A power inverter or an inverter is an electronic device that converts direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). The inverter does not produce any power on its own. All the power is provided from the DC source which is usually a battery.
Inverters operate at specific input voltage, output voltage, and frequency which entirely depends on the design and circuitry of it. Most of the appliances run on AC supply. But when there is a power cut, that is when the inverter comes into play. It converts the stored power in the battery backup to an AC supply and powers the appliances.
In general, the switch-over time is less so that the devices are not affected by this. Some hybrid inverters come with battery backup which you can use as a power backup for your appliances. The optimal size of the inverter’s battery depends on your requirement.
You are good to go with a small battery capacity if you have smaller appliances like lights and fans at home. But if you want to power bigger appliances such as the fridge and washing machine go for bigger inverters.
Inverters can be either fully electronic or a combination of electronic and mechanical components. The inverters that use no moving parts in the conversion are known as Static Inverters. There is a wide range of manufacturers that make some of the best inverter in India.
But before knowing more about the best inverters, few things need to be cleared out. This will help you choose wisely while buying an inverter.
Difference between Inverter and UPS
Inverter and UPS are both used in place of each other. They have the same architecture and functionality. But still there lies a minor difference that separates the two of them.
There is a time lag between the power cutoff and these appliances starting. UPS can switch to battery power in 3-5 milliseconds whereas an inverter takes 100 milliseconds. The time taken by an inverter is relatively higher than that of a UPS.
Various needs alter the decision of whether to go for an inverter or a UPS. The main criteria are to consider the necessity to arrange backup for the devices that are being powered. Appliances such as a computer, etc can lose data if there is a gap of even milliseconds.
The inverter does not have a built-in battery as UPS has. The inverter has to draw power from the battery that is connected to it. Then the conversion of direct current to alternating current takes place. This is why it takes longer for an inverter to send power from the battery to appliances.
In a UPS, the appliances are directly connected to the UPS via plug holes. But this is not the case with inverters. An inverter supplies power from the battery to the main supply line which then powers all the other devices in the house. This is another reason for the long delay in the case of inverters.
UPS are of two types-online UPS and offline UPS. There is almost no time lag in an online UPS when the power is cut. This is because the online UPS draws power from the battery continuously even when the power is available in the mainline. In an offline UPS, the power is only drawn from the battery when there is a power cut off. Other than this the UPS draws power from the mainline. This switching from mainline power to battery creates a noticeable time lag.
Safety measures while operating an inverter
An inverter solves almost all the power supply problems that you might have at your home. But still, there are some safety precautions that you need to follow while installing and after it as well. This way you can increase the lifespan of your inverter and battery significantly. Some of the most common precautions are:
- Always place the inverter on a flat surface either vertically or horizontally.
- Water is a good conductor of electricity. You should avoid touching the inverter with wet hands or else you can get an electric shock.
- Do not install the inverter and battery in a closed area. Make sure that the place of installation is well-ventilated.
- Do not place any flammable products close to the inverter.
- There is a fan installed inside the inverter. Do not cover the fan in any way. The inverter should be placed accordingly so that the fan has enough space to blow out the heat.
Best Inverter In India – Buying Guide
Power Consumption
This is one of the most significant points to consider before buying an inverter. You should have an approximate figure for your total power consumption. This is because an inverter is different from a generator. It cannot power all the appliances at once during a power cut. So you need to decide the necessary appliances that will run from the inverter. Decide the VA rating of the inverter that you want to purchase after you have considered the watts of power drawn by each appliance that will be connected to the inverter.
Factors to consider before buying an inverter
The power requirements of some common household appliances are:
- LED Bulb – 7 Watts
- AC- 250-300 Watts
- CFL- 25 Watts
- Tube Light- 50 Watts
- Fan – 80 Watts
- Induction Cooker -1000-1500 Watts
- TV- 120 Watts
- Mixer Grinder- 350 Watts
This way you can calculate your power requirement and choose the inverter that will work the best for the requirement.
Rating of the Inverter
The VA ratings and watt ratings are not the same. Watt rating is for the appliances that consume power such as lights, bulbs, refrigerators, etc. VA ratings are for power generating equipment such as inverters, UPS, generators, etc. VA is termed as apparent power and is calculated by multiplying the voltage and current supplied by the equipment. VA and Watt’s readings are equal in ideal cases. But practically this does not happen. Some of the manufacturers mislead their customers by claiming this ideal nature to be true for their products.
The power factor is the measure of how efficiently incoming power is used by the equipment. For normal residential usage, power factors have values from 0.7 to 0.8. Here 0.7 is considered safe and 0.8 economical. It is recommended to go for an inverter with a rating of 400 VA or 500 VA.
Price
The normal price range of an inverter is Rs 5000 – 8000. The price is dependent on various factors such as brand, rating, features, etc. The best inverter in India offers better efficiency than others. Efficiency tells us about the amount of energy lost in the conversion of DC to AC. Therefore the most efficient inverters will cost you more than the others but it is worth paying more for the performance and features they offer.
Bypass Switch
There is a chance for some faults in electrical devices always. Likewise, an inverter can also experience issues like power overload, blown fuse, etc. These problems can hinder the proper functioning of the inverter and that is when a bypass switch is helpful. A bypass switch enables the users to bypass through the usual or normal functioning of the inverter and supply power to the appliances from the main power grid. This way there is an uninterrupted supply of power and you can fix the issues meanwhile.
Battery Size
The inverter and battery are connected and work together. If you choose a battery that is not compatible with the inverter, then you might not get the power you could. The capacity of a battery is measured in Amp-Hour (Ah). This rating can tell you the amount of current that the battery will supply in a specific interval of time. You can find inverter batteries with different Ah values such as 100Ah, 120Ah, 180Ah, 200Ah, 250Ah, and so on. You also have the option to choose the type of battery you want to install with the inverter. There are three different types of battery available. They are:
- Flat Plate Battery
- Tubular Battery
- Maintenance-free battery
Best Inverter In India Reviews
1. Luminous Zelio+ 1100 Home Sinewave Inverter UPS
Luminous Zelio+ 1100 Home Pure Sinewave Inverter UPS is a pure digital sin-wave inverter that is ideal for high powered appliances. The inverter has a dimension of 35 X 35 X 19 cm and weighs around 10.8 Kg. It is an intelligent home UPS that is equipped with features in the department of usability, safety, and protection.
It uses a single battery system with 756 watts / 900 VA power. The sine-wave output from this inverter keeps the household appliances connected to it safe. This inverter offers an approximate battery backup of 5 hours which can alter based on the usage and the devices connected. It is effective in running appliances such as fans, laptops, lights, refrigerators, and mixer grinders during a power cut. This inverter supports a wide range of batteries like a flat plate, tubular type, and VRLA (SMF). Some other features of this inverter are:
- Fast Charging
This Luminous inverter is a sine wave inverter. This makes the inverter highly efficient and helps to lower electricity bills. The maximum charging current of this inverter is 15 amperes.
- Protection
Safety and protection features are one of the most important in an inverter. This is where the luminous Zelio inverter excels. It protects from short circuits, deep discharge, overload, reverse polarity, and input mains through the MCB installed.
- LED Display
LED display is an interactive way to display the current status of the inverter and the backup left. It also shows the charging time of the battery in hours and minutes.
- Noiseless Operation
There is no disturbance or noise from the inverter. This is because of the low harmonic distortion in the inverter.
- Battery Water Level Indicator
A good inverter should give a regular check at the proper functioning of the battery. This inverter has a low battery electrolyte indicator that glows whenever the battery needs distilled water.
2. Microtek UPS Hybrid Inverter
The Microtek UPS Hybrid inverter is one of the best inverters in India for both home and professional use. It has a simple and elegant design that offers maximum usability. The inverter has a dimension of 35.6 X 51.6 X 38.1 cm and weighs around 9.8 Kg. This inverter is a sine-wave inverter that has a plastic casing all over it. The most interesting feature is that it comes with a 12VDC battery system with 950 VA rated capacity and 760W output power. This inverter is effective in providing a steady supply of power and prevents fluctuations. It is compatible with all types of AC electronic appliances. This inverter features technology that aims in providing high performance and at the same time safe energy. This inverter supports both flat plate and tubular type battery. The transformer in it has a high-quality copper winding. Some other features that make this one of the best inverters in India are:
- Bypass Switch
The inverter provides a steady and continuous supply of power even in the case of UPS failure.
- Digital Display
The interactive display shows the current input and output voltage at all times.
- Hybrid Technology
This hybrid technology enables the inverter to operate without any noise. It also allows better inverter performance for longer backups and battery life.
- PWM Technology
Pulse Width Modulation Technology is a feature that isn’t found in most of the inverters. This technology allows the inverter to provide a steady output supply voltage independent of the load.
- IBGM Technology
Intelligent Battery Gravity Management Technology intelligently increases battery life by maintaining the correct battery gravity.
- Fast Charging
The inverter charges the battery in either standard 10 Amps or at 14 Amps mode which is the fast charging mode.
Overall this inverter offers the best value for money features among all the other competitors.
3. V-Guard Prime 1150 UPS Inverter
V- Guard is a popular brand that has been known for making one of the best inverters in India. The company has been providing top-notch and reliable products from the beginning. This particular one is a pure digital sine-wave output UPS. It is an 800 W inverter and can be paired with any tubular battery within the range of 80-230 AH. It comes with 2 years of warranty. This inverter has been equipped with features that can turn out to be highly beneficial in certain situations. The inverter supports a wide range of household appliances such as TV, coolers, chimneys, fans, etc. It has a dedicated button for compatibility with the inverter refrigerator. It also comes with a High-Performance Selection Switch that is made to provide additional power whenever you load this inverter with more than a normal number of appliances. It handles them easily and provides uninterrupted power with ease. The highlights of this model are:
- Dual-mode operation
This inverter offers two modes for a specific use. While one is a regular domestic use mode and the other is a UPS mode for computer usage.
- Battery Gravity Builder
This feature enables the charging of the deeply discharged battery in high power cut areas. This enhances the health and overall life of your battery.
- Battery water topping reminder
This unique feature as the name suggests alerts whenever the water level in the battery starts running low. This way you won’t have to check the battery water level on regular bases. This inverter does that for you effectively.
- Mute Buzzer option
This high-tech inverter comes with an app from where you can mute all the alerts, beeps, and buzzers if you want to.
This inverter is priced a bit high but still worth it for all the features that you will be getting with this.
4. Luminous UPS inverter – 2 Kva
Luminous is one of the most trusted brands in the inverter world. This time they came up with an ultra heavy duty inverter that needs double battery support. It is a digital sine wave output inverter and has 1600 Watts/2000 VA of rated power.
This inverter has the potential to run heavy loads such as geysers, air conditioners, refrigerators, and is mainly bought for commercial use. The inverter is equipped with Adaptive Battery charging control system technology (ABCC). The technology helps to improve battery life and charge the battery faster. Along with this the inverter also offers some mandatory protection from short-circuits, battery overcharge, reverse polarity, power surges, etc.
This inverter is heavier than normal household inverters. The company provides 2 years of warranty on this inverter. The Luminous 2 Kva UPS inverter offers more advantages such as:
- Digital Display
This inverter like most of the others has a display installed that shows battery level, charging, mains availability, alerts, and other notifications.
- Noiseless Operation
Because of the sine-wave output, the inverter operates without noise.
- ABCC Technology
This inverter has an intelligent battery charging system or the ABCC that helps to boosts the battery performance to provide the best output.
5. Amaron Hi-Back Up Pure Sine Wave UPS
This Amaron inverter sine wave inverter is one of the most stylish and elegant inverters among the others. This sine wave inverter works on 704 W and 880 VA capacity. It provides excellent backup so that you can use your household appliances for a longer time. The dimensions of the product are 12 x12 X 8 cm and a weight of 8.2 Kg. These dimensions will help you to decide a proper place for it if you are planning to buy this one. This product comes with a 2-year warranty. Now let us look at some of the additional features that the inverter offers.
- Resettable
The inverter has a system overload alarm that alerts during overload and resets the inverter automatically.
- Noiseless Operation
The inverter minimizes the output noise while working and silently shifts to battery mode after a power cut.
- Copper Transformer
The inverter has a high-quality copper transformer that helps to reduce power consumption and at the same time offer better battery backup.
- Bypass switch
This inverter has a blown fuse alarm protection that shifts automatically to this bypass switch. This enables a continuous supply of power without any interruption.
- Smart I-DSP technology
The main aim of this technology is to protect the gadgets connected to the inverter’s supply by providing a pure sine wave output.
- Quick Charge
The sin wave output provides a lot of additional functions. One of them is this quick charge feature. The inverter gets charged quickly because of the sine wave output. The battery comes with a high power factor which reduces the amount of power needed by the battery to get charged.
- Unique I-charge Technology
This technology offers the user to set the inverter at either quick charge mode or normal mode based on the frequency of power cuts.
- Protection
The inverter ensures total protection against overload and short circuits.
6. Exide Digital Display SineWave Inverter
Exide is one of the most trusted in the department of premium inverters. This particular Exide Digital inverter is a pure sine wave inverter which offers excellent efficiency and performance when it comes to backup and security features. The product has 2 years of warranty. The voltage range is 180V to 260V on the inverter model. The output frequency of this inverter is 50Hz and the output voltage is 220V at no load. The maximum load capacity of this Exide inverter is 580W. Some of the best features of this inverter are:
- Digital Display
The inverter has a digital LCD that shows battery voltage and charge status.
- Sensors
The inverter comes with an electrolyte level sensor indicator which alerts the user when the water level in the battery is low. This way you don’t have to worry about the water level in battery all the time.
- Microprocessors
The inverter has microprocessors built in it that enable it to supply the same quality of power as the mains. It is efficient in powering appliances like LED, fan, RO water purifier, lights, PC, mixer, etc.
The time taken off the inverter to shift from mains to battery backup is 10 milliseconds. You will hardly notice this time difference. Moreover, the sine wave output reduces the noise that comes from the inverter.
- Protection
The inverter cuts the power off if the battery goes less than 10.5V. You can easily see the current status of the short circuit trip, load, fuse being blown, etc in AC mains on the display.
- ASIC Technology (Auto Sense Intelligent Control)
The Exide inverter is equipped with this intelligent technology named ASIC. The main purpose of this feature is to avoid water topping. It allows the inverter to adjust the charging current based on the condition of the battery so that the battery lasts longer.
7. Luminous Zolt UPS Inverter for Home
Luminous has been an expert in making inverters. They have a large variety of inverters to choose from based on your requirements. This brand is a perfect choice for someone who wants performance and premium quality at the same time. The Luminous Zolt inverter is a sine wave inverter that provides the best quality power to home appliances. The inverter operates in the voltage range of 180V to 260V. The inverter has a power rating of 756W and a rating of 900VA. Luminous offers 2 years of warranty on this product. You also get color options of blue and black for this model. Let us now look at some of the best features of this inverter.
- Digital Display
This is one of the most common features of Luminous inverters. This LCD indicates information such as back up time, charging time, low battery, and the mode that is active at that particular time. Any sort of fault in the whole system is indicated on the display with an alert.
- MCB Guards
The inverter has additional safety features inbuilt in it to ensure maximum precaution to faults. The external MCB guards protect against short circuits, overload, etc. All these sorts of faults are detected by the system and an alert is given through the in-built alarm system.
- Efficiency
The inverter is equipped with 32- bit DSP advanced processor in the core that allows it to charge at a faster rate. It also improves the output so that maximum efficiency is achieved. This feature also ensures the safety of sensitive appliances that are connected to the inverter.
- Bypass Switch
This inverter has a bypass switch that ensures that there is no disturbance in the power supply. It supplies the power directly from the mains if there is a fault in the inverter system. The inverter can be operated in two modes which are: ECO mode and UPS mode. The ECO mode helps extend the range of voltage which reduces battery usage significantly.
Conclusion
We have now discussed all the important factors to consider while buying an inverter. Some of the best inverters India are also listed with their unique features. This guide will definitely help you decide and purchase the best inverter for your home or office. In this way, you will save your money and spend it on a high-quality product.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Where should I place the inverter at home?
There are various basic things to consider before installing an inverter at home. The most important thing is to avoid placing the inverter in a closed area as that can be dangerous. Avoid placing the inverter near a flammable substance as this can increase the chances of fire. Keep the inverter away from direct sunlight. Sunlight affects the efficiency of the inverter. Try giving enough space to the fan in the inverter to blow out heat from the entire system and cool it down.
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Which inverter brand is best in India?
You should always make the wise decision of choosing a well-known brand rather than a local brand. Branded inverters can cost you more than the local inverters. This is because they offer quality, safety features, and warranty with it. Even after you buy the product, the customer service is top-notch. This assists with any problem that you might have. The best inverter brands in India are:
- Luminous
- Exide
- Microtek
- Sukam
- Amazon
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Which battery is best for the home inverter?
To find out the best battery for your home inverter, you need to consider various factors. Find you the power requirement of your house and the type of appliances you will be running on inverter during a power cut. If the power demand is high, then go for batteries with a high rating with the inverter. This way you will not have any issue with the supply. You should buy a tubular battery if you have normal power requirements and do not want to run any heavy appliances. Tubular batteries are better than flat plate batteries in terms of efficiency and lifespan.
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Which inverter is best for office use?
You need to calculate the load at your office to choose the best inverter. Every inverter has its limitations. Try to choose the inverter than can supply an uninterrupted supply of power along with the security features to protect the appliances from overload, short-circuits, etc. One of the most important things to look for is the time lag in inverters while switching from main supply to battery backup. If the time lag is more than required, then you might end up losing data on your computer devices. So choose the inverter that switches from mains to battery backup quickly and smoothly.
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How to choose the right inverter for your home?
Choosing the ideal inverter that is best suited for your home appliances can be a lengthy process. But if you do not want to waste your money and spend it wisely, this is the best way you can do it. You need to first decide the appliances that will be powered with the inverter. With that, you need to calculate the inverter’s rating. This rating can also be affected by the type of battery you choose with it. The inverter should also contain various additional features such as protection from overloads, short-circuits, reverse polarity, deep charging, fluctuations, etc. You should always choose a pure sine wave output inverter among all the other kinds of inverters. This is because they have the best efficiency and life among others.
