Extreme temperatures influence your daily routine, right? Then how come the power source during outages will be unimpacted by its havoc? With inverters designed to serve as an energy storage function, high temperatures can reduce performance, accelerate fluid evaporation, and shorten their lifespan. Heavy investments in inverter repair are the last thing you need. So, let’s ensure you have the efficient inverters at your side while avoiding issues with these maintenance tips.
Best Practices for Inverter Maintenance
Remember that inverter health is influenced by how you handle and manage both the inverters and their battery. Here is how you can ensure the best of it:
Regular Cleaning and Inspection
This is a simple, boring, yet most important part. Regular cleaning must be accompanied by an inspection of both the inverter and its battery. The cleaning should ensure the thorough removal of dust particles, rust, or corrosion that may impair the inverter’s functionality and connectivity, as well as the battery’s charging and discharging capabilities. Also, inspect for damaged connections and casing disfiguration. The leaks, presence of sparks, smell, and abnormal noise must also be taken into account.
Monitor Water Levels
It is the battery-specific maintenance tip. The lead acid batteries of inverters comprise flat lead plates submerged in an electrolyte pool, where the latter consists of water and sulfuric acid. You need to be well aware of the quantity or level of distilled water in the battery. It influences the functionality and battery lifespan.
Proper and Mindful Charging
Following an optimal routine to charge the battery should be a common practice. It means to avoid overcharging and undercharging. The best practice here would be to:
- Completely charge the battery before first use or if it has been unused for an extended period. It contributes to efficient battery activation and performance.
- Ensure regular battery charge without keeping it idle for long to prevent self-discharge and sulfation
- Use the right charging equipment for a secure and quality charging process
- Prevent overcharging to prevent issues such as gassing, overheating, or battery swelling. The further consequences include swelling, leakage, or explosion
- Prevent undercharging, which may otherwise lead to sulfation, freezing, or battery stratification
Tip: The best tip here is to ensure the presence of charging equipment that is compatible with both the inverter and battery. It should be marked by the same voltage and current ratings.
Preventing Electric Surges
The scenario is common after power blackouts, during thunderstorms, and due to electrical malfunctions. The sudden surge in voltage may compromise the inverters by causing component failure, which leads to the requirement of costly repairs.
Hence, it is recommended to install surge protection devices. Select the ones that are compatible with the specific inverter and battery you use by checking the rated power capacity. Also, inspect them after a major surge event to ensure their functionality.
Proper Ventilation
This is another crucial step in achieving efficient battery performance over time. The heat generated by the inverter and battery operation requires an escape route to prevent it from building up and impacting the sensitive parts of the equipment. It is possible with adequate ventilation.
Hence, the best practice is to store it in a cool, dry area that allows for free air circulation. Ensure there is at least 5 inches of space on all sides of the inverter. It is best to avoid keeping the inverter in enclosed spaces such as small rooms or cabinets.
Tip: If you plan to buy an inverter, consider planning its location beforehand. If you already have one, inspect the current location and ensure it is not placed in a corner or other restricted areas. Make necessary adjustments if required.
Effective Load Management
Ensuring a proper load on the battery is another key factor to consider. Overloading the inverter and battery to use it beyond its power-delivering capacity shortens its lifespan. Hence, decide beforehand on the total power requirement of all the equipment that will be used or connected to the inverter. Use this predetermined limit of necessary equipment for usage during the outage.
Professional Checkup
While you do your best to extend the battery life, you may not be aware of every technical intricacy. Detecting minute and potential problems, including battery capacity, voltage output, and the condition of internal components, as well as alignment with the inverter battery, is possible only with professional assistance.
Have the checkup done at a certain time interval or as stated by the manufacturer in the manual. It ensures safety, efficiency, and quality functionality while also saving large costs from major damages.
Conclusion
The inverter and battery system are a huge relief for every place. Allowing the unhindered flow of work and life, their efficiency and life are finite. Hence, the combination requires regular and proper maintenance. It also requires mindful usage, limited to the possible capacity. It is easily possible to incorporate best practices for inverter maintenance into daily life.
