How does an inverter work?
An inverter takes the DC input and runs it into a pair (or more) of power switching transistors. By rapidly turning these transistors on and off, and feeding opposite sides of a transformer, it makes the transformer think it is getting AC. The transformer changes this “alternating DC” into AC at the output. Depending on the quality and complexity of the inverter, it may put out a square wave, a “quasi-sine” (sometimes called modified sine) wave, or a true sine wave. Square wave inverters are usually only suitable for running some type of electrical tools and motors and incandescent lights. They are pretty rare nowadays, some of the old 1970’s Triplite and a few others, and some old military surplus is about the only place you find it now. Quasi-sine (modified sine, modified square) wave inverters have more circuitry beyond the simple switching, and put out a wave that looks like a stepped square wave – it is suitable for most standard appliances, but may not work well with some electro
