Best inverters 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]

Last Updated September 1, 2023

Best inverters of 2018

There are dozens of choices for an inverters these days. These are composed of modern styling with modern technology to match it. Here are some good examples. Many brands have introduced inverters on the market. These brands have resulted in a variety for the user. These require that the consumers be well aware of what they are buying so as to make the best choice.

I’ve based my selection methodology on customer feedback, the size, functionality, and budget to meet various demands. The “Total” indicates the overall value of the product.

Test Results and Ratings

Rank	№1	№2	№3
Product
Total	4.8	4.5	4.3
Style	5 points	4 points	5 points
Versatility	4 points	4 points	4 points
Durability	5 points	5 points	4 points
Quality	5 points	5 points	4 points
Awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

№1 – POTEK 2000W Power Inverter Three AC Outlets 12V DC to 110V AC Car Inverter with USB Port

Why did this inverters win the first place?

I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product. I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch! I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing! The material is stylish, but it smells for the first couple of days.

Style 5

Versatility 4

Durability 5

Quality 5

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№2 – BESTEK 2000W Power Inverter 3 AC Outlets 12V DC to 110V AC Car Inverter

Why did this inverters come in second place?

I like this product. For such a low price, I didn’t even hope it to be any better. It’s decently made. I really liked it. It is amazing in every aspect. It did even exceed my expectations for a bit, considering the affordable price. The design quality is top notch and the color is nice. Seems that the material is good. It has a very beautiful color but I don’t really like the texture.

Style 4

Versatility 4

Durability 5

Quality 5

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№3 – BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter

Why did this inverters take third place?

This price is appropriate since the product is very well built. It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time. We are very pleased with the purchase — the product is great! It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment.

Style 5

Versatility 4

Durability 4

Quality 4

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inverters Buyer’s Guide

Let Us First Understand Your Power Requirement

One of the most important thing that you must know before buying an inverter is your “power requirement”. In simple words- what all home appliances (like lights, fans, televisions, or any other appliances) you will run at the time of power cut. Power requirement is an addition of the power consumed by various electrical home appliances.

Find the VA Rating of the Inverter You Need

VA stands for Volt ampere rating. It is the voltage and current supplied by the inverter to the equipment. Your appliances need more VA than the power requirement in Watts due to the nature of the devices. The ratio is called Power factor.

Hence Power supplied (or VA rating of inverter) = Power requirement (power consumed by equipment in watts) / Power factor.

Single Battery or Double Battery

Now suppose your power back up requirement is hrs for the same power load.

Battery Capacity required = (851*4) / 1= 28Ah ~ 300Ah

Since batteries are available between 60-200Ah, you will need battery of 150Ah (in series) to provide 300 Ah. Two batteries together create 2V output, hence you need to choose inverter which supports 24V input.

Starting power and running power

Starting and running power requirement of all electric appliances are different. An 1Watts CFL takes around 2Watts power to start and after few seconds it stabilizes to 1Watts. Some appliances like Refrigerator, Washing Machine etc take almost double power to start as compared to the normal running power. Hence before selecting an inverter you must calculate the starting power requirement also.

Difference between VA and Watts

The ratio of Power in Watts to Power in VA is termed as Power factor. Unfortunately manufacturers often don’t specify the power factor or efficiency in their products.

Let’s see an example. You are purchasing an inverter with 650 VA power ratings. This 650 VA indicates, it can supply 650 VA power under ideal situations( means efficiency of the inverter is 100%). If we take 80% as a typical efficiency figure, the said inverter can supply 80% of 650 = 520 Watts only. Now you can understand why inverter manufacturers only publish the VA rating on their products. If an inverter or UPS is coming without mentioning power factor, you must take a safe value of 0.(60%) as power factor while connecting appliances.

Digital Inverter

What is digital in inverters? First generation inverters were using power transistors as switching devices and transistorized circuitry for  monitoring/controlling applications. That is an old story. Nowadays inverter technology has changed a lot. A complete transition from old square wave technology to Pure Sine wave technology with the help of advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) techniques. Micro controllers are extensively utilized for précised monitoring and controlling applications. Switching transistors are replaced with high efficient MOSFETs.

Battery

Batter- the vital part of inverter. Performance and life of an inverter is greatly depends upon battery. We can see several classifications of inverter batteries. Normally high power Lead Acid batteries are used to power inverters. Lead acid batteries are classified in to different types as per application, design, technology etc.

Maintenance Free batteries

Lead acid batteries require regular maintenance. You have to check the electrolyte level and require to be topped up on regular intervals. Moreover these batteries release poisonous gases during charging and discharging. If you don’t keep the batteries in a properly ventilated place, it can invite serious health problems. You have to keep the terminals of normal lead acid batteries corrosion free by applying petroleum jelly or grease regularly.

Maintenance free batteries are sealed lead acid batteries which do not require topping up or additional ventilation.

Tubular batteries

This is the most popular segment of inverter batteries-Tubular batteries have several advantages compared to flat plate batteries.  More complex design increases the manufacture cost but the high electrical efficiency and extra long life make tubular batteries suitable for both domestic and industrial applications. A good maintained tubular battery can run unto years or more. Tubular batteries comparatively require less maintenance. Cost of tubular batteries can go up to double of a normal flat plate battery, however if you have a high efficiency inverter then go for a tubular battery, you will not regret. Almost all popular battery  brands in India like Exide, Prestolite, Amaron etc have specially designed tubular batteries for inverters.

Batteries from Inverter manufacturers

We can see that almost all inverter manufacturers supplies battery along with inverter. I strongly suggest-don’t go for such batteries. This is a simple business technique, often they just market batteries on their brand name. As battery costs more than inverter, it is always better to go for a  reputed and trusted battery brand. I have personal experience with Exide and Prestolite tubular batteries. Exide Invatubular batteries run flawlessly upto years.

Local made batteries

Efficiency of an inverter is proportional to the amount of power drawn. It can varies from 90% to 50% from full load to light load. Here the notable factor is that inverter efficiency is high on maximum load. Generally an inverter is in its most efficient capacity when being used at around 1/to 3/of it’s full rating.

Power Consumption of inverters

Inverters take mains power supply to  charge the batteries. If the charging section of an inverter is not energy efficient, it will waste electricity even after the battery is fully charged. This will inflate your electricity bill. It is very difficult to check this aspect in shop before purchasing an inverter. However you can test the same at your home. Switch off all appliances except the  mains supply to inverter, disconnect the battery and measure the power consumption for a specific period.

Battery backup duration

Other features

Solar Panel input: In typical Indian situations even eight hours of continuous commercial power supply availability can not be assured. Hence many people use the most reliable and alternate non conventional power source- Solar energy. Nowadays inverters facilitates the usage of Solar Panels also. Those inverters are embedded with solar charging circuits and regulators.

LCD Status Indicators: Modern inverters come with LCD status indicators to display various status like Battery charge level, Load, Input/Output voltages, Battery life etc.

Voltage stabilizer, High/Low voltage cutoff : Normal inverters don’t stabilize the mains supply, means the commercial supply is routed directly to the appliances without monitoring. Some inverters comes with in built voltage stabilizer, which protects your appliances from voltage fluctuations.

Earth Leakage Protection: Earth leakage protector is a safety device used to protect users from electric shock and appliances from damage. Modern inverters come with in built earth leakage protection circuits, which continuously monitor earth leakage and cut off the supply to safeguard the users.

After Sales Support

We can’t give a blanket suggestion in favor of a particular brand or model. All electronics equipment are prone to damage, hence after sales support is always paramount which varies from place to place. As inverters are static devices, go for a dealer or brand who offers on site warranty repair and maintenance.

How to choose an inverter

Inverter for use at home has become a necessity than a luxury with frequent power cuts across India. The sales of popular brands like APC, Luminous, Sukam, Microtek, Amaron, V guard, Hykon with good reviews have been zooming even though the prices have been rising. People now want to run all home appliances including air conditioners, televisions and refrigerators for their convenience.

Solar Power Support

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INVERTER AND UPS

Both provide backup when there is a power outage. In case of UPS the switch is instantaneous whereas in case of inverters there is a lag in switch.

Hence in case of critical applications like computers a UPS is needed.

For household appliances like fan, light, cooler etc. the gap is fine and hence an inverter works well.

Volts x Amps = Watts

The sum of wattage of all appliance should be within the specifications of the inverter. e.g. if you are planning a outlet inverter then take the sum of wattage and add another 50% to account for any surges in power draw. For example if your tubelight draws 50W and fan draws 50W you should go for at least a 150W ( 50W+50W+50% of (50W+50W) ) inverter.

Make sure the power of the inverter is listed as “continuous”. They should not draw the wattage for a short period of time and then will shut off, reset themselves and resume functioning. Such outages can be frustrating and harmful to the appliances.

True Sine Wave

True sine wave inverters are the most expensive. They deliver the most consistent, highest quality wave output.

These can have high surge capacity which indicates that they can exceed the rated wattage for limited time which is helpful in starting appliances.

Some equipment requires a true sine wave like laptops, battery chargers and so on. AC appliances will run on a true sine wave inverter.

Square Wave Inverter

This type of inverter is popularly known as Digital Inverter. It generates square wave AC output which is not enough to run all kinds of home appliances as the appliances are made to run on sine wave AC pattern only. You will also notice a humming sound coming from some of the devices. The devices can bear this but still this square wave is not recommended to run your home appliances.

Stepped Sine Wave Inverter

This type of inverter falls in between the above two types. Quasi Sine Wave pattern is also not very much accessible in the market. This type of inverter is apparently a low cost power solution for running computers and other types of electronic gadgets.

Solar Battery

Solar Batter- the fundamental piece of Solar inverter. Execution and life of a Solar inverter relies on Solar battery. We can see a few groupings of Solar inverter batteries. Typically high power Lead Acid batteries are utilized to control Solar inverters. Lead corrosive batteries are grouped into various types according to the application, outline, innovation and so forth.

Not recommended for prolonged use

Efficiency of a Solar inverter is proportional to the amount of power drawn. It can vary from 90% to 50% from full load to light load. Here the notable factor is that the Solar inverter efficiency is high on maximum load. Generally, a solar inverter is in its most efficient capacity when being used at around 1/to 3/of its full rating.

Power Consumption of Solar inverters

Solar Inverters take Solar energy to charge the batteries. If the charging section of a solar inverter is not energy efficient, it will waste electricity even after the battery is fully charged. You can test the same at your home. Turn off all apparatuses aside from the mains supply to inverter, disengage the battery and measure the power utilization for a particular period.

Inverter Efficiency

Sometimes bigger is not better. What we really need to know is what percentage of the power that goes into the inverter from the battery comes out the other side as AC power. To make this calculation even more difficult, the efficiency of an inverter changes with the output load placed on it. if a small load is put on an inverter it may be only around 50% efficient. However increase the load to near the inverters stated maximum continuous load and the efficiency will rise to around 90%.

Practically this means that you coud run your 20 Watt appliance for much longer on the same battery by choosing to use the 150 Watt inverter rather than the 3000 inverter.

APsystems

Psystems was founded in 200and is one of the largest microinverter and MLPE solution providers in the world. APsystems serves customers in more than 70 countries through three global business units operating in: Seattle for the Americas region; Lyon, France, for the EMEA region; and Jiaxing, China, for the APAC region. APsystems has hundreds of thousands of units installed around the globe producing over 130 GWh of energy.

Honda EU2000i

One of the main selling points of the Honda EU2000i is in its quiet operation. Typically producing between 5and 5decibels during operation, it’s at a similar level to the average conversation. Therefore it’s ideal for certain environments where a noisy generator just isn’t possible. Of course, being a generator from Honda, the EU2000i has an impressive engine with a 0.95-gallon fuel capacity and can run just over hours on one tank. Despite the impressive power that this inverter generator provides, it weighs only 46lbs. Small and compact, it’s easy to transport and store away when not in use.

At the price you’re paying for this product, you’d expect it to be relatively quiet and offer high fuel efficiency. So it’s nice to see a number of other advantages. In particular, we feel that this is a very well constructed product which should prove to be durable. After all, this is a very reliable brand and the EU2000i does come with a good 3-year warranty. The only real disadvantages of this product are the lofty price (though we must say that it still offers good value) and that 2000W still might not be enough for some people. If money isn’t an issue and you don’t require more than 2000W, you may well want to consider this product.

Yamaha EF2000iSv2

For powering a wide range of applications for hours at a time, the Yamaha EF2000iSvis a great choice. It’s worth us first mentioning that this is the most stylish-looking inverter generator we’ve seen in a long time. Smooth blue and black exterior and rounded corners make it look more like a radio than something that will power your lights or air conditioning! Of course, it’s more than just a pretty face. It has a highly reliable and efficient OHV engine with a smart throttle that varies the speed based on load. This improves fuel economy and reduces noise.

Energizer 500-Watt Power Inverter

It is interesting to know that the EN54is the first power inverter that incorporates 9.6A of USB charging capability. It can be permanently installed through the use of its built-in mounting post. The brand emphasizes their manufacture of high-quality products that they offer a two-year warranty for parts and labor. The package includes one power inverter, a set of alligator clips, a cigarette lighter cable, and a user manual.

For its specifications, the Energizer offers 500W continuous inversion and peaks at 1000W. The model has been tested, validated and approved for safety and performance by Intertek. Input voltage is set at 12V and output voltage is set at 110V~120V. It also offers protection the user may need such as overload, high temperature, and short circuit. Lastly, the model comes with an ultra-silent thermal fan.

Kriëger 1100 Watt 12V Power Inverter

For its specifications, power is set at 1100W continuous capacity and it peaks at 2200W. You cannot go wrong with the Kriëger as they have been tested and approved by METLAB for performance and safety. Input voltage is set at 12V DC while the output voltage is set at 110V~120V. It features dual USB 2.1A shared and an LCD display that indicates input voltage, output wattage, and battery level.

Lastly, the Kriëger set comes with 1100W power inverter and a set of FT gauge cables. To add, the set includes a remote control, an in-line fuse and a user manual for the instructions.

Power Bright PW2300-1Power Inverter 2300W

The Power Bright Power Inverter is a heavy-duty product that you can plug directly into a 12V direct current battery. This will enable you to power up televisions, laptops, game consoles, small appliances and other gadgets in your vehicle. This power inverter features 2300W continuous power and it peaks at 4600W.

The power inverter’s case is made from anodized aluminum for outstanding durability. It also features a LED display that indicates input voltages and output wattages. It has a built-in cooling fan, an internal 30A fuse, and an overload indicator. Another great feature of the Power Bright is that it has an audible low-voltage alarm. It will shut down in case there is a power overload, short-circuiting and other thermal problems.

There is a difference between peak load and continuous load. Peak load is the maximum load that inverter can handle, usually only for short amount of time (few seconds). Continuous load is generally advertised and it means how much it can run normally.

Overload protection

This is mostly the feature of better and more expensive inverters. In case you plugged them in too high powered device, they automatically adapt. Some power inverters could blow up in this case, so it is very important to have the protection.

Of course in the end you also have to look at the cost. Naturally with more features the price will increase. In this guide we will review some of the best pure sine power inverters. They are the best based on the price for which you are buying them.

This power inverter is 600 watts power inverter. It has aluminum case which will provide a good longevity of this product. In case it falls somewhere, it should still work. Its maximum power is 1000 watts. What is more is that this power inverter is relatively quiet and easy to use. It will certainly come in very handy in the situations of need. It has an attractive price point and a built-in thermos cooling fan. Although it does not have many features, it is still quite a good power inverter for the price. It can be used in variety of applications. This multifunctionality is something you will appreciate a lot if you decide to buy this inverter. It is also easy to transport and to simply set it to work. It does not have many buttons and it is generally known to have a good durability.

So in case you are looking for simple, relatively cheap, power sine wave inverter that still works good, you should definitely consider this product. It will leave you satisfied.

Go Power! GP-SW300-1300-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter

Are you looking for an inverter with lower power? This is a 300 watt pure sine wave inverter and 450 watt at the peak. Although this product is relatively cheap compared to other wave inverters, it still has some useful features such as overvoltage and overload protection. What is worth mentioning about this product is that it runs quietly and effectively which can be very useful in some applications. It can be portable, so you can also use it in different applications and while travelling. It weighs less than pounds which makes it relatively light. Besides silence and reliability the strongest point of this inverter is also durability. Because of that, it is certainly the kind of item that somebody who is buying long term wants to buy. What is more is that it does come with the manual for easier installation. It is a very cheap inverter, so it is good if you are looking for something in slightly lower price range and if you are ok with only few features. Despite the cheap price, it does not disappoint you and you will grow fond of it.

Rs. 44000

Rs. 70000 * All the above figures are indicative only. Actual figures vary from time to time, from manufacturer to manufacturer, also from model to model. * All the above figures are indicative only. Actual figures vary from time to time, from manufacturer to manufacturer, also from model to model.

Inverter Size

We recommend that you buy an inverter twice the size of your total energy requirements so that you have extra capacity and do not run the risk of overloading your inverter.

Battery Bank

The minimum required size of your battery bank will be determined by the voltage requirements of your inverter.  A 12-volt inverter, for example, requires 1volts and will work if you connect it to a single 12v battery.  A 24-volt inverter will require 2volts, which you can achieve by connecting two 1volt batteries in series.

The most common inverter  battery capacities available in Nigeria are 12v 100AH and 200AH.

The minimum required battery bank size may or may not be enough to meet your needs.  You can determine the correct sizing for your home by using the following formula.

Amp rating of battery x inverter voltage (assuming 80% efficiency )  load wattage.

Inverter Battery Brands

There are a lot of inverter battery brands available on the Nigerian market. The problem is that the majority of these batteries are relatively low-quality compared to those from dedicated inverter battery manufacturers. This is why most experts recommend investing in a battery from reputable manufacturers such as Mercury.

Warranties and Guarantees

A warranty simply means the manufacturer will be willing to provide maintenance and repair of certain components for a specific number of years or months if a malfunction occurs, while a guarantee stipulates a brand new replacement if faulty.

Due to the high cost of Deep Cycles batteries, it is always recommended that you invest in a brand new unit so you can take advantage of the guarantee and warranty, should there be a malfunction. Mercury batteries are sold with a one year guarantee and warranty, meaning you will get a new replacement in the unlikely event your batteries become faulty within the first year.

Cobra CPI1590 1500W Professional Power Inverter

You install this style of microwave above your range, which will save you some counter space. These models have vent systems that take the place of the oven hood and lights to illuminate your cooktop.

Built-in

Built-in models that you place among custom cabinets or paired with built-in, full-sized wall oven are the most high-end (aka expensive) types of microwaves. Some microwaves in this category are even designed specifically as drawers with a compartment you pull out for your food.

Wattage

Microwave wattage equals power. In general, the higher the wattage, the faster and more evenly your food will cook. Most microwaves sit somewhere between 600-1,200 watts. Larger, more expensive microwaves tend to have a higher wattage, so this is a price and size consideration that can strongly influence microwave cooking performance.

Features

Many microwaves share common functions. Here are some microwave cooking essentials: cook time, defrost, power level and timer. Each one requires your direct input, but they are usually very easy to set. Most microwaves have touch panel controls and a rotating carousel to spin your food for more even cooking.

Default settings

Many microwaves come with preset cooking modes so you only have to press one button to automatically cook a dish. For example, many microwaves have a “popcorn” button that will cook your bag based on factory settings. This can be handy for common dishes you heat in the microwave, but you’ll have to figure out if the microwave’s default cook times work for your own food. Other common presets include: baked potato, pizza, beverage, frozen dinner and reheat.

Manufacturers are increasingly including features in microwaves that mimic what we see in full-size ovens, such as a broiler. This is a good addition for finishing off a dish or cooking something for which you’d prefer more direct heat.

Convection

A convection fan that’s built into the back of a microwave oven circulates the heat around the food to cook things more quickly and evenly. (Many new full-size ovens come with at least one convection fan.) However, microwaves with convection fans are generally more expensive than those without.

Inverter technology

Inverter heating is another option available on some high-end models. If you want to heat something at a 50 percent power level, most microwaves actually switch between 100 percent power and 0 percent power to average in at 50 percent power. This doesn’t yield great results if you want to heat something on a lower heat and achieve an even result. So, some models now use inverter technology, which maintains a consistent 50 percent power. That way, you can poach salmon, make a fluffy omelet, etc.

Foval 150W Car Power Inverter

When you are travelling, then this is an ultimate charger that you need to take care of your charging problems. It is an easy to use charger because you need to simply plug the inverter into the vehicles lighter so that you have the best convenient charging while you are on the road. You can use this item in different places so that you have the convenience of its use.

It has been made from materials that are durable and luckily, installed with the perfect color that will fit into any car décor that you will put it in. when you are not using it, you can take it or store it in the glove compartment. It is also usable to charge a variety of mobile devices safely. When you want to use it, just plug it in and it is ready to start charging your devices.

Power Bright PW2300-1Power Inverter

The Power Bright PW2300-1Power Inverter is one of the best when it comes to power inverters for mobile applications. This 1Volt power inverter converts the 1Volt DC or direct to the normal AC or alternating current and allows you to run applications aboard your smoothly and without any hiccups. This is one of the most popular choices that boat owners make when it comes to buying extras for their boat to make their time on it more enjoyable and convenient. With this, you will never have to worry about power again and make the most of your time instead.

Quiet Enough for Camping

As someone who enjoys tent camping, I can assure you that a standard generator running in a campsite will earn you more than a few angry looks.  But the models we are highlighting are so quiet that your neighbors are unlikely to even know it’s running.

This style of generator is great for RV camping as well.  A couple of the models we will be highlighting have 30A outlets specifically for hooking up to your RV to run air conditioning systems, refrigerators, and other devices.  Most of these units even have enough power to accommodate a TV and lights as well.

Home Backup Generators

The run-time at 25% load for the Honda is 8.hours.  At the rated (1600W) load this drops to 3.hours.  This is slightly less than the Champion, but a good bit ahead of the Wen.

Honda’s “Eco Throttle” system balances the engine speed to the required load.  This allows the unit to be as fuel efficient as possible.

There are two big selling points for the Honda. 

While Champion and Wen will require you send in a defective model for repairs (or send you the parts).  With Honda you can most likely find a qualified technician nearby.  This is a huge advantage when you’re relying on your generator for power in more remote areas.

Features & Performance

There is also an automatic shut-off for low oil situations.

One particularly nice feature is the fuel gauge which none of the other units in this comparison have.  On the downside the Yamaha does not have a USB charging port for phones and tablets.  These devices can obviously be charged using the 120V ports of which there are two.

Fuel Efficiency and Run-Time

Since inverter generators are able to regulate engine speed based on current power demands they can be up to 40% more fuel efficient than standard models.

An inverter generator (IG) can run at much lower speeds because the technology incorporated into the unit allows for constant frequency output without a corresponding engine RPM. This means that an IG will consume less fuel when power demands are low, and can ramp up to meet additional load requirements.

Because of design differences between the two types of generators run-times can vary greatly. Standard generators are designed to supply a specific power output with less consideration for size. This means they generally have larger fuel tanks.

IG’s are generally designed from the beginning to be smaller and more portable. This has a direct impact on the amount of fuel it can store. But even with smaller fuel tanks, many IG’s have run-times of up to hours due to their highly efficient engines.

A more efficient engine also has the added benefit of reduced exhaust emissions and a smaller carbon footprint.

Winner:  Standard Generators

Power Quality and Consistency ​In terms of the power produced there are significant differences between the two types.

Parallel or Tandem Operation

One particularly attractive feature of many inverter generators is that they can be used in parallel or combined to increase their power output.

This is a function that standard generators are unable to provide.

Generally all that is needed to accomplish parallel operation is a special cable that connects the two units.  This can vary by unit, so be sure to read the details about the particular model you’re looking at to ensure it provides for this capability.

Automatic start

The underlying concept is quite simple. For a large upfront cost, solar panels can generate ‘free’ electricity, but don’t work at night. Alternatively, off-peak power is much cheaper, but only available in the middle of the night.

A normal household tends to use the most power in the morning, and then again in the evening, which does not line up too well with solar or off-peak power.

Some electricity providers are moving towards time of day metering, where peak times (those mornings and evenings) are charged at a higher rate.

Battery Technology Basics

Electricity is commonly measured and billed in kWh (kilowatt hours), which is how many kilowatts (thousands of watts) used in an hour. For example, your power bill will give kWh figures – either for daily use, or over the billing period. A daily use figure of kWh doesn’t mean you used kW in one hour – rather the equivalent of 10kw in one hour, but spread over the day. Appliances ratings are a little different – typically using ratings in watts. For example, a 2000W heater uses kW each hour – so hours use a day will add 4kWh to your power bill. Other appliances such as TVs and fridges often include a sticker with the expected power use over a year, given in kWh. Battery storage capacities are also rated in kWh – for example, the Tesla Powerwall has a 14kWh capacity. That means it can could run the 2kW heater for hours, or a 0.5KW computer for 2hours.

The other aspect of the ratings is how the power is delivered. For example, a 1kWh battery can’t supply all 1kW in a single hour – that’s just how the ratings are written. There is another rating of how much power can be delivered each hour – typically a lower continuous figure, and a peak figure. For example, the Powerwall can supply 5kW continuously, and 7kW peak for seconds. So, it could run a 2kW heater, a 2.kW air-conditioner, and still delivery another 0.kW to run your TV, lights and other small appliances. The higher peak rating helps handle small surges, such as the extra power used when a refrigerator turns on.

Getting The Most From Battery Storage

Adding a storage battery is really only part of the equation – what you do with it is just as important. An underappreciated aspect of the battery storage technology is that it gives a way for users to track, and more importantly, change their usage habits. Especially as time of day power billing becomes more common, large savings can be had by simply using electricity in smart ways.

Sure, it’s possible to get many of the benefits by tracking power use with relatively inexpensive tech, but not many people choose to do so. So while it’s possible to change power use habits on your own, if installing battery storage is what makes you actually do it, then that’s a big incentive.

Another big factor is effectively using excess solar power, which can have a huge impact on savings. While generated solar not used to charge a battery can be sold back to the grid, the better option is to simply use the electricity directly.

The problem with that is that in general, peak generation is during the middle of the day. But some households have high power uses for items such as pool pumps, which can be timed to run during the day. Other smart home products allow scheduling and remote control of appliances, such as running dishwashers and clothes dryers during the day, heating water, or having your air conditioning run for a few hours in the afternoon to pre-cool a hot house in summer.

As battery storage becomes more popular, other companies are launching complementary technology that gives further benefits. For example, Reposit Power has a system that learns your usage patterns and helps manage your solar and battery.

Going Off-Grid

For many households, fixed line charges are a very large portion of their power bills. So why not save even more money, and go off grid entirely? This is a great concept, and can work very well in rural areas where the cost to have mains power installed is very high.

But for a typical suburban home, the cost would be around times that of just a battery storage system, due to needing extra capacity to handle long periods of bad weather. There can be issues with having enough space for the needed solar panels.

Home Battery Storage Options

We have not included every single possible battery option – just the ones that are the most affordable, easiest to buy, or have the most unique features. We used the excellent figures put together by Solar Quotes, who have a comprehensive list of every single available option.

Tesla Powerwall

One of the most well-known battery storage systems, it’s also the cheapest for the capacity. The Powerwall is a compact all in one unit, and includes a battery inverter, but not a solar inverter. It has excellent efficiency and a solid warranty.

Enphase AC Battery

Designed to be easy to install and upgrade, the Enphase system uses compact, lower capacity modules. This means it’s easy to size to your specific needs, and add more capacity down the track. It has an excellent round trip efficiency, but a relatively low power output per battery. Enphase are also working on upgraded microinverter technology for each solar panel, which improves efficiency and makes future solar panel upgrades easier.

Redflow ZCell

This Aussie company has developed a flow battery system, which is a physically safer chemistry compared to Lithium Ion. It is bulkier and heavier though, and has a lower round trip efficiency. The ZCell offers a fairly competitive price for the capacity, and is a technology to keep a close eye on as it’s developed further. More: This Solar Power System Lets Your Timeshift Your Energy From Day To Night.

GCL E-KwBe 5.6

You might not have ever heard of this company, or it’s battery, but you probably will in the future. While it still can’t compete with the Powerwall 2, the GCL is very affordable. It’s built by a Chinese company, has decent specs and warranty, and is available from Australian suppliers. The lower capacity models may suit smaller homes, and more can be added later to upgrade the system.

Deep Cycle Systems

Built by an Australian company, these batteries are available in Kwh (specs below) and kWh systems. The round-trip efficiency is very good, and the price per warrantied kWh is quite competitive. One factor that makes the batteries stand out is the high peak power output.

ELMOFO E-Cells ALB52-106

Designed and assembled in Australia, these batteries have a solid price, great specs and a unique name. While they offer a very high peak output, the lower capacity number of warrantied kilowatts hours mean the E-Cells are relatively high priced.

Calculating For Yourself

Last year we took a fairly in depth look at the first Powerwall installed in Australia. You can read about it here, or follow the owner’s Blog. Also check out Solar Choice’s calculator page, which has some handy tools to help out.

No calculation will be perfect and various simplified assumptions need to be made. Because it has plenty of numbers available, we are going to use the Tesla Powerwall as an example. We have made the same calculations with other battery storage units below. To be conservative, we assume a desired ‘payback’ time to break even of years – it’s only after this point you will save money. We also assume no maintenance costs and take a very simplified approach to opportunity cost.

So is it worth it, economically? Perhaps in the right circumstances, but the best bet is to wait a little as the technology improves and prices drop. In the meantime, set up power monitoring, learn about your usage habits, and save money though reduction.

What Role Will Gas Play In Australia By 2050?

Generally, the size of the battery is determined by the wattage load and the projected runtime. Using a battery that is not strong enough can cause the inverter not to power up and may lead to discharging issues that could permanently damage the battery.

AMPERE HOUR OR AH RATING

Ampere Hour is a measurement of electrical capacity the amount of energy the battery will store. Current multiplied by time in hours equals ampere-hours. This is the most important measure to be looked at when choosing a battery for an inverter.

A current of 50 amps for one hour would be 50 AH at the 1hr rate; a current of 30 amps for hours would be 150 AH at the 5hr rate.

AH ratings vary with temperature, and also with the rate of discharge. For example, a battery rated at 100 AH at the 6-hour rate would be rated at about 13AH at the 48-hour rate.

The ratings during actual use can change due to effects of temperature and internal resistance.

INVERTER BATTERY DISCHARGE RATE

Cis the available capacity of the battery when discharged over hrs. C20 is for 20Hrs and so on. These indicate how many amperes the battery will supply for and 20 hours without dropping below a certain voltage. So, lesser the discarge rate, the lesser electricity you will be able to draw for the designated period.

Deep cycle battery

The deep cycle batteries are specifically designed to be less susceptible to degradation due to cycling, and are required for applications where the batteries are regularly discharged like uninterruptible power supplies. These batteries have thicker plates that can deliver less peak current, but can withstand frequent discharging.

They are also known as traction batteries or golf cart type. They should be used in order to be able to handle the repeated discharge/charge cycles and hence are more suitable for applications.

SEALED

When charging lead acid batteries, the temperature should not exceed 52oC intermittently or 45oC. At this point the battery should be taken off charge and allowed to cool before resuming the charge process.

CHECKING IF BATTERY IS BAD

So you have narrowed down your list of potential power inverters suppliers, done your due diligence and decided on one factory to manufacture your power inverters. But before you sign that contract, you would most probably need to negotiate quality, price and payment terms.

The first thing you need to make sure of is whether or not you are talking to the decision maker. Quality and production concerns, for instance, should be discussed with engineers, managers and QC personnel, not salespeople. It also better that you have your own translator, one whom you have briefed in advance about terminology and what to expect.

Protecting your IP

While most suppliers in China are trying to earn an honest living, there are also a large number of unscrupulous companies who are out to make a quick buck. And one of easiest ways to do this is by stealing your intellectual property. Most people think IP just refer to designs and trademarks. But it also includes sensitive buyer information such as export value, shipping destination, customer and end- user identity, and market value of goods shipped.

Do not share info without nondisclosure or other agreements in place.

At the same time, do not rely solely on NDAs and non-compete agreements. Attach bilingual MOUs to purchase orders. The MOUs must be initialed by a person in authority.

Distribute components to various suppliers instead of just one. Your payments, penalties, and ship dates should be contractually tied to QC reports.

Foxpower is a professional and exclusive manufacturer of quality power inverters. We strive to carry the most complete line of DC power inverters available today. Our engineers work hard to make power inverters that meet your needs. We have inverters for any application; commercial inverters, industrial inverters, consumer power inverters, and power inverters for home and business.

Foxpower is consistently developing innovative products for use in green energy applications and in mobile business around the globe. Our specialty is dc to ac power inverters including 12-volt power inverters, 24-volt power inverters, 48-volt power inverters. Specialty is DC to AC power inverters, inverter charger, solar charge controllers, converter chargers and portable power generators. As the best ODM/OEM partner, Foxpower strives on to meet your specific needs and requirements. devotes to develop and manufacture perfect products and solutions for all of you with best quality products at incredibly affordable prices. Foxpower have perfect quality systems to control the product quality and get the ISO900certification to make sure product quality. Our power inverters got UL458, CSA, and UL174certifications to apply in many fields.

First understand your Power Requirement

 

 

 

 

 

Final Word

First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.

Most important, have fun and choose your inverters wisely! Good luck!

So, TOP3 of inverters

• №1 — POTEK 2000W Power Inverter Three AC Outlets 12V DC to 110V AC Car Inverter with USB Port
• №2 — BESTEK 2000W Power Inverter 3 AC Outlets 12V DC to 110V AC Car Inverter
• №3 — BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter