Seven Easy Inverter Circuits for Beginners

Although the designs of these 7 inverter circuits appear straightforward, they are capable of generating a respectably high power output and an efficiency of about 75%. Learn how to build this inexpensive micro inverter and use a 12V 7 Ah battery to power small 220V or 120V equipment like drill machines, LED lights, CFL lights, hair dryers, and mobile chargers.

A Simple Inverter's Definition

A simple inverter is an inverter that converts 12 V DC to 230 V AC with the fewest possible components. The most common type of battery used to power these inverters is a 12 V lead acid battery.

Let's start with the simplest of the list's devices, which makes use of a few 2N3055 transistors and a few resistors.

Circuit for a Simple Inverter Using Cross Coupled Transistors

The article covers the specifics of how a micro inverter is built. Read on to learn more about how to build a basic inverter, which can deliver respectable power production and is yet quite economical and stylish.

Numerous inverter circuits might be published in electronic periodicals and the internet. However, these circuits frequently use high-end inverters and are extremely intricate.

Thus, we are left with no alternative but to ponder how to create power inverters that are not only simple to create but also affordable and extremely effective.

Diagram of a 12 volt to 230 volt inverter

Your search for such a circuit has now come to an end. The inverter circuit that is detailed here may have the fewest components overall, but it is still powerful enough to meet most of your needs.

Construction Methodology

Make sure the two 2N3055 transistors have the appropriate heatsinks before anything else. It could be made in the following ways:

1.Cut two 6 1/4 inch wide aluminium sheets in half.

2.As indicated in the diagram, bend one end of the sheet. Create holes of the proper size on the bends so that it may be securely attached to the metal cabinet.

3.If making this heatsink proves challenging, you may easily buy one from your neighbourhood electronics store as illustrated below:

4.Additionally, drill the holes needed to fit the power transistors. The package size is TO-3, and the holes are 3 mm in diameter.

5.Using nuts and bolts, securely fasten the transistors to the heatsinks.

6.As shown in the circuit design, cross-couple the resistors directly to the transistor leads.

7.Connect the heatsink, transistor, and resistor assembly to the transformer's secondary winding at this point.

8.Fix the transformer and the entire circuit assembly inside a strong, well-ventilated metal box.

9Attach the output and input sockets, the fuse holder, and other components outside to the cabinet and link them to the circuit assembly as necessary.

You only need to connect a few high-watt resistors, the 2N3055 (on the heatsink), and the chosen transformer as shown in the following diagram after the heatsink installation described above is complete.

Once the wiring described above is finished, it's time to connect a 12V 7Ah battery and a 60-watt bulb to the secondary of the transformer. When the switch is turned ON, the load is immediately illuminated with astounding brilliance.

In this case, the transformer is the most important component. Ensure that the transformer is indeed rated at 5 amps; otherwise, you might find that the output power is much lower than expected.

I can attest to this from experience because I constructed this unit twice, the first time back in college and the second time just last year, in 2015. Despite having more experience throughout the most recent endeavour, I was unable to access the incredible ability I had gained from my prior unit. Simple: I utilised a new transformer that was possibly incorrectly rated at 5 amps but was actually only 3 amps with its output, as opposed to the old transformer, which was a sturdy custom-built 9-0-9V 5 amp transformer.

Parts Chart

1.100 OHMS/10 WATTS WIRE WOUND for R1, R2.

2.15 OHMS/ 10 WATTS WIRE WOUND FOR R3, R4.

3.2N3055 power transistors make up T1, T2.

4.TRANSFORMER = 9 – 0 – 9 VOLTS / 8 AMPS OR 5 APH.

5.12 volts/ 10 ah = AUTOMOBILE BATTERY

6.CUT TO THE REQUIRED SIZE FOR AN ALUMINIUM HEATSINK.

7.VENTILATEd metal cabinet: according to the overall assembly's dimensions

How Can It Be Tried?

The following procedure is used to test this micro inverter:

Connect a 60-watt incandescent light bulb to the inverter's output socket for testing purposes.

Next, attach the supply terminals of a 12 V automotive battery that has been fully charged.

The 60 watt bulb ought to start shining brightly right away, demonstrating that the inverter is operating properly.

The inverter circuit has now finished being built and tested.

I believe the foregoing conversations have given you a good understanding of how to create an inverter that is not only easy to make but also very economical for everyone of you.

Small electrical devices like soldering irons, CFL lights, portable fans, etc. can be powered by it. The output power is load dependent and will be in the range of 70 watts.

This inverter has an efficiency of about 75%. When used outside, the unit can be connected to your car's battery directly, saving you the effort of carrying an extra battery.

Operation of Circuits

This small inverter circuit works in a somewhat unusual and distinctive way compared to standard inverters, which use a discrete oscillator stage to power the transistors.

However, in this case, the circuit's two arms or sections function regeneratively. The following points will help you understand how easy it is:

No matter how well the two portions of the circuit are matched, there will always be a tiny imbalance in the components that surround them, such as the resistors, Hfe, transformer winding turns, etc.

Because of this, the two halves cannot operate simultaneously at once.

Assuming that the upper half transistors conduct first, it follows that R2 and the lower half winding of the transformer are how they will receive their biassing voltage.

The entire battery voltage is instead drawn via their collectors and to the ground the instant they become fully saturated and conduct.

Any voltage applied to their base through R2 is sucked out dry by this, and the transistors cease to conduct.

The cycle then continues as the lower transistors get a chance to conduct as a result.

As a result, the entire circuit begins to oscillate.

The base Emitter resistors aid to fix a base biassing reference level by helping to fix a specific threshold for their conduction to break.