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There are a handful of 12V to 120V AC inverter that uses a low
frequency switcher and an iron core transformer, but most of them are
two staged high frequency type. The first stage is a DC-DC converter
that makes high voltage DC and the second stages chops this into AC.
I've yet to see a computer UPS utilizing the high frequency inverter.
Even the very inexpensive ones uses a low frequency switcher and an
iron core transformer.
Is there any reason a high frequency inverter couldn't be used?
when you are going to rectify to DC high freq is nice because it is easier
and cheaper to filter.
when you are going to drive equipment designed for 60 Hz the output needs
to be 60 Hz.
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The output IS 60Hz either way.
The typical 12V to 120V travel inverter have more steps:
DC 12V --> hundreds of KHz AC-->stepped up to HF AC using light weight
ferrite transformer--->rectified to high voltage DC--->MOSFETs chops
it into 60Hz AC
The typical UPS inverter:
DC 12V--> chopped into 60Hz AC-->iron core transformer steps it up to
line voltage
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|
|
|> >
|> > There are a handful of 12V to 120V AC inverter that uses a low
|> > frequency switcher and an iron core transformer, but most of them are
|> > two staged high frequency type. The first stage is a DC-DC converter
|> > that makes high voltage DC and the second stages chops this into AC.
|> >
|> > I've yet to see a computer UPS utilizing the high frequency inverter.
|> > Even the very inexpensive ones uses a low frequency switcher and an
|> > iron core transformer.
|> >
|> > Is there any reason a high frequency inverter couldn't be used?
|>
|> when you are going to rectify to DC high freq is nice because it is easier
|> and cheaper to filter.
|>
|> when you are going to drive equipment designed for 60 Hz the output needs
|> to be 60 Hz.
|
| The output IS 60Hz either way.
| The typical 12V to 120V travel inverter have more steps:
| DC 12V --> hundreds of KHz AC-->stepped up to HF AC using light weight
| ferrite transformer--->rectified to high voltage DC--->MOSFETs chops
| it into 60Hz AC
|
| The typical UPS inverter:
| DC 12V--> chopped into 60Hz AC-->iron core transformer steps it up to
| line voltage
You are expected to carry the travel inverter around. This is not
commonly done with a UPS. So the weight likely the relevant issue.
X-No-Archive: Yes
The high frequency type cost LESS to make as well.
Lower cost, lighter weight(saves them $$$ on shipping) means more
profit. Unless there's a technical reason, I can't see why they won't
use the high frequency design.
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|
|
|> | The output IS 60Hz either way.
|> | The typical 12V to 120V travel inverter have more steps:
|> | DC 12V --> hundreds of KHz AC-->stepped up to HF AC using light weight
|> | ferrite transformer--->rectified to high voltage DC--->MOSFETs chops
|> | it into 60Hz AC
|> |
|> | The typical UPS inverter:
|> | DC 12V--> chopped into 60Hz AC-->iron core transformer steps it up to
|> | line voltage
|>
|> You are expected to carry the travel inverter around. This is not
|> commonly done with a UPS. So the weight likely the relevant issue.
|
| The high frequency type cost LESS to make as well.
| Lower cost, lighter weight(saves them $$$ on shipping) means more
| profit. Unless there's a technical reason, I can't see why they won't
| use the high frequency design.
Higher frquency requires more filtering capacitors. At such high levels,
there is more RFI. So with 10 times the power, you need MORE than 10 times
the amount of filtering.
Still, technologies are improving, and the boundary where different choices
work out better keep moving. Still, I would prefer a good solid iron core
transformer for converting the voltage of clean sine wave power for those
things that still require it. But that set is also shrinking.
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