Generally, inverters are helpful in places that observe frequent power cuts or in situations where you need an emergency power supply for your home appliances.
Nevertheless, it may be a good idea to invest in a good quality inverter so that you do not have to worry about your essential activities which you would be otherwise missing out on.
Inverters are thus, an important invention that can come in handy and are almost available in every other electronic store.
You should talk to the dealer and understand the specifications and perhaps take the advice of a good electrician before installing one in your home.
In this article, we would discuss one of the most common doubts that people have regarding inverters. It is, whether it can be left on all the time or not.
Since inverters run on batteries and become a part of the electricity supply inside your home, the answer is not plain and straightforward.
In this article, we would first understand how an inverter works and then deal with the question – is it okay to leave the inverter on all the time?
We would understand the factors involved and then tell you in which cases should you turn your inverter off.
How Does An Inverter Work?
An inverter quite simply is an electronic device. Its purpose is to make the transition from DC to AC. DC, as you may be familiar with, is direct current and AC refers to alternating current.
Depending on their function and type, inverters could be battery-operated, central inverters, micro-inverter, or hybrid inverter.
The DC or direct current is nothing but energy that is inside the battery of the inverter. It should be noted that most inverters used at homes run on battery.
The energy extracted from these batteries is then transitioned and converted to electricity that can be utilized to generate supply to the connected electrical appliances.
The batteries are chargeable, which charge once the main supply of electricity is reinstated. Hence, an inverter has mainly two functions.
The first is to convert the DC to AC and the second is to charge its battery when the mains supply is working.
Let us now see if it is okay to leave your inverter on all the time.
Is It Okay To Leave Inverter On All The Time?
The general answer to the question is Yes. In fact, is it not only okay to leave your inverter on all the time but also advisable.
It is so that the battery of the inverter can be charged and kept in store for use when the mains supply is not working.
As soon as the power supply is off, the inverter will automatically start running and take over the main supply for the moment.
However, if you keep the inverter off for the most period, this task may become tedious and may also damage the battery life and functioning of the inverters.
Please note that most inverters are designed to run continuously, which is why it may not be ideal to turn them off, even if not in use. However, there are more factors involved that you may need to understand.
Energy Consumption
It largely depends on your home’s energy consumption. If you do not need an inverter for the most part of the year or it is connected to only a few appliances that may not be important, you could look to turn it off.
However, in case you are using a solar power inverter, it is advisable to not keep it on for a long period of time as it could quickly drain the battery and interrupt the power supply.
Then, it is almost no use having an inverter and would be nothing but a loss for you.
Duration
Frequent switching on and off of inverters is strictly not advisable. Thus, if you are thinking to restart the inverter in small intervals of time, it is better to keep it on throughout the time.
One of the biggest advantages of having an inverter is that any appliance connected to the inverter will not face interruption and will keep running.
For instance, if your area has prolonged power cuts, having an inverter could help you ensure that at least your refrigerator keeps running and the food, beverages, or vegetables stored remain fresh.
When Should You Turn Your Inverter Off?
These days, most inverters, especially solar power inverters come with the function of an automatic switch.
Depending on the battery level and energy consumption, the inverter turns itself off. It is also so in case there is some fault or interruption in the supply of electricity.
Also, in case you are planning to go on a vacation or trip, it is advisable to not only turn off all your electrical appliances but also unplug them.
In a similar manner, you should turn off your inverter and ensure that there are no possibilities of any damage or harm through causes that can lead to fire or short circuits.
Another reason to disconnect or turn off your inverter could be when you replace or change the batteries.
The correct way to disconnect the inverter is by ensuring that the plug is removed and it is not interrupting the mains supply as well.
In case you are not able to understand the options and process, you must call the helpline number of the inverter company or call an experienced electrician.
Conclusion
Thus, in this article, you learned that it is definitely okay to leave your inverter on all the time and usually it would not cause you any problems.
However, it is always important to understand the basics and understand how it works.
In case you feel confused or stuck, you must always have your helpline number handy or emergency contact of an electrician whom you can call and look into the issue if any.
Just make sure to stay safe around electrical appliances and read the user manual well.
