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Generator Inverter
Posted on 5/11/21 at 9:51 am
Posted on 5/11/21 at 9:51 am
I posted this at the end of another generator thread but figured I'd start a new one. All of the sensitive electronics that I'd want to run during a power outage would be around 400-500 watts or so (at one time). Is there a plug-in power inverter that I can hook up to my normal portable generator to run my sensitive electronics with? The only two options I see are direct wire and cigarette plug (which is only rated for a couple hundred watts).
3
Posted on 5/11/21 at 2:28 pm to TheBoo
Talking about a DC/AC inverter used in a vehicle? I'm not aware of anything you could plug into a non-inverter generator to clean up the power. Inverter generators have that kind of hardware inherent.
Posted on 5/11/21 at 4:41 pm to Clames
Well that makes sense since I can't find anything.
Posted on 5/11/21 at 5:11 pm to TheBoo
edited for more accurate info
what kind of generator? what kind of inverter generator regular generator?, if it is an inverter generator it depends, if it is a cheap inverter generator with a modified sine wave output (stepped square wave) then you'd have a problem, if it's a better quality inverter generator it will have a clean output and your electronics will have no issues, regular generators have a distorted sine wave on the output, so as the comment below suggested get a power conditioner
the reason why electronics have trouble with modified sine wave or heavily distorted voltage is the power factor correction circuit built into the switchmode supply is meant to block harmonics generated by it, so if your supply is high in harmonic content it will get heavily filtered and the device won't turn on, or intermittently turn on
needless to say my craftsman 2200i powers all my electronics without a sweat, i even hook it up to a small AC unit, i'd get the AC unit running constantly without cycling before plugging anything else in, then plug in my refrigerator, networking equipment, a few lights, and other electronics and it runs perfectly
i checked the output with an oscilloscope when i first got and sure enough, it had a beautiful sine wave on the output
what kind of generator? what kind of inverter generator regular generator?, if it is an inverter generator it depends, if it is a cheap inverter generator with a modified sine wave output (stepped square wave) then you'd have a problem, if it's a better quality inverter generator it will have a clean output and your electronics will have no issues, regular generators have a distorted sine wave on the output, so as the comment below suggested get a power conditioner
the reason why electronics have trouble with modified sine wave or heavily distorted voltage is the power factor correction circuit built into the switchmode supply is meant to block harmonics generated by it, so if your supply is high in harmonic content it will get heavily filtered and the device won't turn on, or intermittently turn on
needless to say my craftsman 2200i powers all my electronics without a sweat, i even hook it up to a small AC unit, i'd get the AC unit running constantly without cycling before plugging anything else in, then plug in my refrigerator, networking equipment, a few lights, and other electronics and it runs perfectly
i checked the output with an oscilloscope when i first got and sure enough, it had a beautiful sine wave on the output
This post was edited on 5/11/21 at 11:32 pm
Posted on 5/11/21 at 8:51 pm to DVinBR
It's a normal Generac 6500 generator, which from what I understand has >5% THD.
Posted on 5/11/21 at 8:59 pm to TheBoo
Posted on 5/11/21 at 9:07 pm to DVinBR
quote:
it's a regular generator there is no need for this as the output is pure sine, if it is an inverter generator it depends, if it is a cheap inverter generator with a modified sine wave output (stepped square wave) then you'd have a problem, if it's a better quality inverter generator it will have a clean output (but not as clean as a regular generator) and your electronics will have no issues
Pretty sure regular generators do not produce clean sine waves. Mine is a very well kept Champion generator and it will light the THD warning on my clamp meter, >5% THD. Inverters produce more consistent output either as modified sine or pure sine and either is better for more sensitive electronics.
Posted on 5/11/21 at 10:14 pm to Clames
it probably lights up your THD analyzer because small generators don't operate perfectly at 60Hz, they run a little higher when unloaded and as you load them up they get closer and maybe go slightly under 60Hz as you get to max load
eta: i take that back, i was always under the impression those basic rotating magnet field generators output a clean wave since there's no power electronic switching, it's just a 60hz rotating magnetic field, i guess they're all just cheaply made, yes you can just get a power conditioner and that will work for you, here's a good video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0vN2Jjbdis
eta: i take that back, i was always under the impression those basic rotating magnet field generators output a clean wave since there's no power electronic switching, it's just a 60hz rotating magnetic field, i guess they're all just cheaply made, yes you can just get a power conditioner and that will work for you, here's a good video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0vN2Jjbdis
This post was edited on 5/11/21 at 11:34 pm
Posted on 5/12/21 at 11:15 am to STBTigerr
Thank y'all for the feedback. Not familiar with power conditioners. I appreciate the help 
Posted on 5/12/21 at 4:22 pm to TheBoo
I started looking into in-line power conditioners and it seems they don't do well with conventional generators. Apparently the common residential-grade ones from Trip Lite and similar simply can't handle the noise and do little to clean it up. They are designed for already relatively clean power and just protect from severe over/under voltages. Ones that can clean up generator power are prohibitively expensive, like you might as well buy a Honda inverter kind of expensive.
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