How Does an Inverter Work? Here’s What You Need to Know.

With the load shedding schedule driving us all around the bend – and no end for this disruptive cycle of power interruptions in sight – many of us are looking for alternative solutions to keep the kettle boiling. While candles, gas and UPS devices have their functions, a longer term solution seems like a good idea at the moment. It’s time to think of generating your own electricity. Solar is the most popular small-scale option, but you need more than only the panels to power your home. Batteries are vital if you want to have power when the sun doesn’t shine, and an inverter is key to ensure your appliances can use the electricity you generate.

The inverter explained: Why you need this piece of equipment

In short, there are two ways in which an electric current can flow: direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). Simplified, this refers to the direction in which the electrons flow. In a direct current, it flows consistently in one direction, while the electrons keep changing their direction in an alternating current.

Why are these different flows of current important? Because the household appliances we use need alternating current to work, while batteries store electricity in the form of direct current. The inverter helps us power our appliances by converting the direct current from the batteries to alternating current for use by the appliances.

Sound simple enough? Before you rush out to buy a converter, you must, however, realise that there are a large number of options available on the market. To find the right one for your needs, you need to decide how many of your appliances you want to use during loadshedding, and what your power consumption requirements are.

If you’re unsure how to go about figuring out your power needs, talk to the team at Switch Electrical. With years of experience, and a reputation of providing high quality electrical components, we can shed some light on the best solution for you – from inverters to every other piece of electrical equipment you need.