Comparison of the advantages of inverter and conventional household generators. How to choose an inverter generator for your home: Inverter generator or regular generator, which is better?

The difficulties of country life and construction are often associated with ensuring uninterrupted power supply. These problems, as a rule, have to be solved by purchasing an autonomous power source - a generator. The purchase of complex equipment is justified not only in cases of problems with a stable supply of electricity. A backup power source may be needed completely unexpectedly. And then, even in the event of a sudden power outage, the main systems of the house continue to function.

At the moment, there is such a variety of models and options of generators on the market that it is really difficult to figure out which one is suitable for solving a particular problem.First you need to decide how much power the house consumes. It is clear that each homeowner will have his own figure. On average, a country house needs at least 10-15 kW to maintain supply systems. A small country house or change house consumes 2.5-5 kW.

It is much more difficult to determine, without experience of use, which type of generator to choose: inverter, regular gasoline or diesel.
Let's look at the pros and cons of each option.

Conventional generators.
Essentially, it's a small power plant in your garage - fuel is burned, the engine turns a generator, mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Pros:

Large selection of generators of different capacities. From “crumbs” of 1 kW to serious machines of 8-10 kW or giants of 20-40-100 kW, intended for industrial use.
Ease of use and relative reliability subject to operating conditions.
Low price compared to inverter analogues. On average, the cost of a 4.5 kW generator will range from 25-45 thousand rubles.

Minuses:

The generator must operate at a constant load. Using a generator with a load of less than 25% leads to its premature failure.
High fuel consumption at partial load.
Noise when the engine is running. A working generator should be located as far as possible from living quarters or in a soundproof box.

In such generators, the quality of the generated electricity directly depends on the optimal load chosen for the engine - it must rotate at a constant speed. That is, the main problem of such machines is not frequent breakdowns, as users sometimes complain, but illiterate use.When the generator is operating at rated powerand with regular maintenance it will serve for many years without complaints. Another problem that may arise when using such a generator is changes in the output voltage when the engine speed increases or decreases. For home lighting and some appliances, small changes in voltage are not critical, but for some expensive systems - refrigerators, circulation pumps, smart home systems or gas boiler controllers, any change in power quality can lead to equipment failure or premature breakdown.

When choosing a generator, you need to pay attention to the additional capabilities of modern models:

protection system when the oil level is critically low, which automatically stops the engine if the oil level is below the minimum.
overload protection system that will turn off the generator in time
voltmeter to monitor output voltage
wheels for transportation

Inverter generators.

The operating principle of an inverter generator differs from the classical scheme in that electricity is not supplied directly to the network. First, when fuel is burned, high-frequency alternating current is produced, then it is converted to direct current and accumulated in the battery.

Pros:

Stable characteristics of generated electricity.
Reduced fuel consumption, since there is no need to constantly operate the engine at certain speeds. As the load decreases, fuel consumption also decreases proportionally.
Inverter generators are always more compact than conventional generators of similar power. This allows you to use them not only permanently in country houses, but also to take it with you on a picnic or fishing.
Inverter generators are almost silent.

Minuses:

High cost of the generator. On average, a 3.5 kW generator will cost more than 50 thousand rubles, while a regular gasoline generator of the same power will cost about 20-30 thousand rubles.
The structural complexity of the inverter unit and the impossibility of its element-by-element repair, only replacement as an assembly.
Power restrictions. Inverter generators with a capacity of more than 6 kW are not found.

An inverter generator will be an ideal solution for providing uninterrupted power supply to sensitive devices that are afraid of voltage surges: heating boilers, laptop chargers, computers, and complex electronic equipment.

That is, it turns out that if there is a need to constantly provide electricity to premises, buildings, construction sites, and to solve the problem of emergency lighting, then it makes sense to consider a conventional diesel or gasoline generator. Working at full load, it will last a long time and will not require repairs or additional investments for a long time. Timely oil changes and the use of high-quality fuel increase the service life of the generator.

In case of emergency power supply to a residential building, literally crammed with electrical appliances, it is better to use inverter-type generators. Replacing and repairing numerous equipment that burned out due to a sudden power surge will cost more than the most expensive generator.

If you need to solve both problems at the same time, then you can choose a combined option, using both inverter and conventional generators at the same time. The plot, lighting of the garage, house and bathhouse can be provided with energy using a conventional generator, for example. this model is 6.5 kW.

But the heating boiler, complex kitchen appliances, it is better to connect the pump in the well to an inverter-type generator, which can be chosen from several 3.5 kW models, such as this

or 2.5 kW, which can be viewed at link.

Many devices are very demanding on the quality of the supply voltage, mainly on the stability of its nominal value. This primarily applies to imported models that either work incorrectly with our networks or are completely disabled because the protection is triggered. There are many examples - heating boilers, PCs, television receivers, circulation pumps and other household appliances.

Consequently, this aspect must be taken into account when deciding on the choice of an autonomous power source. Let's figure out which generator is better for the home - inverter or conventional.

In the private sector, for a number of reasons, they are more common. In terms of their design, such mini-power plants are practically no different from conventional analogues.

The only difference is in the electronics, or more precisely, in the principle of obtaining voltage at the output of the installation. Actually, this is the criterion for assessing which generator is better.

Features of inverter generator models

In this type of generator, current (~voltage) does not flow directly to the output terminals. It is first rectified, that is, transformed into a constant one, which charges the battery built into the circuit. Next - to the inverter, the output of which is stable 220/50. The picture explains everything clearly.

Comparison of the distinctive properties of generators

Regular models

Large selection of power units.
Reliability of generators. This is understandable - the simpler the design of any installation, the fewer problems there are with it.
Lower price compared to inverter analogues. For example, the cost of a regular 1.2 kW model ranges from 14,260 – 16,180 rubles (depending on the manufacturer and series).

Instability of the generated voltage with some (over time) decrease in its nominal value. The main reason is the gradual wear of parts, which is reflected in the speed of rotation of the rotor. It is decreasing. Therefore, when operating a conventional generator, you have to periodically increase the speed, and this means additional fuel consumption.
Such models require optimal load. By the way, rarely does anyone pay attention to this point when choosing a generator in a conventional, traditional design. First of all, due to ignorance of the specifics of his work. If you carefully read the instructions from the manufacturer (and almost no one does this, either at the point of sale or at home), it will become clear that all its parameters correspond to certain operating conditions. Namely, the minimum load is 25%. This is the limit. Only a few hours are allowed throughout the year, nothing more. If it is systematically less, then the service life of the unit (repair-free) is reduced. But fuel consumption will be more than calculated.

For example, if the total power of consumers on the line is 2.2 kW, and the generator itself is 4, then it will “eat” fuel at the rate of four. That is, almost half of the installation is running idle. In practice, this is usually what happens – regular “underloading”.

The accumulation of combustion products (soot) inside the engine also leads to increased consumption, that is, the problem of premature maintenance and repair comes up again.

It turns out that an incorrectly selected load on a conventional generator is fraught with a whole “package” of problems. Consequently, saving on its cost, the owner in the future loses on fuel and spare parts. And part of my free time too. How justified this is is for you, the reader, to judge. Especially when you consider that the generator is purchased for systematic (or even constant) use for many years.

Inverter models

Economical. There is no need to increase the rotation speed of the motor shaft. It only affects the battery charging time. This achieves optimization of fuel consumption.
When the load changes, the output voltage rating remains constant. This stability is due to the presence of an electronic converter circuit.
Silence. For an inverter generator, you do not need to choose a location as for a conventional model. Even installed in a neighboring utility room, through a thin partition, it will not disturb the household.
Compact and light weight. The inverter generator can be easily reinstalled within a house or site, or transported over a distance (for example, to a country house). That is, unlike conventional units, such installations are mobile.

High price. A 0.7 kW inverter generator will cost about 18,580 rubles. Accordingly, more powerful models are even more expensive. For example, at 5 kW – about 86,000. The difference with conventional generators is noticeable.
The battery is an integral and non-removable part of the inverter. If it fails, it cannot be replaced.
An inverter generator cannot be purchased for the future. It is selected for a certain load. Its subsequent increase (inclusion of additional consumers) will lead to the fact that the battery will discharge faster. This means you will have to wait until the charging process is complete and change the operating mode. How convenient is this?
Limitation of the model range in terms of power. If you look at the websites of manufacturers, dealers and online stores, you will not find inverter generators with a capacity of more than 6 kW. Is such an installation sufficient to meet all the owners’ electricity needs?

Conclusion

To organize backup (emergency) lighting, power supply to construction sites or buildings that do not have complex electronic equipment, it is better to purchase a generator assembled according to the classical scheme. Or, as they call it, ordinary. In such situations, no one places increased demands on the quality of voltage, and given the lower cost of such power stations, they are the best option.
But to connect to the electrical circuit of a residential building, literally crammed with various household appliances, it is better to opt for an inverter-type installation. The advantages of such generators are indicated, so it makes no sense to comment on this recommendation, in principle. The main thing is to make accurate power calculations.

Helpful advice

If the country house is large, and it is necessary to provide electricity not only to it, but also to the garden plot and outbuildings, then it makes sense to combine them. That is, do the routing of lines. Some are connected to a conventional generator, others to an inverter. With proper design of the power supply scheme, you can optimize costs and obtain stable voltage in those circuits where it is necessary, depending on the specific load.

An inverter generator is a device that produces alternating current with the correct sine wave when there is no connection to external power grids.

The most widely used currently are gas, gasoline and diesel inverter generators.

Application

Used as an autonomous backup power source for electrical appliances.
Use in power generation systems.
For welding work.
Charging batteries, accumulators.
For hunting, fishing, country recreation, camping, etc.

Flaws

Usually noisy. But there are also models with low noise.
Quite high prices.
Overall high fuel consumption. True, it is possible to turn on the economy mode on many models.
The need for fuel storage.

Description and principle of operation

The word inverter means that the generator has a special electronic unit that is used to convert the current coming from the generator coils into a current of a standard frequency of 50 Hz. In this case, the current coming from the generator windings can be of any frequency. This is the fundamental technical difference between inverter generators and traditional ones.

Their main advantage is efficiency, since they automatically adjust engine speed depending on what load is connected to them.

Video: how the Honda EU20I petrol inverter generator works

The operating principle of the inverter generator is shown in the following diagram:

The diagram shows that the rotor, rotating around the stator, generates three-phase alternating current. This current enters the inverter block to the rectifier. Here it is converted to direct current (DC) and fed to a filter for subsequent stabilization. Next, the converting circuit turns this stabilized direct current into sinusoidal alternating current. The microcomputer constantly supplies a control sine wave to the converting target, thereby monitoring the output voltage and frequency of the signal.

Price overview

In order to choose which inverter generator you should buy, we suggest viewing our rating table. We have collected inverter generators from such companies as Sdmo, Honda, Hyundai, Kipor, Fubag and others.

Name	Type	power, kWt	Price	Specifications	Cities with shops
Sdmo	Diesel, gasoline	1	36000	Products from a well-known company, reliable, durable, one year warranty	Belgorod, Vladivostok
Honda	Benzo	0,8	42000	Quiet, portable, powerful inverter gasoline generator.	Odessa, Perm
Hyundai	Electro	From 0.4 to 10	From 5000	Compact, automatic setting	Omsk, St. Petersburg, Moscow
Kipor	Benzo, electric	2,5	32000	Trouble-free operation, reliable, relatively compact	Barnaul, Bryansk
Fubag	Benzo, electric	From 0.6	From 4600	Affordable, easy to program, wide control range. The best inverter generators that you can buy for your garden and home.	Tolyatti, Rosto-on-Don
Nissamaran	Benzo, electric	0,8	25000	Affordable, easy to program, wide control range	Tyumen, Saratov
Hitachi Hysi	Benzo	1	20000	Compact and easy to maintain	Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk
Elemax Generac Huter Aquario Elekon	Benzo, electric	0,4	From 15000	Inexpensive diesel and electric generators	Tomsk, Minsk
Briggs Caiman Endress Elitech	Benzo, electric	1	From 20000	Cheap, powerful, durable, low noise	Cheboksary, Samara, Kirov, Anapa
Etalon Aiken Bestweld Epgi Booster	Benzo, electric	1	From 18000	Easy to use, affordable, small in size	Kaluga, Ekaterinburg
Europower Yangke Foxweld Mustang Firmak	Benzo, electric	0,6	From 15000	Low-power devices, they can be used as spare	Krasnodar, Sochi
Iston Yamaha Gesan	Benzo, electric	0,8	From 25000	Uninterrupted operation, reliable, relatively compact. Expensive, but they have dignity: they can withstand even severe frosts and have high power. Mainly used for gas boilers	Tula, Chelyabinsk, Khabarovsk, Kyiv (purchase in bulk is possible)
IneoAdg	Benzo, electric	From 0.4	From 20000	Quiet, compact, affordable	Kharkov, Irkutsk Volgograd

Prices for household diesel and electric generators of inverter type up to 3 kW (for some models up to 5 kilowatts - from Yamaha, Abakan, Hyundai, Iveka, Hitachi, Makita, Croton, Honda, Fubag, Kipor igtc and Svarog) - are in the region of several tens thousand. Of course, inverters made in Japan or Germany, as well as Korean, Spanish, Chinese and German devices, will be an order of magnitude more expensive than domestic machines (“Vepr” and “Kraton” made in Russia, Elim - Ukraine, and others). When purchasing, be sure to check the quality certificates.

Some models of household appliances are sensitive to voltage surges. Even a small surge in power can lead to rapid failure. Such equipment includes:

volatile gas boilers
computers
TVs
circulation pumps, etc.

When purchasing an autonomous station for generating electricity, you must take this aspect into account. For a safe power supply, it is best to choose an inverter-type generator that runs on gasoline. Inverter gasoline electric generators produce stable “high-quality” voltage at the output and are the optimal solution.

What is a gasoline inverter generator

Inverter gasoline power generators have a design similar to conventional generators, with one exception - the use of a double converter. What does a double converter mean in practice?

The converter first transforms the current into direct current, which stabilizes its performance. But such electrical voltage is not suitable for operating household appliances, for this reason the unit proceeds to the second main function.
The converter transforms direct current back into alternating current. In this case, the output produces a voltage with standard values and an ideal waveform.

What can be achieved by using a gasoline inverter - generator to provide electricity to a private home or construction site? What are the benefits of installing an inverter gas generator?

Stable network voltage - the quality of the current is regulated by a special microprocessor, which reduces the likelihood of voltage surges and interference. A gasoline inverter generator with auto-start-electric starter provides the smoothest start-up of the current supply when the main power source is turned off.
Economical fuel consumption - engine speed is regulated by precise automation and is independently set as needed for voltage supply. An inverter-type gas generator thus reduces fuel consumption by 10-15%, which significantly affects the cost of the generated electricity.
Comfortable and easy operation - as already noted, the cost of such a model is slightly higher than conventional equipment, but the price is completely justified. The user receives a device in a casing that reduces noise and vibration, as well as a system that reduces the amount of harmful emissions. Additional convenience during operation is added by a convenient case, handles for moving the station and wheels located at the bottom for transportation.

An inverter-type gasoline generator-power station can be used to provide electricity to computer and other equipment, and even medical and other sensitive equipment. Inverter models of gas generators are reliable and have a high degree of protection.

Operating principle of an inverter gas generator

Each inverter generator uses a gasoline engine to operate. From the engine, torque is transmitted to the generator rotor, as a result of which an electromagnetic field arises, which is subsequently converted into alternating voltage. Next, a double energy converter is used, this is what distinguishes an inverter gas generator from a conventional generator.

As a result of the transformation of current into direct current, and back into alternating current, a voltage corresponding to high technical characteristics is obtained.

Considering that the engine is under constant load on the piston system, as well as issues of efficiency and reliability, it becomes obvious that a 4-stroke gasoline inverter electric generator with auto-start is one of the most reliable models. The operational characteristics of 4-stroke engines allow the use of generators for connection to welding equipment.

How to choose an inverter gas generator

The choice of the required generator model is primarily related to the main purpose of the equipment and its technical characteristics. When selecting the required model, you should pay attention to the following:

Compact - the best four-stroke portable inverter gasoline mini generators can be carried in your hand. Portable inverter-type gas generators are compact in size and easily fit in the trunk of a car. A mini-generator is enough to provide a stable voltage of 1-2 kW.
Engine quality - all inverters are equipped with two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines. Opinions often differ regarding which engine is better. But practice proves that an inverter gasoline power plant with a 4-stroke engine has a long service life, can work for a long time without shutting down (thanks to liquid cooling) and, as a rule, is more productive.
Industrial and domestic stations:
1. household models are unprofessional; they are recommended to be used exclusively for one-time compensation for the lack of voltage in the network.
2. industrial equipment is intended for intensive use as an alternative power source due to the absence of power lines.

The difference between an inverter gas generator and a simple gas generator is that the inverter can be used for. The use of conventional stations for a welding machine is a violation of operating conditions.

Which gas generator is better, inverter or regular?

It all depends on the purposes for which the equipment will be used. The difference between an inverter and a conventional gas generator lies in the quality of the supplied voltage, as well as the additional advantages of inverter-type generators:

The voltage from inverter generators fully complies with the required technical specifications.
For the operation of household appliances, inverter equipment creates optimal working conditions. There are no voltage surges at all. Voltage stability allows you to connect almost any, even the most sensitive, equipment to the station.
Inverter stations with automatic transfer switch provide a smooth voltage start in case of an emergency.

The main reason why inverter models are purchased is precisely the high quality of their work. Since additional components and microcircuits are installed in generators using the inverter operating principle, they cost about a third more.

The service life of inverters, if the manufacturer's recommendations are followed, is several times longer than that of conventional generators. To increase productivity, you will need to regularly change the oil for gas generators, as well as carry out additional seasonal maintenance and repairs as necessary.

Inverter models are more reliable and easier to operate, and they can also be used to connect equipment sensitive to voltage surges.

If there is no electricity, then there can be no talk of any comfort. All household appliances require constant power supply. To somehow solve this issue, autonomous energy sources are used - generators. They are backup sources of electricity. There are many different versions of similar devices, which are sometimes difficult to understand without confusion. You need to know the difference between a conventional generator and an inverter generator (inverter generators), which one is better for you in this case to choose.

In field conditions, the best option for generating electricity is to use an autonomous device. Its design is quite simple. An autonomous device consists of an engine and a generator connected to it. The engine can be used of any type and power.

It rotates the rotor of the current generator, creating voltage at the output. The properties and power parameters are determined by the characteristics of the generator and motor. The quality of electricity is affected by the functioning of the engine. As the engine speed increases, the voltage at the generator output increases. There is also a dependence of the opposite type. As the consumer load increases, the starting current increases, this affects the properties of energy and the operation of the engine.

This method is used to operate a conventional generator. The quality of the energy created is quite suitable for powering many devices. Simple incandescent light bulbs will provide light even when the voltage is floating; electronic devices will also operate from such a generator if they use pulsed power. But the properties of a 220-volt power supply network with a frequency of 50 hertz must meet certain requirements. A fairly large number of devices are designed to meet such requirements. Changed network properties lead to malfunctions or failure of power quality-sensitive devices.

Creating an electric power reserve remains popular today. For this purpose, manufacturers produce electricity generators of different types and performance. Among the various designs of such devices, a large place is given to elite models that operate on the principle of creating high-quality energy.

To improve the quality of electric current, inverter converters of electricity properties are introduced into devices. They are called inverter generators. The most popular models for the population have a power of 0.8-3 kilowatts. The drive engine can run on gas, gasoline or diesel fuel.

Design features of the inverter generator

Inverter generators consist of:

Engine.
Generator.
Inverter.
Terminals for current output.
Control regulators.

To turn on household devices, the usual output is used along the three contacts of a 220 V socket.

In addition to alternating current, the device produces direct current, used for various purposes, charging car batteries. Inverter generators are equipped with terminals to enable DC charging.

When connecting a load exceeding the permissible value, the protection is triggered and turns off the power circuit. The protection also monitors the technical condition of the engine, for example, when the oil level has reached the lower limit. Therefore, it is necessary to control its level and top up on time. Typically, inverter generators are paired with a 4-stroke overhead valve engine.

Operating principle

The engine drives a simple generator that produces sine wave electricity. The energy flow is supplied to the rectifier from power diodes with powerful radiators for cooling. As a result, an alternating voltage is generated at the output of the rectifier.

After the rectifier, the voltage passes through a filter on capacitors, which smooths out the ripple to the properties of a constant voltage. Capacitors by their design are selected for stable operation, for voltages of more than 400 V. The voltage for the capacitors is selected with a reserve to eliminate the effect of 220 volt pulses. The size of the capacitor capacity is determined by the power of the consumers. Typically it is 470 µF for 1 capacitor.

The inverter now receives a stable rectified current, from which a high-quality industrial frequency voltage is obtained. Special technical processes have been created for the operation of the inverter. The optimal signal shape was bridge circuits with a transformer.

The main element that forms a high-quality sine wave is the switch on IGBT transistors. To create a sinusoidal current, the method of generating periodicity of pulse-width modulations is used. Each half-cycle of sinus oscillations is formed by operating a pair of transistors in the form of high-frequency pulses of a certain amplitude, which varies according to a sinusoidal law. The final alignment of the sine graph and smoothing of the pulses is carried out by a high-pass filter.

The inverter unit converts the electricity created by the generator into a stable constant value with quality properties. The inverter unit is controlled by the control system through feedback, taking into account the load size and engine operation. A current comes from the generator coils, which is far from matching its nominal value in its properties. This feature distinguishes inverter generators from other designs.

Application

The use of inverter generators makes it possible to outperform conventional generators in the following factors:

They have a high degree of economy due to automatic adjustment of the number of motor revolutions during operation and ensuring optimal mode according to the size of the load. The higher the engine load, the higher its rotation speed. In this case, fuel consumption is controlled by a control system. For conventional generators, consumption does not depend on the consumer load.
Generators create an ideal sine wave shape under load. High quality voltage is important for the functioning of sensitive devices.

The overall dimensions of high-quality generator models have a compact body and low weight compared to conventional generators at the same power.
Devices with inverters are very reliable in operation; manufacturers provide a double guarantee, unlike simple samples.

Modes of application of generators with converters:

Long operation at rated load, not higher than the rated output power.
Short-term overload, no more than 30 minutes.
Starting the engine and achieving the generator's operating cycle while overcoming significant load forces.

The converter can resist a significant load size, but the time period in this mode is a few fractions of a second.

Engine starting

For such an operation you need to perform several steps. Let's look at the procedure for starting the engine using the ER 2000 model as an example:

Check the presence and level of oil in the crankcase. If it is absent, the protection will work and malfunctions may occur.

Fill with fuel, without which the engine cannot operate, by first unscrewing the tank cap.
Open the valve on the tank lid.

Set the throttle to “start”.

Set the fuel valve handle to the “open” position.

Start the engine manually using the cord.

When the motor is started for the first time, the overload light will light up briefly, followed by the voltage indicator in the nominal mode for a long time. This indicates normal conditions.

After starting the engine, the generator idles at optimal parameters. Next, we turn on the consumer load to the generator by connecting any household appliance. The power of the connected device does not change the frequency and output voltage. The screen shows the consumer power value.

We try to connect any digital device to the output of the inverter generator and make sure that normal operation occurs. On conventional generators, digital devices malfunction due to inadequate quality of output power.

Inverter generators belong to a group of devices that use microprocessors and complex electronic parts. To guarantee long-term reliable operation of the generator, it is necessary to comply with operating conditions, carefully transport and ensure all conditions of temperature and humidity, as well as storage, according to the instructions.

If the device is stored in an unheated room during the winter, condensation may form on the internal parts, which will cause malfunctions of the electronic parts of the generator.

Choice

Inverter generators cost much more than a regular generator. Also, its operation is limited by power, which is no more than 7 kW.

The choice of generator should be approached carefully. It is necessary to determine what requirements are needed for voltage quality. For ordinary lighting lamps and power tools, it is enough to have a simple gasoline generator.

To connect a refrigerator, a circulation pump for heating, and control controllers for a gas-fired boiler, you will need a high-quality inverter generator.

In most cases, simple generators are used, especially since they are cheap to operate and purchase. For critical devices, inverter models are used. They are more expensive, but produce high-quality electricity.