Let’s bust some myths about whether inverters save electricity.
You might have read some conflicting information on the subject.
Or this might be the first place you’ve arrived in your quest to save electricity.
Well, I want to lay out the facts and clear information for you to understand.
We’ll go through power inverters and how they use electricity, plus look at so-called ‘energy efficient’ devices like inverter air conditioners.
Here it is, can inverters save you electricity and, ultimately, money on your energy bills!
Can a Power Inverter Save Electricity?
No, an inverter will not save electricity.
In fact, it’s the complete opposite.
A power inverter is an electronic device that requires electricity to operate.
Its function is to convert Direct Current (DC) which is stored in batteries into Alternating Current (AC) which is needed to run most appliances.
This conversion is never 100% efficient so you will lose energy (around 5%-10%) through an inverter.
Adding to this, inverters require electricity to run their own systems. Energy is used to run cooling systems, safety protections, LED lighting, and digital displays.
So an inverter doesn’t save electricity, it actually uses electricity!
A good example of this is not to leave an inverter switched on all the time. If you leave an inverter turned on when connected to a battery it will slowly use the energy in a battery for its own systems.
Why Do People Think Inverters Save Electricity?
This is down to good marketing.
No inverter will actually reduce the energy you use, but one inverter might be more efficient than another.
That’s why big brands will tell you that their inverter will save you energy. The real claim is that their inverter uses or loses less electricity than a competitor.
Why Does an Inverter Air Conditioner Save Electricity?
If inverters use electricity then how can they make things like air conditioners more efficient and even save electricity?
Well, inverter air conditions do save electricity, and here’s why.
An inverter actually performs a different task with cooling machines with compressors.
In this case, the inverter technology can solve the energy-intensive process of a compressor turning on and off to maintain temperature.
For inverter AC, the compressor is always running and the inverter controls the frequency and speed of the compressor. This helps to change the speed of the compressor and the rate of refrigeration.
With this controlled use of the compressor, you can save electricity by avoiding regular switching on and off.
In fact, it can be so effective that you can save between 30% and 50% energy in this way.
Final Words on Inverters Save Electricity
In isolation, power inverters do not save electricity. An inverter will drain your battery.
Inverters actually use electricity in order to run their own systems plus energy is lost during the conversion of DC to AC.
While some might be more efficient than others, none will save you electricity.
That being said, inverters can help other equipment become more energy efficient. They are particularly useful full in regulating compressors in air-con and refrigeration units, which will help you to save power.
