In order to supply your appliances (TV, computer, lights) with the correct power from your solar or wind generation system, you will need an inverter. An inverter changes DC (Direct Current) power to AC and also changes the voltage. It is a power adapter that adapts your battery based power system to handle regular home appliances and lights.
Your utility company supplies you with AC (Alternating Current). AC is standard for anything that 'plugs in' to your electric company utility supply(TV, lights etc.). AC alternates its current while battery (DC) current is straight flowing in one direction.
If you are connected to the grid (utility company), you will need a grid interactive inverter. This type of inverter converts your solar panel energy for your home use as well as feeds back into your electric company line with any excess power you may have generated.
There are three basic types of DC to AC inverters: Square (mostly outdated but still around), modified sine wave, and pure or true sine wave.
What does that mean? The old fashioned square type puts out a square wave of electricity. A modified sine wave has current that runs in a wave motion (rounding off the edges of the square). A pure or true sine wave runs in a consistent line. It is also a purer form of energy than even your electric company puts out.Modified sine wave inverters are good for lights; but if you need to run electronic equipment like your TV, computer, florescent lights, lazer printers and even motor driven things like fans, you will find the pure sine wave protects this equipment better. Pure Sine Wave is also more expensive.
Inverters come in all sorts of sizes. The size you need will be determined by the amps (or watts) used by each appliance (look for the labels). Some appliances like refrigerators use a lot of power (called peak) for starting up and less for continuous operation. Your inverter must conform to that surge (peak) amount. Air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers and pumps sometimes require 3 to 7 times more power to start up than to keep running (continuous load). Inverter selection should be at least 20% more Amps that needed for the peak load of your highest energy consuming appliance.
Keep in mind that the size of your battery bank affects the inverter. You can only invert the power available through your batteries. If there is not enough energy stored (too few batteries, weak charge, poor connections), some appliances will not start, run slow or computers may 'crash'.
Now you know some basics about power inverters, but there is a lot more to know when designing your new natural home power system. For complete information on alternative power options, battery and inverter selection, solar design and implementation, go to www.naturalhomepower.com/CBe4e
Inverters - What They Are and Why You Need Them