DC/AC Inverters
DC/AC Power Inverters
convert dc power often from battery sources into AC mains power.
There are two types of dc/ac inverter true sinewave output
units and modified sinewave output units. True sinewave output
dc/ac inverters produce a smooth output waveform which replicates
precisely the waveform that exists with grid generated mains,
whilst modified sinewave output dc/ac inverters produce a simulated
output waveform made up from a series of steps which attempt
to emulate grid generated mains.
DC/AC Inverters also known as dc to ac converters are used
widely in the leisure and marine markets as well as in more industrial
applications. In recent years there has been a trend towards
short time rating of inverters as many manufacturers have moved
away from giving a continuous output rating for their units towards
giving a higher power but only thirty minute rating. This has
been done on the assumption that batteries will only retain their
charge for a short time, and so the unit can appear to be more
powerful than it actually is when in actual fact the unit is
the same as before and if it ran continually at its thirty minute
power rating would actually trip out on over temperature. In
industrial applications all units used need to be fully rated
for continuous use.
 Another
development in the dc/ac inverter market is the introduction
of combination battery charger / inverters. These units manage
the charging of the battery when the grid connected ac mains
power is present and yet allow for the dc/ac inverter to run
from the battery and produce mains ac power when the grid connected
mains has disappeared. These units offer economy in terms of
price over the cost of a separate battery charger and dc/ac inverter
but also make the installation easier.
DC/AC Inverters are generally available in three mounting
styles chassis mount, wall mount and rack mount. They are
traditionally viewed as standalone units but there are models
now available from whichpowersupply.com which have a synchronisation
feature on their output to enable units to be wired in parallel
for larger power or n+1 redundant systems. This synchronisation
is normally achieved using a CAN bus where one module takes a
master position and the other units fall in line as slaves synchronising
to the master signal.
Whichpowersupply.com offer a wide range of dc/ac inverters
from 150VA to 7000VA with dc input voltages of 12Vdc, 24Vdc,
48Vdc, 60Vdc, 96Vdc 108(110)Vdc, and 216(220)Vdc. For systems
where larger power is required or n+1 functionality is needed,
multiple 5kVA blocks can be connected together with synchronised
outputs to give up to 40kVA f AC power generated form a DC source.
Batteries are not the only source which can provide the DC
power to drive a dc/ac inverter. Solar panels, wind turbines,
dc generators and fuel cells are all used to produce dc power
which can be converted into ac power by the inverter, and in
fact the renewable energy market is fuelling much of the growth
in dc/ac inverter sales as higher gas and electricity prices
make renewable sources a more viable alternative method of producing
mains power.
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