An inverter/charger performs the dual roles of changing DC power to AC power and charging your system’s (or a vehicle’s) batteries. With two important roles to perform, it’s incredibly important that the inverter/charger you select has all of the capabilities and features that you need. Selecting the wrong inverter can lead to inferior performance and have negative effects on your system as a whole. But what should you be looking for when choosing an inverter/charger? Keep reading to learn three key features you’ll want in this piece of equipment.

Pure Sine Waves

First and foremost, ensure that you’re selecting only a pure sine wave inverter. Modified sine wave inverters are outdated and create uneven surges of power that can often impact the performance of modern equipment. Items like certain electronics, sound systems, and even some types of lightbulbs do not perform well on a modified sine wave inverter. In fact, the dips and surges this type of inverter creates can actually cause some electronics to overheat, leading to long-term damage.

A pure sine wave inverter uses a smoother, more natural flow of electricity. This provides better performance to all devices that are connected to the inverter/charger. Though a modified sine wave inverter will come with a slightly lower price tag, a pure sine wave inverter is the far better option and won’t result in any prolonged damage to your devices.

Appropriate Sizing

Next, you’ll want to make sure that the inverter/charger you choose is an appropriate size for your system. This doesn’t mean physical size—though a nice, compact inverter/charger is certainly a good thing to have. Instead, size, in this case, refers to the number of watts that the inverter is rated for. For example, you can find inverter/chargers that are rated for 1000 watts, 1200 watts, 1500 watts, 2000 watts, and many other sizes. You’ll want to ensure that this rating is greater than your total calculated energy consumption, so you don’t have to worry about the inverter/charger being able to provide you with the power you need.

Surge Load Capabilities

Finally, you’ll also want to ensure that the inverter/charger you choose is capable of handling surge loads. When you calculate your total energy consumption daily, this tells you the amount of power you’ll need over an extended period. But sometimes, such as when starting certain appliances, your energy consumption will briefly spike. This is called a surge load, and if your inverter/charger can’t handle it, it can cause a short in your system. Look for an inverter/charger like the Samlex inverter with pure sine wave inversion; these models come with SamlexHypersurge technology that easily starts high-surge loads.