An inverter’s purpose is to convert DC power into AC power, usually from a battery that is being charged. The inverter feeds critical loads that cannot lose power, even for a short period of time. The most important function of an inverter is to provide clean, uninterrupted power with a low distortion sine wave.
Ferroresonant vs. Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) Inverters
PWM controls the synthesized 60 Hertz sine wave with a very high switching frequency. Our PWM inverters switch at a frequency of 8 kHz and can regulate the output at any point in the sine wave.
Ferroresonant inverters use a modified square wave that is switched at line frequency (50 Hz or 60 Hz). This is then fed into a special ferroresonant transformer which passively performs the shaping and regulation of the sinewave. Although exceptionally reliable, the ferroresonant system does not have the tighter regulating properties of the more modern PWM system.
Top 5 benefits of an inverter
- Stable frequency
- Protection from grid power outages
- Protection from grid brownouts
- Allows users to power down connected loads, such as servers, in a controlled way
- Provides isolation between the input and output
How do inverters work?
An inverter takes DC power, such as a battery, and switches the DC off and on to create AC power. There are two major technologies that perform this function. PWM inverter bridges and square wave or modified square wave systems that feed a ferroresonant constant voltage transformer. Power transistors (IGBT’s) switch the DC into AC. The battery provides a steady, constant source of power separate from the fluctuations that can be seen on grid power.
What do you need to know when operating an inverter?
Follow all OEM instructions. Power inverters are complicated pieces of equipment and should always be serviced by trained technicians, preferably OEM trained Field Service Engineers.
What kind of maintenance does an inverter need?
Always follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule to ensure reliability. We recommend annual maintenance that revolves around cleaning and inspections. The major parts that need replaced in an inverter are the fans every 5 years and DC electrolytic capacitors and printed circuit boards every 10 years. Through our testing, field experience and supplier recommendations, we have been able to determine the average aging process of these components and have developed our maintenance schedule to reflect this.
Basic troubleshooting for Inverters
The user panel on the front of the cabinet captures events and logs them. We offer a proprietary software that allows you to download the events. If you’re having issues, we supply a basic troubleshooting guide and user manual with every new purchased machine. Our 24/7 technical support is available if more assistance is needed. We also provide user training on our Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems at our Stafford, TX location, click here to learn more.
Contact us to learn more information about our ferroresonant and PWM inverters.