Why Power Inverters Are Important for Alternative Energy Systems
Posted on August 30, 2010 | Category: Envirohment Trivia, Featured
Alternative energy systems can be very overwhelming to people who are new to them. If you are considering switching your home over to alternative energy, you should understand the components that go in to it. The basic components are the energy producing modules (solar panels, wind turbines, micro hydro turbines). A charge controller to control the electricity that is being produced by the power modules and prevent overcharging of the batteries. A battery bank to store the energy. A power inverter, and a transfer switch to prevent back feeding the energy that your power modules produce into the electric grid.
All solar panels, wind turbines, and micro hydro generators produce either 12 volt, 24 volt, or 48 volt direct current electricity. All homes in the U.S. require 120 volt alternating current electricity. The power inverter is the device in all renewable energy systems that convert the low voltage 12 volt DC electricity into 120 volt alternating current electricity.
Without a power inverter, renewable energy systems would be much more expensive and much more complicated. Here are some things to keep in mind when purchasing a power inverter for renewable energy applications.
- You should avoid purchasing power inverters that are commonly available at your local department stores and auto part stores. These inverters are fine for light, intermittent use but they are simply not built to high enough standards for use in full time renewable energy applications.
- You should purchase a power inverter with an automatic transfer switch.
- You should purchase a power inverter that has an efficiency ranting of at least 90%.
- It’s a good idea to buy power inverters with a very low no-load power draw.
- When possible, buy a power inverter with at least two cooling fans.
- It’s nice to have a remote power switch on power inverters. This isn’t an absolute necessity but it is a convenient feature to have.
There you have it. Now you know a little about why it’s power inverters are important for renewable energy applications.
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