Sine wave inverters are a class of power inverters that produce a sinusoidal Alternating Current (AC) of electricity, the kind of current a utility line provides. Consequently, they are used in situations where power is derived from a source of Direct Current (DC) but must be converted into sinusoidal AC to drive equipment that requires this kind of current. Solar panels and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) are common examples of DC power sources whose electrical output must be converted to sinusoidal AC using sine wave inverters.

Harmonic Distortion and its Effects

Sine wave inverters serve two important purposes: they change DC to AC, and they deliver sinusoidal AC, a type of current whose waveform is represented by an undulating line. In contrast, modified sine wave inverters and square wave inverters produce AC current whose waveform is characterized by angularities. For high-tech devices that require sinusoidal AC to operate efficiently, these angularities represent harmonic distortion, which is the ratio of the sum of all harmonic components compared to the power of the fundamental output frequency.

Harmonic distortion can produce various negative effects. In commercial and industrial electrical environments, the problems below often result from a high level of Total Harmonic Distortion (THD).

  • Increased electrical usage due to inefficient operation
  • Increased wear to motors and circuitry
  • High equipment maintenance costs
  • Power quality problems downstream
  • Annoying buzzing sounds in the electrical environment

In environments where they are caused by modified sine wave inverters or square wave inverters, implementing sine wave inverters eliminates these effects and saves the user money.

Choosing the Right Inverter

There are several things to consider when you choose a sine wave inverter, particularly: the load it will serve, whether it has the right certificates of compliance, and whether the device is designed for the intended application. If your company needs assistance choosing the right sine wave inverter, Exeltech is here to help. We have over ten years of experience designing, producing and selling highly certified sine wave inverters for high-tech applications.

For more information about our products, call us today at (800) 886-4683, or click here to use our contact form.