An inverter can significantly reduce your chances of being affected by outages and power cuts. This device is especially important for the summer season because of the rise in mercury levels. Despite technology and innovation, frequent power cuts are still common. This means that summertime is challenging, especially if you live in an already tropical area.
With greater access to information with services like Charter Spectrum cable, people are coming up with ways to battle this. Buying an inverter is so far one of the most popular ways to survive such conditions. However, before you make your big purchase, here’s what you need to know.
Consider the Total Power You Consume
Before you buy an inverter, it’s important that you’re aware of the amount o power you consume on average. This will help you determine what kind of inverter to buy if any. In addition to this, it will also help you make a clearer choice as to what model you want and what features it should have.
Therefore, make a note of the power you consume around your household or office. Carefully analyze all devices you need to power; the fridge, the hairdryer, the oven. Anything you use on a daily basis. Once you have an estimate, you’ll be aware of the average power your household or office consumes. Now, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision. In addition to this, you’ll be able to determine what size you require and how many watts the inverter should have. If your daily consumption of power is high, make sure you choose an inverter that can fulfill your needs. Otherwise, your purchase won’t make too much sense.
Know Which Appliances Are Compatible With an Inverter
One of the most important factors to consider before buying an inverter is to be aware of the kind of appliances that are compatible with it. You may only have a certain type of device that you use on a daily basis. However, if your inverter doesn’t support them, you won’t be able to make much use of your purchase. For instance, a lot of inverters don’t support the consumption of hairdryers. This is because these tools require high power. As a result, if you’re a regular user of such tools, make sure you check what appliances your inverter supports before buying it.
Understand Your Inverter’s VA Requirements
In addition to power consumption and appliance compatibility, it’s also important to have strong knowledge of VA ratings. A large number of people aren’t informed about these. In fact, they think it’s too technical to learn. However, VA rating are quite simple to understand. It’s important to first understand that VA ratings and watt ratings are not the same.
VA is referred to as apparent power. This means that it is the result of current and voltage. These are driven by the equipment itself. If you want a functional and efficient inverter, it’s recommended that both your VA and watt values be the same. However, this is difficult to achieve with real circuits. Thus, it’s important not to give in to false claims made by manufacturers.
Know the Differences Between an Inverter and a Home UP
A large number of people believe that inverters and home UPS are the same and have similar functions. However, if you want to buy an inverter that is well-suited to your household, make sure you understand the differences first. In terms of functionality, both the UPS and inverter are roughly similar. However, the main factor that differentiates these two is the time lag. With a home UPS, there’s no time lag when devices are being powered off and then on.
On the other hand, inverters have a short period of complete blackout. As a result of this, most devices like computers and laptops are powered by tools like UPS.
Other Considerations
Apart from factors related to appliances, power, and VA ratings, there are also other things to consider before you buy an inverter. You should first determine if you even need to buy an inverter. If there are no power outages in your area and all your appliances work well, there’s no requirement for an inverter. In addition to this, you should be well aware of warranties offered by manufacturers. Therefore, in case something goes wrong, you can contact the company. Moreover, make sure you buy inverters only from well-reputed companies. Such devices are expensive thus, it’s important that you invest in a good company.
