How An Inverter/Charger Works; Advantages Of A Pure Sine Wave Vs Modifi Ed Sine Wave Inverter - Magnum Energy MS Series Owner's Manual

1.2

How an Inverter/Charger Works

There are two modes of operation associated with this inverter/charger:
• Inverter Mode:
When the inverter is properly connected to batteries and turned on, the Direct Current
(DC) from the batteries is transformed into a pure sine wave Alternating Current (AC).
This AC is similar to the voltage provided by your utility and is used to power the electrical
appliances (i.e. AC loads) connected to the inverter's output.
• Standby Mode:
When an external source of AC power (i.e. utility power or generator) is connected and
qualifi ed on the inverter's AC input, it operates in the Standby Mode. In the Standby
Mode, the unit operates as a Battery Charger to convert the incoming AC power into DC
power to recharge the batteries; and at the same time, automatically closes an internal
AC Transfer Relay to pass the incoming AC power directly to inverter's output to continue
powering the connected electrical appliances.
1.2.1 Inverter Applications for Permanent Installations
An inverter can be used for backup power in a permanent location that normally uses utility power
such as a home or offi ce. When the utility power is available, the inverter keeps the batteries
charged. When the utility power fails, the inverter comes on automatically to supply AC power to
your home or offi ce during the power failure. For a home or business, reliable backup power is
used to prevent lost computer data or to maintain lights and keep food fresh in the refrigerator/
freezer.
In some areas, where utility power is not available, this inverter can be used in an stand-alone
renewable power system. The inverter allows AC electrical appliances to be run from the storage
battery bank. When the battery bank becomes discharged, either renewable DC sources (solar,
wind or hydro power) can be used to recharge the batteries or a generator can be connected to
the inverter to power the system while the batteries recharge.
1.2.2 Inverter Applications for Mobile Installations
Inverters can also be used to provide power in mobile situations, such as in an RV, truck or boat.
In these applications, the inverter provides power to the AC loads using the energy stored in the
batteries and recharges the batteries when shore power or onboard generator is available.
1.3 Advantages of a Pure Sine Wave vs Modifi ed Sine Wave Inverter
Today's inverters come in two basic output waveforms: modifi ed sine wave (which is actually a
modifi ed square wave) and pure sine wave. Modifi ed sine wave inverters approximate a pure sine
waveform and will run most appliances and electronics without any problems. These inverters are
less expensive and, therefore, offer a viable alternative to more expensive pure sine inverters.
The output of a pure sine wave inverter is equal to or, in many cases, better than the utility power
used in your home. Virtually any electronic device will operate from a pure sine wave inverter.
Motors run cooler, microwaves usually cook faster and clocks keep better time just to name a few
examples. Without compromising quality or performance, the MagnaSine provides you with all of
the advantages of a pure sine wave inverter at a much lower cost than many on the market.
The MS Series is built on the same platform as our popular ME and RD Series modifi ed sine wave
inverters allowing for an easy upgrade from the original ME or RD Series installation. This standard
platform also helps reduce cost by using standard parts/accessories across many models. All
Magnum accessories such as the Remote Control (ME-RC), Automatic Generator Start - Networked
(ME-AGS-N), Battery Monitor Kit (ME-BMK), and network accessories can be used on all ME, RD,
and MS Series inverters.
© 2009 Magnum Energy Inc.
Introduction
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