It can be very annoying if you don’t think your power inverter is working properly.
Or maybe you want to test an inverter to make sure everything runs correctly before you take an off-grid trip.
That last thing you want is to arrive somewhere in your RV, Boat, Car, Truck, or other vehicle to realize your inverter doesn’t work.
That would be incredibly frustrating! Particularly if you need AC power for important uses like oxygen concentrators or lighting.
It’s why I thought I should write this article to show you how to test a power inverter.
So let’s find out.
7 Ways to Test an Inverter is Working Correctly
Below are six easy ways to test your power inverter. None of these require any expensive tools or prior knowledge to carry out the checks.
Run an Appliance
The quickest and easiest way to test an inverter is to run the appliances you are looking to power.
Simply plug in everything you want to run and switch it on. This will instantly tell you if everything works correctly. I’d also suggest leaving it running for a few minutes to make sure your inverter doesn’t get overloaded or overheat.
One thing to note is that some bigger inverters over 1000 watts have a power-saving mode. This means they will shut down if you are drawing less than 50 watts. So that might be a reason your inverter won’t charge a small device like a phone, notebook, or tablet.
Check LED Lights
A sure-fire way to check if your inverter is working is the look at the LED lights that appear on most units. Usually, this will be a green light and a red light.
If the green light is on then all systems should be running correctly.
If the red light is showing then there is a fault that needs further investigation.
Use Digital Display
Many modern inverters now include digital screens to give you more information about the operational status. This can help you to identify any problems as you will be able to check things like input voltage, battery status, and output wattage.
Wattmeter
Another neat trick is to use a wattmeter. You can plug this into the AC outlet of your inverter and then plug your appliance into the wattmeter.
The beauty of this is that you will get a live reading of how many your appliances are able to draw from the inverter. If this is lower than expected then you know you have an issue.
Plus, investing in a wattmeter is useful if you plan to run more devices. It will allow you to quickly find the power usage of any device.
Multimeter
A multimeter is a handheld device you can use to test electric circuits. They are very useful and used every day by electricians for diagnostic purposes.
With a multimeter, you can check voltage, current, and resistance. This will help you to diagnose any problems with your inverter, battery, and appliances. You can happily test wiring systems, motors, appliances, circuits, and power supplies.
Change Battery
To test an inverter you can easily try it out with another battery. That way you will know whether it’s the inverter that has a problem or if it’s your power source.
Simply unhook for your current battery and wire it up to another battery in the same way. If you don’t have another deep cycle battery, you can always use a vehicle starter battery in the same way (Just be sure to keep your engine running if you do this so you don’t deplete your starter battery).
Just Listen
The final way to test an inverter is with your ears!
Yes, it’s true. A malfunctioning power inverter will often make a strange sound. You can use these sounds to identify potential problems.
For example, a squealing sound could mean low voltage from the battery or poorly connected wire. A rubbing or clapping sound could there is an obstruction with the cooling fan. I suggest you read this article on My Inverter is Making Noise.
Final Thoughts: How to Test an Inverter
There are many different ways to can test a power inverter and most of them are pretty simple.
At first, I’d suggest just attempting to power your appliances and monitoring the power output. Along with this, listen for any strange noises that might point to a fault.
If you want to do more in-depth diagnostics then a multimeter would be a good tool to get started.
Any faults you detect on your power inverter should be fixed immediately or replace the device. If you ignore any problems then it could cause further damage plus present a safety risk.
