Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Materials required

3. Theory

 What is an inverter?
 Types of waveforms
 Block diagram and component role
 H-bridge and transformer basics

4. Procedure (construction and testing)

5. Observations (how to record results)

6. Circuit diagram

7. Conclusion

8. Precautions

9. Bibliography
Introduction

 A power inverter, inverter, or invertor is a power

electronic device or circuitry that changes direct
current (DC) to alternating current (AC).[1] The resulting AC
frequency obtained depends on the particular device
employed. Inverters do the opposite of rectifiers which were
originally large electromechanical devices converting AC to
DC.[2]
 The input voltage, output voltage and frequency, and
overall power handling depend on the design of the specific
device or circuitry. The inverter does not produce any
power; the power is provided by the DC source.
 A power inverter can be entirely electronic or maybe a
combination of mechanical effects (such as a rotary
apparatus) and electronic circuitry. Static inverters do not
use moving parts in the conversion process.
 Power inverters are primarily used in electrical power
applications where high currents and voltages are present;
circuits that perform the same function for electronic
signals, which usually have very low currents and voltages,
are called oscillators.
Materials required

 9V BATTERY
 SWITCH (PUSH BUTTON)
 LED (LIGHT EMITTING DIODE)
 PCB WITH USB PORTS AND TRANSFORMER
 MINI TRANSFORMER (BLACK COMPONENT)
 CAPACITOR (BLUE COMPONENT)
 USB PORTS
 RECTIFIERS AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR
 BULB HOLDER WITH LED BULB
 CONNECTING WIRE
 BASE BOARD
Theory

What is an Inverter?

An inverter is a device that is used to convert Direct current to Alternating Current.

However the output is not a sine wave. It can be square wave, quasi square wave
or PWM. But in most scenarios the value of DC power is low. But we require high
Alternating Currents. This can be achieved in two ways:

 First we need to step up the DC power. Then we can make use of inverter to
convert DC to AC.

 Secondly, we convert low powered DC to low powered AC. Then we increase

the power of Alternating current by stepping it up.

Types of Current in general :

 Direct Current: In this type of current, electrons flow in constant direction. In

other words we can say that it is unidirectional in nature.

 Alternating Current : In this type of current, electrons change the direction

periodically. It can be compared to sinusoidal wave. The main advantage of
using AC current over DC current is that it helps to supply current to long
distances without involving much cables.

Components of an Inverter

There are mainly five components of an inverter. They are as follows:

Microcontroller

A microcontroller is also known as Digital Signal Processor. This is the core of the
inverter that is responsible for managing the switching of electric conversion. It also
regulates the voltage so that the frequency remains stable. Microcontroller also
detects faults or issues if present. This processor also ensures that maximum output
and minimum energy loss.

Bipolar Junction Transistors

A transistor is a semiconductor device whose task is to amplify the signals. These are
used to basically switch quickly from one type to another type. Here two kinds of
transistors PNP or NPN are used.

Filter

This is used to filter the frequencies based on the requirements. It will allow to pass
high frequencies if high frequencies are required and vice versa. It also smooths
waves so as to produce perfect AC output.

MOSFETs

MOSFETs or Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor-Field-Effect-Transistor are responsible for

high switching. They are used for switching between high frequencies so that the
inverter can correctly chop off the Direct currents and convert them to AC.

Heat Sink and Cooling System

Since in inverter there is switching between high frequencies and converting low
powered DC to high powered AC, a large amount of heat is dissipated. So to avoid
over heating appropriate heat sinks are required. Also cooling systems are required
so as to maintain the temperature of the inverter.

Types of Inverters

There are basically three types of inverters based on the output. They are as follows:

1. Sine wave

In this type of inverter, the output produced is a sine wave. Since AC current adheres
to sinusoidal waveform, this is the most commonly used inverter. It is useful in all
expensive electronic devices. Since sine waves reduce distortion, the circuitry is
complex. The main advantage is it produces clean output.

2. Modified Sine Wave

Modified Sine waves is a combination of sine wave and square wave. It uses series of
steps to approximate the sine wave. This inverter is most commonly used in
household applications. The circuitry is less complex as compared to sine wave.
However the drawback is it does produce noise and distortion.

3. Square Wave

Square wave produces basic AC output. The curve ranges between positive and
negative values. It has a straight forward circuitry. However the output does not
comply with the sine wave. Hence it is susceptible to harmonic noises and distortion.
These inverters are cheap and have short lifespan because they tend to get heated
easily.

4. Grid Tied Inverters

Grid Tied Inverter is a type of inverter that converts DC to AC which can be in turn
injected in the electrical grids. They are useful in solar panels, turbines etc. In this
solar energy is fed into the panels and accordingly the power is generated.

5. Three Phase Inverters

These types of inverters are used in industrial as well as commercial areas. They
convert the DC power to AC power. This AC power is useful in motors, pumps etc. It
is to be noted that three phase AC power is generated by these inverters.

How does an inverter work?

The task of the inverter is to convert DC to AC. It takes up the incoming DC current,
uses oscillators to increase the frequency of the signal. Here oscillators are basically
the transistors( MOSFETs and BJTs). After this the improved DC is passed to
transformer. The transformer steps up the signal and improves the waveform so as
to produce AC output. Meanwhile filters filter out the frequencies so that the
appropriate output is generated.

Characteristics of Inverter

An inverter should have some characteristics that will have good efficiency as well as
long lifespan. Some characteristics an inverter should have are as follows:

1. The output is a crucial component for inverters. Sine waves produce clean
output while square waves produce basic AC output.

2. Proper cooling mechanisms should be used so as to cool the inverters.

3. An inverter should have high efficiency above 90%. It also should be efficient
under any circumstances.

4. The inverter should produce accurate AC voltage. In general 120 V or 240 V

should be generated by any inverter.

5. It should produce output that will have least harmonic distortion.

Applications of Inverter

There are various applications of inverter. Some of them are as follows:

 Inverters provide power supply when the grid power is not available.

 It provides backup during adverse weather conditions.

 It is widely used in vehicles, boats etc.

 They are used in telecommunications where DC power is extracted from solar

panels and is converted to AC power
Advantages and Disadvantages of Inverter

Some advantages of inverter are as follows:

Advantages

 Since inverter converts DC to AC it is useful during power outages.

 It is combined with renewable resources so that appropriate output is

generated.

 It is useful in remote areas as small quantity of DC is converted to high

frequency AC .

Some disadvantages of inverter are as follows:

Disadvantages

 Inverters are usually bulky because of the large inbuilt circuitry. It is also
expensive.

 Maintaining an inverter is costly since it requires proper ventilation and

cooling.
Procedure

An inverter converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC)

by rapidly switching the direction of the DC current, creating a pulsed
waveform, which is then filtered and smoothed into a usable AC
output. This process is crucial for powering devices that require AC power
from DC sources like batteries or solar panels.

 DC Input:
 The inverter receives DC power from a source like a battery or solar
panel.
 H-Bridge Switching:
 An H-bridge circuit, composed of transistors, rapidly switches the DC
current, essentially reversing its direction back and forth.
 Pulsed AC Output:
 This switching action creates a pulsed waveform, which is a form of
AC, though not a clean sine wave.
 Filtering and Smoothing:
 The pulsed AC is then passed through filters, typically
using inductors and capacitors, to smooth out the waveform and
reduce harmonics, resulting in a cleaner AC output.
 Voltage Transformation:
 A transformer may be used to increase or decrease the voltage of
the AC output to match the desired level for the connected devices.
 Final AC Output:
 The inverter then provides a stable AC output that can be used to
power various appliances.
Key Components and Concepts:

 H-Bridge: A circuit that allows for the switching of current direction,

enabling the creation of pulsed AC.

 Transistors (e.g., IGBTs): Used as fast switches in the H-bridge to

control the current flow.

 Transformers: Used to step up or step down the voltage of the AC

output.

 Filters (Inductors and Capacitors): Used to smooth the pulsed

waveform and reduce harmonics.

 Pulse Width Modulation (PWM): A technique used to control the

width of the pulses in the AC waveform, affecting the output voltage
and frequency.
Observations

o Input and Output Voltage:

 The DC input from the battery/adapter measured around 12 V DC
(constant).
 The AC output measured ~220 V AC (or as per your transformer
specification) using a multimeter.

o Output Waveform:
 The oscilloscope/multimeter reading indicated a square wave or
modified sine wave, depending on the circuit design.

o Load Test:
 Small electrical appliances like an LED bulb, CFL lamp, or fan
worked when connected to the inverter.
 Output voltage slightly dropped under higher load.

o Current Draw:
 Current drawn from the battery increased with load.
 Without load, current draw was minimal.

o Heating:
 The transformer and transistors/MOSFETs became slightly warm
after continuous use.

o Noise:
  A faint humming sound was heard from the transformer during
operation.

Circuit diagram
Conclusion

The DC-to-AC inverter successfully converted direct

current from the battery into alternating current
suitable for running AC appliances. The output
waveform was observed to be square
wave/modified sine wave (depending on the circuit
used), which was sufficient for powering low-
wattage devices like LED bulbs and small fans. The
project demonstrated the practical application of
transformer action, switching circuits, and
semiconductor devices in power conversion. The
inverter worked efficiently for light loads, but
efficiency decreased and heating increased with
higher loads, highlighting the importance of proper
component ratings and heat management in real-
world designs. This experiment validates the
working principle of inverters and their significance
in areas where only DC power is available.
Precautions

o Use components (transformer, transistors/MOSFETs,

wires) that can handle the required current and
voltage ratings.
o Ensure all electrical connections are tight to prevent
sparking or short circuits.
o Never operate the inverter without a proper load for
extended periods to avoid damage.
o Avoid touching live wires or terminals while the
inverter is operating.
o Use a heat sink or cooling fan for power
transistors/MOSFETs to prevent overheating
o Connect the battery with correct polarity to avoid
circuit damage.
o Test the inverter in a dry, well-ventilated area away
from water sources.
o Do not connect appliances that exceed the inverter’s
rated power capacity.
o Use insulated tools while making or adjusting
connections.
o Disconnect the battery when the inverter is not in
use.
Bibliography

1. NCERT Physics Textbook – Class XII, Part II, National Council of Educational
Research and Training (NCERT).
2. “How Inverters Work” – Electronics Tutorials, www.electronics-tutorials.ws
3. “DC to AC Inverter Circuit” – All About Circuits
4. www.google.com
5. Notes from Physics laboratory and classroom lectures.