the other hand, generators are very noisy. They also need fuel storage and regular engine maintenance. You also need to have a big budget to run a generator.

Question5: How to choose right inverter according to your needs?

Answer 5:  With so many options available in the market, it is quite daunting to choose an inverter that will meet your needs.  Your requirements may be specific but the basic factors remain the same for all buyers. Let us see what are the bas       ic factors:

Power ratings – Inverters are available in various size ratings all the way from 50 watts up to 50,000watts.  So, you need to know what will be the maximum surge and for how long. Surge is the maximum power that an inverter can supply for a short time, for example a few seconds or more. So, you need to know how much maximum power you will need at a time.

Check the battery – You should make sure the battery is of top quality because the performance and life of the inverter totally depends on the condition of the battery. You also need to find out how many voltages your battery is. Most of the batteries will be 12 volts. So it is better to check the voltages of the battery.

Whether a true sine wave or a modified sine inverter - You need to consider what type of inverter you want, a true sine wave or a modified sine inverter. A true sine inverter is one that will give you a nice pure and smooth sine wave current. This is exactly similar to the current that you would have at home when you plug into the electrical grid. On the other hand, modified sine inverter is a slightly boxed off wave. The modified sine inverter is more cost-effective than true sine wave inverter. A pure sine inverter will definitely provide you the best electric current but it will be more expensive. So you need to decide before hand what type of inverter you want depending upon your needs and budget.

Check your voltage requirement – You should also consider about the voltage. You need to make a list of items you will be running and how much volts each item requires. You also need to find out how many appliances you will be running at a time and how many plugs you need. This will help you determine which inverter is best for your needs.

Shop from a trusted store- It is obvious you need to consider the features and built-up before buying a inverter, but  you also need to make sure you are buying the product from a trusted store.  You should research more about the credibility of the store before placing your order. When you are buying from a trusted store, you can be sure that you will get quality items.

Question6: How long can I run the 220 volt inverter on battery?

Answer 6:  The run time of your 220 volt inverter will depend on the amount of battery power available and the load that is supporting. Run time refers to amount of time the inverter will power the connected items. In general, as you will plug in more equipment, your run time will become less. In case you want to extend the run time, you need to attach more batteries. There is no end to the number of batteries you can connect to your inverter.

Question7: What are the safety tips needed to be taken care off while using 220 volt power inverter?

Answer 7:  As we suffer from power crises on a daily basis and the inverter is our only hope, it is important we should take care of our inverters. Proper maintenance of inverter not only increases the life of the inverter and increase the productivity, but also keeps you and your inverter safe.

Here are some safety tips which should be taken care of while using 220 volt power inverter:

Maintenance of battery - Maintenance of battery is the essential part of inverter, although it is not a part of inverter, but inverter is of no use if there is no battery. Regular maintenance, terminal rusting, topping of water increase the life of the battery and productivity of the inverter. Regular maintenance of battery decreases the risk of accident.

Inverter wiring- Bad wiring is an open invitation to accidents, for regular power supply and avoiding the risk factor wiring should be checked time to time.

Proper loading - Every inverter is set for a fixed load; if you exhaust the inverter and give an extra load then it increases the risk of accidents.

Use of CFLs and LED lighting - For maximum output, use CFLs and LED lights. They consume less power and increase life of the 220 volt inverter.

Question8: Some battery basics you should know

Answer 8:  The battery is the most important part of a 220 volt inverter. The performance and life of your inverter completely depends on the battery. Mentioned below are some battery basics that you should know.

• The batteries should be in good running condition. Old or weak batteries should be replaced before connecting them to an inverter.
• Use a well-ventilated area for installing your inverter as the battery gets heated up during charging and operation. A well-ventilated place will reduce the heating up of battery.
• Keep the surface and sides of the battery clean and dust free. Hydrogen gas may get accumulated which may lead to bursting of battery.  
• Also keep the battery terminals corrosion free and rust free. If you find the terminals to be corroded, you should use hot water and baking soda solution to clean the corroded part. This will easily remove the corrosion.

Hope you got plenty of information here. The information is quite handy for 220 inverter buyers.