Appliance & load questions that are frequently asked at Enerdrive.
Do I need a pure sine wave inverter to run a television?
In short, No. By using a modified sine wave inverter you will find that lines will appear across the screen. The best method to run any sensitive AC electronics through an inverter is to use a Pure Sine unit like the ePOWER range of inverters.
What do I need to run my C-pap (respirator) machine?
For C-pap machines to function correctly they require a pure sine wave power output. These machines tend to draw around 200watts, which equates to 18amps per hour. For a normal night of sleep (7-8 hours), you would need a battery bank of around 200amphours (and a suitable recharging system). The ePOWER 400watt inverter is perfect for basic C-pap machines, contact us for details if your machine has a heater inbuilt.
What size inverter do I need to run a microwave?
Microwaves are commonly run from inverters in many applications with a standard microwave drawing around 1000 to 1200 watts of power. It is becoming more common that microwaves refuse to work from low cost modified sine wave inverters, and the best units are generally the pure sine wave units (such as the ePOWER or ePRO). Microwaves will probably be the largest load your batteries will ever power, but they are the most efficient due to the short run time required from a microwave (we even recommend a microwave be used over a kettle to boil your water).
How can I run my fridge from an inverter?
First of all, if your fridge is 12 volts supply, then you can forget using an inverter; you don’t need it (you will draw more power from your batteries than required). If the fridge is 240 volts powered, then it is important to find out the duty cycle, or total time run per day to work out the fridge power usage per day. Fridges are very hard to size up an inverter system, so always look for a larger powered inverter than you think, and be prepared for some testing and trialing to find the best suited inverter for your needs.
Can I run my computer / laptop from an inverter?
The answer to this is very much the same as the Televisions above. Modified sine wave inverters can be used on either a computer or laptop, however if the laptop is to only ever be powered from the inverter then a pure sine wave inverter (such as the ePOWER or ePRO) should be used, as the modified sine wave inverters will actually destroy the laptop battery pack.