Xref: utzoo sci.engr:319 sci.electronics:15422
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!emory!att!pacbell.com!tandem!netcom!mcmahan
From: mcmahan@netcom.UUCP (Dave Mc Mahan)
Newsgroups: sci.engr,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: use of inverters with modified sine wave output with computers, etc
Keywords: inverter, modified sine wave
Message-ID: <16312@netcom.UUCP>
Date: 6 Nov 90 07:48:38 GMT
References: <29237@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Organization: Dave McMahan @ NetCom Services
Lines: 34


 In a previous article, gordon@spot.Colorado.EDU (GORDON ALLEN R) writes:
>I am involved in a project using the output of a small DC hydroelectric plant 
>and a couple of solar panels to power a residence in rural New Mexico.  We
>currently have an inverter which produces a modified sine wave output, ie.,
>positive and negative pulses to run the household appliances.  Since the power
>plant will be expanded in the future along with the inverter, we are con-
>sidering the kind of inverter to use.  We will have electronic equipment, such
>as computers, faxes, VCR, along with the ususal household appliances on this
>system.  
>
>Does anyone know of any long term effects of using such an inverter, rather
>one which produces a real sine wave, such as might be obtained with a synchro-
>nous one, on these kind of electronics?  How sensitive are computers etc to
>pulse input rather than sine wave?  Would power line conditioners be required?

I have used such inverters with IBM-PC/XT's, and have had good luck with that.
Note that I'm no expert, but it worked fine for us.  I have been told that a
switching power supply (as used within the PC) is very tolerant to such
sources of power.  I would think that a fax machine also uses some form of a
small switching power supply and would be ok to use.  I have no clue about
VCR's and other items.  Since they are created for the mass market and are
made as low-cost as possible, you might have some problems.  Is it possible
for you to find devices that will accept DC?  They would probably cost more
but you could feel pretty confident that they will continue to work for years.


>Allen Gordon

   -dave

-- 
Dave McMahan                            mcmahan@netcom.uucp
					{apple,amdahl,claris}!netcom!mcmahan