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AC Inverter Basics
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AC, or alternating current electricity, is electricity that switches from negative to positive many times every second. AC motors are powered by AC electricity, and their speed is controlled by the frequency of the current. An AC Motor inverter turns line voltage AC power into whatever frequency the motor requires to run at a particular speed.
Rectifying the Power
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Power is usually transmitted in AC at a set frequency. For example, the power that comes into houses in America is at 120 volts AC. The motor inverter first turns this power into direct current (DC) power before turning it into the correct frequency. It does this with a diode rectifier. Diodes are electric one-way valves. When the current is positive, a diode sends it down the positive wire, while another diode attached to the negative wire shuts off. When the current is negative, the negative diode opens and sends it down the negative wire, while the positive diode shuts off. All the positive voltage is sent down one wire, and the negative voltage is sent down another.
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Generating the Frequency
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AC motor inverters use digital circuitry to produce an alternating current. They have high speed switches that can be turned on and off thousands of times a second. These on and off signals add up to make an electric wave which is then sent to the motor. By turning the switches on and off at different rates, the inverter can generate different frequencies.
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How Do AC Motor Inverters Work?
