How a battery inverter makes household power
An inverter turns the DC power stored in a home battery or power station into the AC your outlets use. These pages explain what it does, what waveform means, and how to read the numbers on its label.
All the inverter guides
What an Inverter Does in a Battery SystemThe inverter turns stored battery power into the kind of electricity your outlets use. Here's what it does and what to look at on one.
DC and AC Power: Why Batteries Need an InverterBatteries store DC, but household outlets and appliances use AC. Here's the difference and why a battery can't power them directly.
Pure Sine Wave vs Modified Sine Wave InvertersPure and modified sine wave inverters shape their AC output differently. Here's how, and what to check before you choose either.
Which Devices Care About WaveformSome equipment runs fine on a modified sine wave and some doesn't. Here's how to judge what's likely to cope and how to check.
Reading the Label on an InverterWhat the volts, hertz, watts and VA figures on an inverter label mean, and which ones to compare against your own equipment.
Watts, VA and Power Factor ExplainedWhy inverter ratings come in both watts and VA, how power factor links them, and what to compare when sizing an inverter.