Definition of a Voltage Inverter
A voltage inverter is an integral component of a solar energy system. Depending on the amount of solar energy your system processes, different inverters of various capacities can convert a little or a lot of raw power into usable household voltage. Does this Spark an idea?
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Significance
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An inverter takes in direct current (DC) and puts out alternating current (AC). When solar panels absorb energy from the sun, they convert it to DC current, which can be stored in batteries. In order for the majority of household appliances to operate on this energy, an inverter must change the DC to AC.
Function
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Inside the inverter, DC power is drawn through a gauntlet of transistors, which reform the straight line (direct) current into a wavy line going back and forth (alternating) between oppositely magnetized poles. The inverter accomplishes this change by turning the transistor switches on and off rapidly to reformat the current into AC.
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History
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David C Prince, a twentieth-century electrical engineer, was the first to use the term "inverter" in a 1925 article published in the "GE Review." Prince also designed revolutionary oil impulse circuit breakers for use in the Hoover Dam.
Types
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Recharge that notebook with clean energy. Different inverters can produce different types of AC current. The most primitive, the square wave current, is an all but outmoded type, which is useful if you are powering tools or machinery. The modified sine wave current can power many household appliances and lights. True sine wave is the most useful, safe for powering sensitive electronics such as computers as well as any other AC device.
Misconceptions
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While an inverter is an essential part a solar power system, it does not generate power but gets it from another source, such as a solar panel. Inverter usage is not limited to solar systems. It will convert power from a battery from DC to AC, despite the original source.
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References
- Photo Credit solar-cell image by carsten jacobs from Fotolia.com wide screen laptop computer image by Flashon Studio from Fotolia.com
