Modified sine wave inverter

[peetey]

If I am using a modified sine wave inverter, which type of rechargeable battery is best to work with this device? Can this inverter damage certain types of batteries or electronic devices? Why doesn't this type on inverter work to charge certain batteries?

--peetey

 

[Skogsgurra]

"Modified Sine" usually means "almost square". There are steep voltage edges that can cause high ripple current in power supply capacitors. But, on the other hand, the internal impedance usually is quite high and that will reduce the damaging effect. I have used small (100 - 200 W) inverters to run laptops, oscilloscopes and recorders in cars without any problem.

The reason that you cannot sucessfully charge batteries is that a normal (transformer and rectifier) charger works with peak voltage and charges only when peak voltage is above battery voltage. Since the modified sine has a more square waveform, it does not have the peak value that a sine-wave has. So charging is very inefficient. If it works at all.