Before a pure sine wave or modified sine wave inverter, there was the square wave inverter that was a staple in the market. The inverter features a simplistic design and is available at great prices. However, the drawback is that the inverter can’t handle certain heavy duties effectively due to its high harmonic content, making some electronic items incompatible. But that is not to say that it’s not a great choice, in fact, it is one of the best choices for households. This is because it can easily handle the basics quite efficiently, like running your lights, fans and television sets, providing a cost-effective solution to the more expensive sine wave inverter types.
Now let’s look at a few pros and cons of a square wave inverter!
Benefits or Square Wave Inverters
They Are Cost-Effective and Affordable: As stated a square wave inverter is significantly cheaper than a sine wave inverter and thus is more cost-effective. Moreover, they are much better designed to handle surges in power, making them perfect for appliances that do not get affected by power fluctuations.
Simplistic Design Perfect for Smaller Households: A square wave inverter doesn’t take up much space thanks to its simplistic design, making it a perfect fit for the average household. So, if you do not have space to keep a big sine wave inverter or the more recent ones powered by lithium-ion batteries built-in, then a square inverter makes for a great choice.
Perfect for SMPS-based Applications: Since most of the modern LCD, LED TVs, and monitors have an SMPS-based power supply, a square wave inverter can make for a great cost-effective solution for homes that do not have or want to support power backup for older generation CRT monitors.
This is because they won’t work as good as SMPS-based products and are likely to develop issues due to the power supply technology they are based on.
Now let’s discuss a few drawbacks of the square wave inverter
Drawbacks of Square Wave Inverter
Supports a Limited Number of Appliances: They are best for motors and aren’t as well-equipped to support appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, computers, laptops, etc. So, if you want to run these appliances off the backup power during an outage, it might not be the best fit for your household.
But, if you are content with running your fans, lights, and SMPS power supply-based television sets, then it’s perfect for your household.
Noise Levels: Square wave inverters generate a lot of noise during operation, it typically produces a humming sound whenever the backup system gets turned on. This high level of harmonic distortion can cause problems in certain types of appliances and won’t be compatible with this inverter type.
Less Safe than Sine Wave: Since the technology is older compared to the much newer sine wave technology, therefore, it is often considered as safe as its sine wave counterparts.
Every product has its advantages and drawbacks, and the same is the case with a square wave inverter, but they are still a very popular choice among consumers looking for a cost-effective home backup solution that isn’t as expensive as sine wave inverters and covers the basics perfectly.
Luminous has a range of square wave inverters across a range of options, and they are all designed to offer maximum safety and performance, as you can expect from a brand that is an industry leader in the segment. So, if you are looking to buy a new square wave inverter for your home, then do check out Luminous’ range of square wave inverters and pick one that meets both your budget and your power requirements perfectly!
