3 Important Things to Know About Single Phase Inverters

by Kevin Smith Author

An inverter is a device that is used to convert power that is in direct current form into power that is in alternating current form. Commonly referred to as a DC-AC converter, there are two different types of inverters that you might need to choose from, single phase and three phase. The difference between these two types of power is that single phase power has two wires that run through the alternating current while a three phase has three wires. A single phase inverter has two classifications and two types. Understanding these will provide a better comprehension of the type of inverter needed. Here are three important things to know about SMA single phase inverters.

Two Classifications

There are two different classifications when it comes to single phase inverters; voltage source inverters (VSI) and current source inverters (CSI). The primary difference between these two classifications is the impedance of them, how effective the resistance of an electrical circuit or component is to an alternating current. With a voltage source inverter, the direct current voltage has little to no impedance at the point of the inverter input terminals. This classification directly controls the output voltage. A current source inverter features a high impedance of the DC voltage. This classification directly controls the output current.

Half Bridge Inverter

There are two different types of single phase inverters that may be used to turn a direct current into an alternating current. A half bridge inverter is a more basic approach, also acting as a building block for the full bridge inverter. While an inverter typically needs four switches to effectively convert the power, a half bridge inverter has just two switches with the other two being replaced by a capacitor.

Full Bridge Inverter

While a half bridge inverter only contains two switches and uses a capacitor to substitute for the other two necessary switches, a full bridge inverter has four distinct switches. This type of converter completes the conversion of DC power into AC power by opening and closing each of the four switches in an exact sequence which allows the power to effectively convert as needed.

An inverter allows you to effectively change power from direct current into an alternating current. An SMA single phase inverter features two classifications and two types that convert the power in two separate ways. Understanding the basic differences in these classifications and types will help you make a decision of which type of inverter is needed.