Difference between

Pure sine wave and square wave inverter

Inverter:
It is an electric device used to convert direct current into the alternating current. It is very common. It is found in your home UPS (uninterruptable Power Supply). In UPS, inverter converts the battery DC (Direct current) into AC (Alternating Current) and provides it to our home appliances.

Types of Inverters:
There are many types of inverters available in the market. Its all up to your choice which one you want. Some types are described below.

Square wave:
Square wave output inverter has a high harmonic content (harmonics are the unwanted signals). It is not suitable for such AC loads like motors, transformers etc. In additional Square wave inverters are the pioneers of inverter development.

Modified sine wave:

The modified sine wave, modified square wave or quasi square inverter output is very much similar to a square wave output except that the output of modified sine wave inverter goes to zero volts for a time before switching between positive or negative cycles. It has a very low cost and is suitable for most electronic devices, except for sensitive ones for example laser printers, Speakers etc.Most AC motor (inductive loads) will run off this power source but at a reduction in efficiency of 20 % approximately.

Pure sine wave:

A pure sine wave inverter produces a almost perfect sine wave output (very less harmonics about 3%).It is perfectly compatible with all AC needed electronic devices. This is the type used in grid-tie inverters. It is very expensive and its design is also very complex.

Multilevel:
A multilevel inverter is used to get a desirable voltage from several levels of direct current voltage as inputs.

Grid tie:
Grid tie inverter is a sine wave inverter designed to inject electricity into the electrical power Distribution Company like WAPDA in Pakistan. Such inverters must

synchronize with the frequency of the grid. These inverters have features to extract the maximum amount of power and they also have safety features.

Some Features of Inverters:

There are some important features that you should count while buying a new inverter.

Ground fault Protection:

Ground fault protection is a protection feature that instantly turns off your inverter if it fells any damp wet situation to avoid from short circuiting. Whenever problem is solved inverter came back into work as soon as possible.

Transfer Switch:
Some power inverters have a built-in feature to transfer switch so you can switch from inverter power to utility power when available.

Solar power support:

It converts the DC power generated by solar panels and stored in 12V batteries to 230V AC power suitable for household or industrial use. These inverters are very expensive as they often involve additional electrical circuits and also solar panels.

Power Inverter or Generator:

Before going into the shop you have to sure about one thing whether I need an inverter or a generator. It depends on capacity of your usage. If your electricity usage capacity is under 1000W, suitable for small appliances, TVs, VCRs, DVD players and other low load devices, then you should select inverter. If you have to use a refrigerator, motor, washer, dryer (high capacity loads) then a generator is a better choice.

Sine wave, Square wave and Modified Sine Wave

Basically these are three main inverters available in the market. The output of these three inverters is shown below.

Sine Wave:
A sine wave is that wave we get from our electrical power company.

Advantages:
The main advantage is that the appliances available in the market are designed to operate on sine wave input. Some appliances, such as motors and transformers, ovens will only give you full output with sine wave input. Some appliances like light dimmers and some battery chargers require a sine wave to work at all. Sine wave inverters are very suitable but very expensive.

Mathematical Model:
Repetitive oscillation is a mathematical function of sine wave or sinusoidal wave. It is used mostly in signal processing mathematics etc. further in many advanced research as a basic element. The mathematical formula of sine wave, with the reference of time is given below Y (t) = A.sin (t + ) A = It is the maximum value of height of wave (Peak value) from the zero reference point = It refers to the angular frequency Given by 2 f and measured in radians per second. F = Shows frequency of the sine wave = Phase angle is represented by . If angle is zero than frequency of the wave is zero. All the direction of wave is represented owing to the . Sine waves have a very deep importance in the study of general function while simplifying the circuitry (Fourier analysis).

Usage:
It is ideal for the different appliances. Office equipment: o Computer, Printer, fax machine etc. Kitchen equipment: o Coffee makers, , microwave oven

Consumer electronics: o TVs, VCRs, Lightning, Dishes Inductive Appliances: o Motors, transformers etc. Utility Truck Equipment : o Power tools, battery charger, Test Equipment

How to Generate Pure Sine Wave:

When we talk about conversion of DC to Pure AC wave form than it may seems very difficult to accomplish this output but it can be achieved simply by dividing the whole circuit into small parts. Basically some integrated parts MOSFETs and low pass filters are required for the 60Hz and 120V. Basic three blocks of a pure sine wave inverter are 1) Six voltage reference 2) Sine wave generator 3) Triangle wave generator When these block implemented with comparators and other part of the circuit it controls the PWM and sends by a pair of MOSFETs. These MOSFETs perform level translation to drive for N-channel of the MOSFETs imbedded in H-bridge shape. Than it sends to the low pass filter from where we get a pure sine wave.

Block Diagram:

H-Bridge:
Generating a sine wave we must have it to the center point at zero and positive and negative must be at both ends.It can be accomplished by the just by the single source that is not rather than H-Brigde circuit.

Filter:
While designing the Pure sine wave inverter it is one of the major problems that to design a filter. In the basic we have to design a low pass filter and get it use for the proper work. It can be made of capacitor and inductor and then used.

Result:
When control signal is applied at MOSFETs that purely handle switching Via H-Bridge in the circuit, resulting in 60Hz frequency at the output.

Operation of the inverter works under medium or small load. Its output affected by heavy load. This is occurred due to the design of filter used in the circuit. Chocks are used in the circuit but in different manners to prevent varying frequency while using high load.

Square Wave:
Square wave is one of the types of non sinusoidal wave forms. It is most of the time used in electronics and related fields and called as two state trajectory.

Square wave is mostly used in digital switching and are mostly produces by two level logic devices. There fast trigging used in trigging values at prcised intervals. Square waves have large amount of harmonics which disturbs the circuit and extra radiations produces which affects the output.so as a reference point we are not using square wave but used sine wave as a reference because they dont have extra electromagnetic waves. Square wave have instantaneous changing effect at low and high position.it is not achieved in practical owing to limitation of use of things. Time taken for the rise and fall is considered when we are talking about abrupt change so pure square dose not found at output.

Modified Sine Wave (quasi-sine) :

A modified sine wave inverter has a output more like a square wave, but with an extra step . A modified sine wave inverter will work fine with most equipment, but the efficiency will be reduced.

Disadvantages:

o o o

Motors, such as pumps, fans etc will use more power from the inverter due to the lower efficiency. Most motors will use about 20% more power. Some lights will not operate quite as bright, and some may make noises. This type of inverter has only two states on and off so bread makers and light dimmers may not work at all.

Pros and Cons

Output voltage wave form of the true wave inverter is a pure sine wave which we get through utility usage in our home for the electric loads. IN pure wave of sine distortion is approximately zero just like electricity obtain from supplied by company. But in square wave harmonics produces distortion which can destroy or damage our equipment while running on square wave. So pure sine wave is better than square wave. Most of the time we used inductive loads in our homes while we are using such loads we have to use pure sine wave. Because it run faster with pure sine wave than square wave. Inductive load can be micro wave oven, Motors, Cooler and etc. so again proved that pure sine wave inverter must be used for more efficiency. Sine wave reduces audio able and noise pollution while running electric machines. Even when we use square wave audio and noise pollution are in very large quantity. Sine wave used to prevent crashes in computers, glitches and noise in monitors. There are some electronic equipments which effects with Square wave so sine wave used here are Laptops and computers

Digital clocks and radios Solid state power control machines.

Safety and Tips of Installation for the Inverters:

Inverters should be placed on the plane or flat surface either vertically or horizontally. Inverters must be not installed near the engine of a machine because it can be harmfully owing to heat or radiations. Inverters should be placed in dry places so that it cannot be harmed by environment. It can short circuit in wet places. Proper cable wires must be used according to instructions mostly recommended cable size are 4 to 10 feet. Its all depends on the requirement.