A power inverter takes a steady DC input, such as from a battery or solar panel, and uses solid-state switches to generate an oscillating AC output. The output waveform can be a simple square wave, a modified sine wave, or a pure sine wave depending on the complexity of the switching topology. They are critical in uninterruptible power supplies, renewable energy systems, and variable-frequency motor drives.
The solar array feeds into a 5-kilowatt power inverter before tying into the main breaker panel.
Also heard as
- inverter
Related terms
Power electronics
The branch of electrical engineering focused on the conversion and control of electric power.
SMPS
A switched-mode power supply uses high-frequency switching to efficiently convert electrical power.
IGBT
A power semiconductor device that combines a simple gate drive with high-current capability.
Solid-state
Built entirely from semiconductor materials without moving parts or vacuum gaps.