Picture this: You come home tired from the office, the heat has become too much, and you’re practically drenched in sweat from the commute. You come home, sit down, and turn that AC on, only for there to be a power cut that continues for the next few hours. Leave aside the AC, even the fan goes off. Sounds frustrating, right? Well, believe it or not, this has now been a common occurrence all over India. This means that families and offices both have only one option: to invest in a power inverter.
But choosing the right power inverter is like finding a needle in a haystack. With so many options around you, it gets confusing which one is the right inverter that you can rely on when your electricity company betrays you. In this article, we will dive into the 5 important steps for just that. Let’s get into it.
1: Determine Power Needs
Before you go to the market and pick out a random power inverter, you have to assess your power needs. This translates to how much power you will need. There are 3 things you need to check to determine it.
Calculate Total Wattage: Check and add up the wattage of all the appliances in your home. Knowing this will help you choose the right inverter capacity. For example, if you think you just need lights and fans, it requires a lot less power than if you need to run an air conditioner.
Consider Surge Power: When you start appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators, they have something called surge power. This means they consume slightly higher power when they’re just turned on and go on to consume their normal wattage. This surge power, while not much, adds up with time and is an utmost necessity.
Factor in Future Needs: Your needs are going to change with time, make sure you think carefully and factor in those as well, like a second air conditioner or a completely different appliance, which will again change your total wattage.
2: Inverter Capacity and Battery Capacity
Now that you have calculated your total wattage, you need to find inverters that fit into that category. To do that, you need to check your inverter’s capacity, which is generally written in watts, and make sure that your total wattage comes out to be lower than that, which would then mean that your inverter is capable of handling your power needs.
But that’s not all. Your power inverter is also connected to a battery, so you have to make sure that your battery has enough capacity to support your power needs. The higher the battery capacity, the longer your power lasts during an outage, which is what you would want.
3: Pick the right type of Inverter
The key to picking the right type of power inverter is simple: you need to pick the one with the highest efficiency rating. The higher the efficiency rating, the less power it uses and the longer it lasts. There are the following types of inverters.
Pure sine wave inverters: For sensitive devices and appliances, the continuous and smooth power supply from these inverters is fantastic since it guarantees their performance free from damage.
Modified sine wave inverters: These less costly inverters perform effectively with basic electronics and machinery. They might, however, cause some hum in audio equipment.
Square wave inverters: This one is the simplest and least costly kind of inverter. It makes use of low-power tools and electronics.
Grid-tie inverters: Solar power systems link straight to the electrical grid via these. Their feedback on any additional power generated helps to reduce the cost of energy.
Off-grid inverters: These inverters are part of non-utility grid-connected power systems. Usually used with solar or wind power systems, they perform well in remote locations.
4: Safety and Other Features
Inverters often come with a lot of safety features. Without it, your house or office can face short circuits, fires, and a lot of other problems. You should look for things like over-temperature, short-circuit, and overload safety. Some other features include:
Warranty and After-Sales Service: Choose a brand with good customer service following the sale and a solid reputation.
Cooling Mechanism: Make sure the inverter cools down sensibly to prevent excessive heat.
Remote Control/Monitoring: Look for inverters you can monitor or operate from a distance to provide the convenience of use.
5: Installation and Maintenance
Lastly, pick a brand that provides professional installation and is easy to maintain. Professional installations are especially important for offices, but for homes as well, they should be considered. Local electricians are often not aware of how to set up inverters.
Conclusion
In short, picking the right type of power inverter comes with a lot of nuances. It starts by checking your power needs, calculating the total wattage, surge charge, and future needs. Then, pick an inverter capable of handling all of that. However, the most important step is to pick a reputable brand that provides proper after-sales service and has adequate safety measures.
If you’re looking for recommendations, then Livfast has some of the best power inverters in India. Make a smart choice today so you and your family can live in peace.
