Appendix C - Power Consumption And Output Waveforms; Appliance Power Consumption; Inverter Output Waveforms; Figure C-1, Ac Waveforms - Magnum Energy Sensata MagnaSine Owner's Manual

Appendix C – Power Consumption and Output Waveforms
C-1

Appliance Power Consumption

The MS-PAE Series can power a wide range of household appliances including small motors, hair
dryers, clocks, and other electrical devices. As with any appliance using batteries for power, there
is a certain length of time that it can run—this is called "run time." Actual run time depends on
several variables, including the size and the type of appliance, the type of batteries installed in
your application, as well as the battery's capacity and age. Other factors such as the battery's
state of charge and temperature can also affect the length of time your appliances can run.
Appliances such as TVs, stereos, computers, coffee pots, incandescent lights, and toasters can
all be successfully powered by your inverter. Larger electrical appliances (such as stoves, water
heaters, air conditioners, etc.) can quickly drain your batteries and are not recommended unless
you have a large inverter system and compatible battery system. All electrical appliances are rated
by the amount of power they consume (see Table C-1). See section B-5 (Battery Bank Sizing
Worksheet) to determine the battery bank size needed based on your AC load profi le.

Table C-1, Typical Appliance Power Consumption

Device
(AC Load)
Blender
Computer
Drill
Hot Plate
Light (fl o)
Microwave
* Refrigerators, freezers and water pumps typically only run about 1/3 of the time. When adding to
the battery sizing worksheet, only list 1/3 of the total wattage rating of the appliance.
C-2

Inverter Output Waveforms

The inverter's AC output waveform is the shape
it makes as its voltage rises and falls with time.
Today's inverters come in three basic output
waveforms: square wave, modifi ed sine wave, and
pure sine wave (see Figure C-1).
• Square Wave – The simplest AC waveform.
Some types of equipment behave strangely
when powered from a square wave inverter.
• Modifi ed Sine Wave – This AC waveform
looks like a one-step staircase and its width
continually changes to ensure the RMS output
voltage is correct regardless of the battery
voltage. Most loads that run from a sine
wave will also run from a modifi ed sine wave.
However, things such as clocks and furnace
controllers may have trouble.
• Pure Sine Wave – An AC waveform that looks
like rolling waves on water. It rises and falls
smoothly with time. The utility/grid puts out a
sine waveform. Any plug-in AC equipment will
operate from a sine wave inverter.
© 2017 Sensata Technologies
Appendix C – Power Consumption and Output Waveforms
Wattage
Rating
400W
300W
500W
1800W
10W
100W
Device
(AC Load)
Coffee Maker
Color TV (19")
Hair Dryer
Iron
Light (inc)
Refrigerator*
200
160
120
80
40
0
40
80
120
160
200
TIME

Figure C-1, AC Waveforms

Wattage
Rating
1200W
150W
1000W
1000W
100W
500W
Square Wave
Pure Sine
Wave
Modified
Sine Wave
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