Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Just been checking out inverters on Ebay, and i was wondering if someone could tell me the difference between a pure sine wave and a modified sine wave inverter (Beside the cost)

Some electrical appliances don't like operating off a modified sine wave. Pure sine wave is the same as the power out a normal home socket.

murcod wrote:Some electrical appliances don't like operating off a modified sine wave. Pure sine wave is the same as the power out a normal home socket.

Is that when the top and bottom of the wave is clipped so you only get ~230v ?

M1S3RY wrote:

murcod wrote:Some electrical appliances don't like operating off a modified sine wave. Pure sine wave is the same as the power out a normal home socket.

Is that when the top and bottom of the wave is clipped so you only get ~230v ?

What you actually get is a wave that is square with gaps to aproximate the same average power, how well it aproximates it is dependant on the quality. It only becomes an issue when running motors. I can run a 900kw compressor motor off my 1700w inverter, it's a non sine wave, when the compressor was new I had to make sure the head pressure was nearly zero or it would stall on startup, no problems now. I can run the house fridge fine. But it a 700w sandwich toaster or microwave only work at half heat. 850w circular saw was also a bit gutless. Everything else, battery chargers, computer, pedestal fans, TV, video, DVD all run fine, I do get slight lines in TV pictures though and background hum in some stereo's.

Rainbow Warrior wrote:I can run a 900kw compressor motor off my 1700w inverter

That's a bloody powerful compressor and amazing inverter!

murcod wrote:

Rainbow Warrior wrote:I can run a 900kw compressor motor off my 1700w inverter

That's a bloody powerful compressor and amazing inverter!

Should see the amps pulled by the batteries
900w is more believable.