Power Inverter is a device used to invert batteries direct current into alternating current for providing backup to different appliances when main electric supply fails. So, it acts as an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to keep the appliances running in absence of external source of electricity. Power Inverters for home, office and industrial use come with built-in charger facility so these can charge batteries as well when external power is restored.
Every Power Inverter has got different kinds of buttons and switches on it designed to perform different tasks. Depending upon the make of your power inverter, you may find information about the functions of those in user manual that will help you correctly using that power backup device. Given below are the general instructions about the usability of different buttons and switches which you find on different models of power inverters.
Power ON/OFF Button
This button is usually at the front side of power inverter and let you turn ON or OFF the power inverter according to your requirements. You will find Power symbol on such button that guides you what this button is for. While performing maintenance of batteries, changing them or cleaning power inverter, must use this button to turn it OFF to avoid any possibility of electric shock.
Trip Reset Button
You will find this button at the backside or front side of power inverter depending upon the model and make of it. This button resets the tripping of power inverter if for some reason you overloaded it, short circuited the output, or did something else that resulted into activating the trip state of power inverter to protect its circuit and the connected devices.
Display Button
This button can turn ON or OFF the LCD of power inverter in case you do not want that keep glowing at night. This button can also perform some other display tasks if it is designed that way like displaying charging rate, input and output voltage, appliances load and remaining batteries charge etc.
Voltage Range Switch
This switch is also known as Narrow-Wide range switch and it is used to adjust the input voltage range for which power inverter will work on line mode (external power) and then switch to backup mode. For example, you have got a power inverter that has got ‘narrow range’ of 170 V to 250 V, it won’t switch over to batteries backup if voltage is higher than 170 V and lower than 250 V. On the other hands, if ‘wide range’ is selected which is supposedly designed for 110 V to 260 V, the power inverter will not switch to backup mode as long as external power is available and voltage is higher than 110 V and lower than 260 V. Such switch is useful when you use electric generator or you have got issues with stability of main electricity supply voltage. Make sure you choose narrow mode while connecting sensitive electronic appliances like computers, TVs etc as narrow mode reduces the switch over time from external power source to batteries backup.
Charging Rate Switch
This switch lets you adjust the charging rate of charger for connected batteries. If you are using larger batteries or smaller batteries, you can adjust the charging current accordingly. Larger batteries require higher charging current to let them charge faster. Smaller batteries should not be charged with higher charging current as this can wear them faster. You may find about required charging current for batteries from the user manual.
Batteries Voltage Switch
Some power inverters are designed to be used with single battery or multiple batteries. Such power inverters are either automatic to make necessary adjustments themselves or ask you to adjust the battery voltage from power inverter to make it function. Make sure you are aware of the batteries voltage how they add up when connected in series and choose proper settings from the power inverter.
Input/Output Voltage Switch
Some power inverters are made for universal use that is you can use them in America where standard voltage is 120 V (+/- 10) or you can use them in Europe or Asia where standard voltage is 230 V (+/- 10). Carefully choose the input/output voltage according to your region to make power inverter function correctly. Wrong selection of voltage can damage the electronic appliances. So, be careful in this case.
Arjun Virnodkar
I have brought Microtek 1100 VA inveter with Exide battery from Authorised Exide dealer, but now low battery alarm is coming after electricity failure even after it is fully charged. Even distilled water is there in battery. Kindly suggest what to do
Pritam
can i rely on an inverter in place of an ups for my desktop pc for instantaneous switching in a power break. i also have to run a fan and 2 lights when needed. which will be the best option for me?
George Onyia
Does an inverter charge the battery when it is switched off?
Talal A.
if it is switched off from mains, it won’t. Make sure to turn off the backup switch to completely shut it down.
Tom
It varies due to model. Some does others dont
Ali Khan
Iam using GL 190 Ags battery on my ups should i choose 20 amp charging or 10 amp charging mode thanks
Talal A.
20 A will boost the charging rate.
Venkat
I see btP error when i try to charge the battery , what could be the issue and how to resolve it
Talal A.
“Mains tripped”
Press Trip reset button on inverter / ups to reset it.
ramesh Singh
What is the difference between wide voltage and narrow voltage.
Please explain clearly with example.
Talal A.
Read “Voltage Range Switch” above. It’s already well explained.
Jehanzeb
I have got cyberpower ups.. It stops with some symbols on screen.. ..where I can find meanings of these symbols…
Talal A.
What symbol does it display?
Sajeevan. M.M
My newly bought Luminous sine wave 1100VA UPS inverter shows btp in the display screen. In the catalogue, it indicate input mains MCB tripped. What can I do
Moses Sunday
Press the reset button at the back to reset
Zubair
I have UPS of soeer company having a button narrow / wide. I am using this UPS FOR lights and fans . Which point will be feasible for me .
Q 2 : what should be the ideal charging point i have two options 10 AMP / 20 AMP
Talal A.
Use narrow if grid voltage is stable.
Set charging depending upon how large are your batteries.
Fahad
Please advise me, i have bought cyberpower CPS1200Eilcd inverter but the unit doesn’t looks fresh/new, rubber mounts/pads are also missing from the bottom. shall i return it or what please suggest!
Talal A.
This unit does not have rubber pads.
kamran
I’ve Homage UPS(Inverter), Will it be fine if I use Solar panels to charge betteries through it.
Or there is special inverters for solar panels
Talal A.
Only use specially designed solar inverters. Never connect ordinary inverter directly to solar panels. If there is charge controller in between then it is fine.
Prodyut banerjee
I want to take inverter for my home to use 2 tubes, 2 fans & refrigetaor. Pls guide me which brand I can buy
what volts.
Ephraim
This post is truly informative
nice work Talal A.
Butt
Dear Talal bahi mere homage inverter 1003 700 watt model hai meri excide battery 180amp ke 15ah pa rakoo yaa 20ah charging pa rakoo
Naveed
SIr,
What is the cause of inverter inside cooling fan running continuously until battery charged fully? Fan should stop once charging has finished and start again when providing backup.
Talal A.
Fan will run when inverter is charging or inverting. It should stop when it is not operating. Continuously running fan all the time (while charging) may indicate charger is not cutting off charging due to worn out batteries or charger fault.
mritunjay
Ups back side switch 180-260 up side and 100-300 down side input voltage range .what it means and what side I adopt in my invertor up or down switch
Talal A.
http://benignblog.com/functions-of-inverter-ups-buttons-switches
Debashish kumar
If voltage supply in your area is stable and u r using tv or pc then use upside mode. And if unstable then u should go with downside mode.
murali
Sir, what is the correct position of back side switch of the inverter (luminus sine wave) Regulated ups or unregulated ups.
Talal A.
Regulated.
Wan Amri Khusyairi
What is the function of load switch, converter, choke of inverter / ups. Detailed answer please.
Talal A.
These are internal components of a power inverter. This much explanation should be enough for a non-techie person.
Barnie Blignaut
I have a PSS XT- 1200 sine wave inverter rated at 720W with two 102ah batteries in parallel. The unit has a switch at the back to switch between UPS and INVERTER mode, I want to use it to power my TV and Decoder during power outages. Does it matter which setting i use? what is the difference between the two?
Talal
Use UPS mode. Mostly this switch alters switch over time.
Barnie Blignaut
Thank you for the reply ! I will use the UPS setting. Just a comment on the PSS XT series inverters, the internal fan runs constantly and is very annoying….
Talal
It should stop once charging has finished and start again when providing backup. But that is not universal rule.
iqbal ahmed
when main power becomes fail our ups release high voltage. many of our appliances are damaged. is there any device to prevent high voltage?
Talal
Change the UPS before you damage more things. Your UPS transformer is supplying higher voltage than normal.
Mayank
All of digital UPS and Voltage stabilizers have same feature, but main point is cost effective. Batterybhai online Home UPS and Stabilizers store provides products at lowest prices in India.
Favor
Didn’t see d “notify me” checkbox initially.
Favor
Tnx. God bless U.
Mr K.
Does this guide apply to APC UPS as well or some specific brands?
Talal
Applicable to most brands. Buttons and Switches function the same way. Moreover, a small label is also provided with each switch or button to let user know what it is for.
Gary
This is a very informative post. It helps a lot. Thank you for sharing.
Kashif
My house is wired with single wire UPS wiring but now i purchase a homage model 1002. Now the problem is , when it changes mains to backup mode its output polarity also changes. what is the solution.
Talal
Input / output is not aligned
Joseph Munger
This is a very informative article, especially for those who are not very familiar with inverters and ups. Some companies include many switches in their inverter and ups systems for various purposes. A user manual can be helpful. But in this digital age, keeping a hardcopy of the user manual for each brand of device can be difficult. A standardized list like this about various switches/buttons of inverters and ups of all brands are more helpful for people who owns multiple brands of power supplies and a quick reference to anyone with an inverter or an ups.