Oh, No! Again, a Power Cut! We are all familiar with these agonised cries. Power cuts are irritating. And when they come in times of scorching heat, they are unbearable. However, the easiest way to cope with frequent power failures is to invest in an inverter for home. This appliance will sit in your home and be your superhero when the lights go out. However, finding a good quality inverter with a long battery life is a real hassle due to the limited availability of options. We understand your problem, and therefore, we bring to you a step-by-step process to choose the best inverter for home usage.
Understanding Power Calculations
First, you need to estimate your home’s power requirement and then decide what appliances you would need to keep running during a power cut.
- The first step is to decide whether you need only lights and fans, or would you also need a TV, fridge, Wi-Fi, etc?
- Next, add the wattage of each appliance you would need during a power failure.
Once you are done with your calculations, it will be easier for you to decide how much power you need from your inverter.
Even the best inverter for home wouldn’t function properly if you ignore the power calculation. Moreover, you might purchase an underpowered inverter or an inverter with excessive capacity.
Understanding The VA Ratings
Apart from the calculation of total power requirement, it is important to have a clear understanding of the VA rating (Volt-Ampere). The rating will determine the amount of load the inverter will be able to handle at a time.
- To calculate the resistive load, all you need to do is multiply the wattage of the appliance by 1.2. Once you calculate, you will get the VA rating.
- For calculating the inductive loads, you need to multiply the wattage by 1.5 or 2 to know the amount of current these appliances will require when they start.
Pro Tip- A 1000-watt inverter is ideal for a medium-sized home with a moderate power need. For larger homes, an inverter with a 2000 VA or even higher rating is appropriate.
Choosing The Right Battery
Generally, two types of batteries are used: lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries. Lead-acid batteries are more popular due to their affordability and availability. On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries have increased efficiency and longer shelf life. They require less maintenance, too. Thus, it is an excellent option for people looking for an inverter for home.
Selecting The Right Type Of Inverter
It is very important to choose the correct inverter for home because the inverter you purchase will also influence the way your other home appliances run.
- Square Wave Inverters– These are the most affordable and basic ones. However, they release a waveform that might destroy sensitive appliances and cause them to malfunction.
- Modified Sine Wave Inverters– These are a better option than the square wave inverters. These can power most household appliances, too.
- Pure Sine Wave Inverters- These are the perfect choice for sensitive appliances like computers, microwaves, refrigerators, etc. Even though they are expensive, they provide the most stable power output.
Check The Inverter’s Backup Time
Backup time is the number of hours your inverter will support your appliances. You must ensure your battery’s Ah (ampere-hour) rating aligns with the desired backup time.
Formula: Battery Ah = (Power requirement × Backup hours) / Battery Voltage
Seems difficult? Let’s simplify with an example:
For a 400 W load and 3 hours of backup on a 12V battery, you would require:
Battery Ah = (Power requirement × Backup hours) / Battery Voltage
Battery Ah = (400 × 3) / 12
= 100Ah battery
Consider Safety Features
The newest models come with advanced safety features. Look for features like:
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- Overload protection
- Short-circuit protection
- Battery deep discharge protection
- Auto reset and alerts
These protect both your inverter and home appliances.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the whole step-by-step process is very important before deciding on any good inverter for home. It not only involves choosing the cheapest option but also involves identifying the power requirements, adequate battery life that can handle the load, etc. By following our simple step-by-step procedure, we hope you will be able to make an informed decision!
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