General Inverter Concepts
What is an inverter?
An inverter is an appliance that takes DC power (battery, solar) and converts it to AC power, similar to what you would find in a mains outlet.
What is the difference between Modified Square wave and True Sine wave?
Modified square wave is a cheaper way to make AC power. The power is turned on and off in each direction alternately, causing a wave shape that is roughly equivalent to a sine wave. However, it is electrically noisy and does not reflect a true sine wave. It frequently causes problems with audio equipment, light dimmers, clock radios and many power tools.
A true sine wave has continuously varying current across the entire wave form giving a pure, clean output similar to what you would recieve from a mains outlet.
What is modified SQUARE wave, compared to modified SINE wave?
These are exactly the same thing. A modifed square wave (above) is sometimes called modified sine wave because sine wave sounds cleaner. Selectronic Australia makes only true sine wave inverters.
Selectronic Designs
What sort of transformer does Selectronic use?
The majority of Selectronic designs now use a toroidal transformer.
This "donut shaped" transformer allows us to design a quieter, more efficient inverter with less power wasted in the transforming process.
Why is there no cigarette plug on the LD200?
A cigarette plug is certainly a convenient way to connect an inverter to your battery. Unfortunately the current rating of a standard plug is only around 8 Amps.
Heavy duty cigarette plugs can be used, which have a rating of around 16 Amps. The limiting factor is usually the size of the cable in a modern vehicle, usually 120 W (10 Amps) maximum. Therefore using this method, an inverter of no more than 120 Watts should be connected using standard cigarette lighter plugs and sockets.
If you have heavier duty wiring installed, then you can increase the capacity to that of the heavy duty cigarette plugs or Hella type “Merritt” plugs which are rated at around 16 Amps, this equates to an inverter capacity of around 170 Watts.
So an LD200 inverter, rated at 200 Watts (19 Amps), cannot perform to its full capacity if it's installed in any of the above scenarios. The fuses in the circuit will blow if you try to draw 200 Watts from the inverter. Do not increase the fuse size as the fuse is sized to protect the cabling.
Installation
What is a Selectronic Accredited Installer?
PS1 style of products require some experience and understanding of the products to ensure a good working, efficient and reliable system.
To obtain a thorough understanding of the PS1 product, Selectronic invite installers to attend training seminars. These seminars cover all aspects of the PS1 product and how it integrates into a well designed power system. Some installers have found these training courses so valuable that they have attended more than once.
Since starting this program, Selectronic have found that we get 40% less requests for assistance from trained installers. As a result of this we reward all parties appropriately.
Installers receive accreditation status.
End User receive a longer warranty
Selectronic spend less time supporting installers
The Selectronic Accredited Installer program is an independent program and should not be confused with any other installer accreditation program. This program is applicable to installers in Australia only.
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