Which is better? A "low frequency"& "high frequency" inverter?

[bcroe]

My grid tie inverters are high frequency and isolated. Likely all grid tie inverters these days are isolated, the high frequency still have
inductive switching elements that provide isolation. Bruce Roe

[littleharbor]

There are a few repair facilities in So Cal. that seem to specialize in fixing these old workhorses. I'm sure they have some value although shipping can eat into any value you might get out of them.

[solarix]

I've got several dead Xantrex SW's. Are they worth anything?

[jflorey2]

I am looking at a bunch of different inverters and want to knows the pros and cons and differences of a "low frequency"& "high frequency" inverter. Thanks

That's an ambiguous term.

You might be referring to grid tie inverters, in which case your question is really transformer vs transformerless. They are both "high frequency" in reality, but one removes the isolation element (transformer) which makes them lighter and (sometimes) cheaper.

You might be referring to off-grid inverters, in which case you may be referring to sine wave vs. "pseudo sine wave" (i.e. square wave) inverters. There was also a hybrid of the two made by Trace years ago (the SW series.) In most cases you want sine wave.

You might be referring to 50hz vs 60hz. In that case get the frequency your loads require.

[littleharbor]

Have been muscling around some Trace/Xantrex SW inverters lately. They are freakin' beasts.
BTW somebody just sold one of the never taken out of the box Trace/ Xantrex SW 4024's on ebay for $3246.00

[solarix]

Good question. Low and High frequency inverter types. (And I'm talking about the internal circuit topology - not the output freq.)

High Freq: This is the direction almost all electronic circuitry is going because it is less expensive, lighter, and more versatile. You want your inverter to work on 3-phase? no problem, just reconfigure the software parameters. However, the circuitry is way more complex and there are only a few companies in the world with enough experience to design a product and have it be long term reliable right out of the gate. Emphase and Solaredge both blew it on their first generation products, and the jury is still out on their recent stuff. Outback engineers were originally the pioneers at Trace so have learned the hard way. And I think you all know I'm a SMA fan because of their great track record. And did we ever get a resolution on that Growatt problem where 5 inverters were all acting weird? Th HF type also are typically electrically isolated so that the array ground is separate from the DC ground which has advantages when installing the inverter.

Low Freq: This is the old school way of doing the AC conversion at the output frequency and is relatively simple, but not quite as efficient, and uses heavy/expensive transformers. They are not without their failure modes of course, but are inherently less susceptible to transient disturbances, spikes, surges, etc. The big, low speed transformer is like a big flywheel - you're not going to push it off course very easily. I'm glad I'm not lifting them up onto walls anymore....

[Mike90250]

well it depends on your requirement. as usually 50HZ 60HZ is low frequency. this kind of inverter usually used in the house or home. 400HZ is usually high frequency. this is usually used in industry. for example ，Veichi 50HZ 60HZ inverter islow frequency. I hope this can help you

I think the OP is asking about household 50/60Hz inverters, of which consist of LF transformer based, or HF non-transformer inverters, not aircraft 400hz inverters.

LF inverters have a heavy, expensive transformer in them which provides electrical isolation. HF inverters are cheaper, lighter and do not provide isolation.
That's all I remember off the top of my head

[xiaoxiaovei]

well it depends on your requirement. as usually 50HZ 60HZ is low frequency. this kind of inverter usually used in the house or home. 400HZ is usually high frequency. this is usually used in industry. for example ，Veichi 50HZ 60HZ inverter islow frequency. I hope this can help you

[Sunking]

There is nothing wrong with pasting an others post on your own in a different colour...It is adequate to show its from another post... There is no law that says its mandatory to use quotes..

It is because you do not know how. You have not figured out the easy way or how to push a button. Do you want me to show you a post from 5 years where you admitted it when you were JohnP. It caused you so much embarrassment you had to change your username. Don't deny it, I still have the emails. So I suggest you zip your lip.

[Sunking]

Sunking there was no mention of either MSW or TSW.. ..And why would there be ?? NO industrial or quality low frequency battery inverter would be a crap MSW inverter. And by design could never be.

You are full of crap. Just about every box store UPS uses a Square Wave 60 Hz Inverter ran through 1:10 transformer.

[Sunny Solar]

Sunking there was no mention of either MSW or TSW.. ..And why would there be ?? NO industrial or quality low frequency battery inverter would be a crap MSW inverter. And by design could never be.


There is nothing wrong with pasting an others post on your own in a different colour...It is adequate to show its from another post... There is no law that says its mandatory to use quotes...OK Mr Nuclear Waist ??

[Sunking]

Sunking I think you need to stop sleeping under the sun all day. its destroying the last few active brain cells you have..
First you post saying I dont know what im talking about then a few posts later you post this....
Low Frequency would be my choice because it operates at True Sine Wave line frequency, very simple with a lot less to go wrong. Just heavy with a Boat Anchor 60 Hz transformer
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY AS I POSTED ..

And the reasons I gave are true...

Mabe you just inhaled to many battery fumes from the submarines.????

After 5 years one would think you would learn how to click the QUOTE button. As I said I was under the impression he was asking about a Battery MSW Inverter.

[inetdog]

Because I have to fix the clock all the time because it gains time.

If it gains roughly 12 minutes per hour, the unit has a line frequency based clock. There may be an internal option for 50 or 60 Hz. If the unit gains anything less that this, it is just a flaky crystal oscillator clock.

[bcroe]

Fordtech dont know how this can be a problem..???""Its unfortunate that some appliances imported here run on 50hz. My microwave is one and it gains almost 10 minutes a week to the clock. "" Why is it unfortunate ? should they all self destruct if a 50hz device connected to 60 hz?.. And what about appliances like fridges here state on panel 50/60hz..??
All my tools from Aus are 50hz and work perfectly on 60hz as they should..

Most 50 HZ stuff will do well on 60 HZ; the reverse isn't always true. 50 needs more iron & copper to
avoid saturation. Don't try electric clocks. Bruce Roe

[Fordtech]

Fordtech dont know how this can be a problem..???""Its unfortunate that some appliances imported here run on 50hz. My microwave is one and it gains almost 10 minutes a week to the clock. "" Why is it unfortunate ? should they all self destruct if a 50hz device connected to 60 hz?.. And what about appliances like fridges here state on panel 50/60hz..??
All my tools from Aus are 50hz and work perfectly on 60hz as they should..

Because I have to fix the clock all the time because it gains time.