What are Inverters and How Do They Work?
Inverters are one example of a class of devices that are referred to as power electronics, which regulate the flow of electrical power. Inverters convert direct current (DC) electricity from the power source into alternating current electricity (AC). The inverter is able to accomplish this conversion by rapidly changing the direction of DC input back and forth. In fact, the input will reverse through the circuit nearly 60 times each second! Inverters are often used in solar-plus-storage systems because solar panels and batteries use DC, but most households as well as the electrical use AC. Therefore, to be able to use the energy generated by solar panels or stored in solar batteries in your house or in conjunction with the electrical grid, the current needs to be converted from DC to AC.
It’s important to note that in converting DC to AC, the inverter converts the DC voltage to an AC voltage by using semiconductors in order to quickly reverse the polarity of the direct current input. In the majority of cases, the input DC voltage - such as from a 12V or 24V battery - is usually lower, whereas the output AC voltage is equal to the grid supply voltage of either 120 volts, or 240 volts, depending on the country. As a result, you will just need to keep in mind what you plan to use the inverter for, how much energy is needed, and how long it will be used, as this will help inform what type of battery and inverter you should purchase.
Types of Inverters:
To learn more about the different types of inverters click here to refer to this article.