Definition of Inverter and Its Types – Power Inverter or commonly referred to as Inverter is a circuit or electronic device that can convert direct electric current (DC) to alternating electric current (AC) at the voltage and frequency needed in accordance with the design of the circuit. Sources of direct electric current or DC current which is the input of the Power Inverter can be a Battery, Battery or Solar Cell (Solar Cell). This inverter will be very useful when used in areas that have limited ac electric current supply. Because with the Power Inverter, we can use Batteries or Solar Cells to move household appliances such as Televisions, Fans, Computers or even Refrigerators and Washing Machines that generally require ac power sources with a voltage of 220V or 110V.
Wave forms that can be produced by Power Inverter include square waves, sine waves (sine wave), modified sine waves (modified sine wave) and wide pulse modulated wave modulated waves depending on the design of the inverter circuit in question. But at this time, the most widely used waveforms are the sine wave form (sine wave) and the modified sine wave ( modified sine wave ). While the frequency of electric current generated in general is about 50Hz or 60Hz with an Output Voltage of about 120V or 240V. The most common electrical power output found for consumer products is about 150 watts to 3000 watts.
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Inverter Working Principles
Simply put, a Power Inverter that can convert DC electric current to AC electric current consists only of a series of Oscillators, Switch circuits and a CT Transformer (transformer) as shown in the figure below.
A power source in the form of a low-voltage DC electric current (e.g. 12V) is assigned to the Center Tap (CT) Secondary Transformer while the other two ends of the Transformer (point A and point B) are connected via a two-way switch to the circuit ground. If the switch is connected at point A it will cause the electric current of line 1 to flow from the positive terminal of the battery to the Center Tap Primer Transformer which then flows to point A Transformer to the ground through the switch. By the time the switch is moved from point A to point B, the electric current flowing on line 1 will stop and the electric current of line 2 will begin to flow from the battery positive terminal to the Transformer Primary Tap Center to the ground via point switch B. Point A, B and Line 1, 2 can be seen in the image above,
The switch on and off or A and B on the switch is controlled by a series of oscillators that serve as a 50Hz frequency generator that switches the electric current from point A to point B and point B to point A at a speed of 50 times per second. Thus, the DC electric current flowing in line 1 and line 2 also alternates as much as 50 times per second as well so that it is equivalent to ac electric current with a frequency of 50Hz. While the main component used as a Switch in the Switch Inverter circuit is generally MOSFET or Transistor.
The Secondary Transformer will produce an Output in the form of a higher voltage (e.g. 120V or 240V) depending on the number of windings in the Transformer secondary coil or the winding ratio between the Primary and Secondary Transformers used in the Inverter.
