What is the Best Inverter for Load Shedding
Inverters

What’s the Best Inverter for Load Shedding?

The best inverter for load shedding is one that ensures continuous power by converting alternating current (AC) into a reliable source of electricity during outages. The best inverter for load shedding should offer robust battery backup capabilities to ensure uninterrupted power during outages. Thanks to Eskom, loadshedding is here to stay. If you’re tired of living in the dark when power cuts occur, you’ve come to the right place. A back up power system will make a world of difference!

You do not have to resort to a noisy diesel-guzzling generator to make it through power cuts. An inverter with a backup battery can be a more affordable and convenient backup power solution. Find out which inverter for home is best for load shedding and how to choose the right one here. 

What is an Inverter?

An inverter is a device that converts the power received from external batteries into electricity that can power your home and appliances. It works by converting DC voltage into AC voltage, meaning it converts a direct current into an alternate current to match the voltage requirements of South African home applications.

How Does an Inverter Work?

A basic circuit includes an oscillator, control circuitry, a driver circuit for the power device, switches, and a transformer. To convert DC power into alternating voltage, we must convert the DC power in sources, such as a battery, into alternate energy.

This is achieved using switching devices which are continuously turned on and off, and then stepping it up using the transformer. There are some configurations that don’t use transformers, but they’re not commonly used.

As mentioned earlier, the power device that feeds the pulse signal to the primary coil of the transformer switches ON/OFF the DC input voltage. Fluctuating voltage in the primary coil causes an alternating voltage in the secondary winding. The transformer also amplifies the output voltage at a rate determined by the turn’s ratio.

In most cases, this means raising it from 12V to 230V AC. The top three inverters commonly used include a push-pull full bridge, half-bridge, and a push-pull with centre tap transformer. The latter is most popular because it is simple and gives guaranteed results, although it is less efficient and uses a heavier transformer.

What Inverter Output Waves Are There?

Inverters are classified based on their wave output forms. These are the pure sine wave, the modified sine wave, and the square wave. The square wave is cheapest but delivers lower power quality than the other options. A modified wave is preferable, delivering marginally improved power quality.

These are most applicable for use with household electronics. The best inverter waveform is the true sine wave. Because it is most expensive, people often use it for stereos, laser printers, and medical equipment. They’re also used in grid-tied equipment and with grid-tied inverters.

How Are Inverters Used?

In South Africa, inverters are widely used in various applications to convert DC (direct current) electricity into AC (alternating current) electricity. These inverters play a crucial role in addressing the country’s power challenges, supporting renewable energy integration, and ensuring a stable and reliable power supply.  Often, inverters are installed in homes that are connected to the grid. These grid inverters convert the power coming from the nearest power station to your home into a voltage that is safe to use in your home. The amounts of electricity flowing to a device at one time matter.

For example, if your Wi-Fi router runts on 15 volts, the 230 volts coming from Eskom need to be converted to be safe to use. If you put more voltage than required into the device, it will fry it from the inside out. This makes inverters an essential element in most power supply systems.

We use inverters in uninterruptible power supplies, solar systems, switched-mode power supplies, and as standalone devices.

Inverter

Here are some more key ways in which inverters are used in South Africa:

1. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems:

Inverters are a fundamental component of UPS systems, which are essential for businesses, healthcare facilities, data centers, and critical infrastructure. UPS systems provide backup power during grid outages, preventing downtime and data loss.

2. Solar PV Systems:

Inverters are a critical part of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which harness energy from the sun to generate electricity. Solar inverters convert the DC electricity produced by solar panels into AC electricity that can be used to power homes, businesses, and industries.

3. Grid-Tied Solar Systems:

South Africa has seen a significant increase in grid-tied solar installations. Grid-tied inverters are used to convert solar-generated DC electricity into AC electricity and feed it into the grid. This allows consumers to offset their electricity bills and contribute excess energy to the grid.

4. Off-Grid Solar Systems:

In rural and remote areas of South Africa, off-grid solar systems with inverters are deployed to provide access to electricity where there is no grid connection. These systems store excess energy in batteries for use during nighttime or cloudy days.

5. Hybrid Solar Systems:

Hybrid solar systems combine grid-tied and off-grid capabilities. They use inverters to manage energy from both solar panels and battery storage, allowing users to benefit from grid power when available and switch to stored energy during outages or peak demand periods.

6. Backup Power Systems:

Inverters are used in backup power systems to provide emergency electricity during load shedding events or power outages. These systems can be installed in homes, offices, and small businesses to maintain essential services.

7. Industrial Applications:

In the industrial sector, inverters are employed in motor drives, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and other control systems. They control the speed and power of electric motors, optimizing industrial processes and reducing energy consumption.

8. Telecommunications:

Inverters are used to provide backup power for telecommunications infrastructure, including cellular towers and data centers. This ensures that communication services remain operational during outages or emergencies.

9. Energy Storage:

Inverters are essential components in energy storage systems, such as battery banks. They manage the charging and discharging of batteries, allowing stored energy to be used when needed.

10. Voltage Regulation and Power Quality:

Inverters can be used to regulate voltage and improve power quality in areas with unstable or fluctuating grid power. This is important for sensitive electronic equipment.

11. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging:

As the adoption of electric vehicles grows in South Africa, inverters are used in EV charging stations to convert AC electricity from the grid into the DC power needed for vehicle charging.

In summary, inverters are integral to South Africa’s efforts to address power challenges, harness renewable energy sources, enhance energy efficiency, and provide backup power solutions. Their versatility and application in various sectors contribute to a more reliable and sustainable energy landscape in the country.

Do I Need an Inverter for Alternative Power During Load Shedding?

To use alternative backup power solutions, you will most likely need an inverter. The only backup power that definitely won’t require a standalone inverter is a UPS. Uninterruptible power supplies aren’t made to supply backup power, but rather to protect electronic devices from power surges. Even so, they contain a built-in inverter.

A UPS could give you a maximum of 4 hours’ power for smaller devices like your laptop, depending on the size. It won’t power larger items in your home, like your TV, fridge, or kettle. Luckily, there are affordable load-shedding solutions out there that can last longer and give you more usable energy.

What Types of Backup Power Systems Require Inverters?

All power systems need inverters, but when you are purchasing a backup power supply system, this inverter can be a separate item that must be purchased on its own. When you are getting an inverter for load shedding, it’s important to understand which types of systems are available to you and what would work best for your needs.

Different systems have unique benefits and pitfalls, power supply capabilities, and duration. Let’s look at the top back-up solutions requiring inverters.

1 Solar Panel Back-Up Systems

Solar systems can often include grid-tied inverters, depending on the type of solar system you choose. If you choose to go completely off-grid with a solar system in place, you’ll need a solar inverter specifically for the job. These inverters convert the solar energy collected via solar panel into useable energy for your home or office.

A grid-tied solar system supplements your power supply with solar energy while the sun is shining. If you add a solar battery, you can store this energy for later use. Most systems have at least one solar battery, but you could build a whole battery bank if you choose.

2 Backup Battery / Power Bank

The other option is to purchase a battery hooked up to an inverter to give you power. The type of batteries you choose will influence what you can power and for how long. If you need more electricity, for example, if you have a larger home or want to power your business, you can build a power bank — a number of batteries that, together, give you more capacity.

This option is highly customisable. Now, the battery you’d get wouldn’t be the good old AA or AAA. These batteries are more similar to the ones under the hood of your car. It’s important to get enough power for all the essential devices you want to keep switched on.

What Size Backup Power System Do I Need?

The size depends wholly on what you need to power. To work it out, you can add up the power requirements for each device together. Remember to differentiate between items that are essential and low consumption vs. heavy load items like stoves, pumps, geysers, and kettles.

After adding up the power needs for everything you want to keep on while there is loadshedding, you can compare it to the backup system’s capacity. Your peak power requirements should be less than the power rating of the backup system you buy.

Whether you want solar power, an inverter, or a backup battery power system, we can help with load shedding solutions to suit your budget. Talk to one of our experts today to find an effective solution for your needs.

Virtual Sense Power supplies inverters, batteries and solar panels in the following areas - Helderberg, Somerset West, Stand and Gordons Bay