Pure sine wave inverters offer perfect power just like the power that comes from the mains. Modified Sine Wave power is slightly different but manages to fool most equipment successfully. Unfortunately there are some very poor quality modified sine wave inverters on the market. The cheaper variety provide ‘unclean’ power which is not recommended for your appliances. These inverters are OK for camping and watching TV on the odd occasion, but for more regular use it is advisable to invest in a better quality inverter.
The Inverex and PS Units provide modified sine wave power. However, this is a very good quality modified sine wave and should not be compared to the cheaper modified sine wave inverters which cause noise and lines to appear when used with TV’s and PCs. The Inverex / PS Units work well with PCs, Printers, TVs, Decoders, DVD players, VCRs, Fans, Lights, Garage Doors, Electric Gates, Domestic Fridges/Freezers, Point of Sale Tills, Security Systems and Card Machines.
It is not advisable to use the Inverex / PS Units to run a motor such as a (pool pump) for extended periods. Medical equipment, certain lights, and other sensitive equipment may not work well on the Inverex / PS Units. In all cases the user should check with the equipments manufacturer to be sure as we cannot make recommendations on specific equipment. There are just too many types of electronic equipment, makes and models for us to be able to know about all of them!
How long will the backup last for?
What is the best kind of battery for backup power?
There is much confusion about battery types and uses. Many so called ‘experts’ are also mislead or uninformed and do not always offer the best advice. Deep Cycle batteries have thicker more solid lead plates and therefore offer the durability that is required when using a battery for long periods. Remember that when a battery is used in a car – it is used for very short periods for starting only. Also important to remember is that many backup systems are / were designed for the odd / occational power cut that did not last for very long. This is known as a ‘standby’ application. In these cases a High Cycle battery would suffice. However, were power cuts are frequent and lengthly (1hr+), this is known as a ‘cyclic’ application and in this case High Cycle batteries will not offer the same life span as a Deep Cycle.
What about installation?
PS Units
The PS Units do not need professional installation. Anyone can connect their appliances to the PS Unit. If you would like to connect more than one item to the unit you will need a multiple adaptor (just like you need when you have only one wall socket). For lights, you can plug in lamps.
You can also opt to have the PS Units connected to your distribution board. This must be done by a suitably experienced and qualified electrician. This will allow you to have backup for your built in lights.
Inverex Inverter
The Inverex needs to be connected with a battery or batteries as well as with the equipment you wish to run. This takes some know how to connect but most men would manage this connection fine. The cables are included. You may need to use an adaptor to plug into the unit as the socket is the universal type. If you would like to connect more than one item to the unit you will need a multiple adaptor (just like you need when you have only one wall socket). For lights, you can plug in lamps.
You can also have the Inverex connected to your distribution board. This must be done by a suitably experienced and qualified electrician. This will allow you to have backup for your built in lights.
Inversine Inverter
The inversine must be connected to your distribution board. This must be done by a suitably experienced and qualified electrician. Your electrician will discuss with you which sockets and lights to backup in your home / office and set it up accordingly. You will need to have a suitable area to mount the inverter and store the battery bank.
Volts, Amps, Watts, VA, Ah – Terms Explained
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AC
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Alternating Current. This is the type of electricity that we receive in our homes.
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DC
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Direct Current. This is the type of electricity you get from a battery.
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Volt
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The Volt can be described as the speed that electricity flows at. In SA we get 220-240V AC power supply. In the USA they get 110-120V AC power supply. The type of batteries we use for backup power supply are 12V DC power.
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Amp
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Ampere. This is the strength of the current.
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VA
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This is simply Volts x Amps. E.g. You have an appliance that needs 1.5 amps at 240V. This appliance will need 1.5x240=360VA.
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Watt
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This is the VA which has been affected by efficiency. VA x Power Factor = Watts. If the power factor is .6, and the VA is 2000, then the Watts is 2000 x .6 = 1200Watts. Power factor can vary from .1 to 1.
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kVA
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This is 1000 VA.
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kW
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This is 1000 watts.
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A/h
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Amps / Hour. This is a measure used to indicate how much power a battery can supply. The A/h rating is generally given from the performance of a battery over a 20 hour period. Unfortunately even if a 100Ah battery can give 100 Amps / hour over a 20 hour period, it does not mean it will give the same performance over shorter periods of 3-4 hours for example. All batteries are different. We have a battery backup time table that can be consulted to determine how many hours backup can be expected at certain loads.
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