When you are in the market and look for an inverter (mostly 12V), several crucial considerations must be taken into account. This criteria help you determine the suitability and performance of the inverter when you spend money, time and installing effort. In this article, I will outline the top six considerations that you should keep in mind when purchasing the inverter. (take the 12V one as the example)

1. Power Requirements

Accurately calculate the power requirements of your electric-related application to ensure the inverter can handle the load. Consider the wattage or VA(Voltage Ampere) rating needed to power the equipment or devices.

2. Waveform Type

Select the appropriate waveform type based on your electric application's needs. Pure sine wave inverters are ideal for sensitive electronics, even though modified sine wave inverters are cheaper.

3. Efficiency

Choose the inverter with high efficiency ratings (normally max efficiency 90%) to minimize energy loss during the power conversion process. Higher efficiency leads to better overall performance and potential cost savings.

4. Input Voltage Range

Ensure the inverter supports the wider input voltage range than the voltage range of your 12V battery system (normally voltage range around 11~15Vdc). This guarantees optimal performance and safety within the specified voltage range.

5. Protection Features

Prioritize inverters with built-in protection mechanisms such as overload protection, over-temperature shutdown, short-circuit protection, and low voltage alarm/shutdown. These features safeguard equipment and prevent damage.

6. Engineering-Specific Features

Consider additional features that cater specifically to engineering needs, such as dry contacts (ex. Power On/Off, Fault signal), the protocol communication, power saving, remote control options, or output connector types (ex. GFCI, terminal block or receptacle)