Inverter Tester

[sabre504]

Hi was thinking of building an inverter tester and am just stuck on what sort of bulbs or led's i could use.
I dont want to use long CCFL's but i know that the inverter puts out anywhere between 600v and a 1000v.
Any suggestions welcome

[Jack Crow]

Re: Inverter Tester

S,
CFL lamps would be a bad selection.
Normal lamps are getting rare.

Inverters are a problem since most output square waves.

Let's say you have a working unit on the bench and a strong enough power source.

I presume you have a scope and a meter to make some open circuit tests.

If all that looks good, your next step is to do a 'load test'.

May I suggest an old toaster or electric room heater. Work out a combination of load circuits that will give you the rated loads.

You might tray an Amp Clamp to measure output current, but it might not respond well due to the square wave action.

Another load might be something as simple as a heavy soldering gun. One of the 300 watt types. A big step down transformer into a hard current load. All that inductance might get the amp clamp to read well.

Another issue is source Z of your DC. Some power sources can't deal with a load like that. I killed an automotive alternator in my truck due to a vehicle inverter.

If you can, post back here with what you find that works. Your situation can't be unique.

Be well there.
Jack Crow aka Radio Mike
Herndon VA

[sabre504]

Re: Inverter Tester

Hi thanks for that interesting reading.
But i was meaning a ccfl inverter tester sorry my fault should have made myself more clear on what i was asking.
I keep forgetting that there are other resource to this site and i know i have only scratched the surface of the amount of available knowledge.
Again thanks for your reply still wonder what i can use as a light for the test ,
i have been told that i can fool the inverter into thinking there is a ccfl connected by using a 200k 5 watt resistor but could i attach a bulb to this in some way as a visual indicator

[Jack Crow]

Re: Inverter Tester

Ok,
Catching on.
In my world when someone says inverter it's to take 12 volt auto up to usually 120vac to run home devices in the field.

At that kind of voltage you may have to look at a string of resistors in series.

Little things.

Normal scope probes cannot be trusted at high voltage.
Imagine if that much voltage has a flash over into your hand? Not cool.
Same deal with coupling caps. You may have to think about external voltage dividers to take your ripple readings safely.

I learned about this the hard way at the last job. We were working on some very high voltage devices and I had a three inch 100M ohm resistor flash over and fail. Very impressive just inches from the nose.

If your only going to a Kv most 'consumer' DVM's can take that. Some can't. So watch your upper limits.

Be well there.
Jack Crow aka Radio Mike

[sabre504]

Re: Inverter Tester

Thanks for the info

[fuhrer]

Re: Inverter Tester

you can use old ccfls..they will work fine..the only thing is, inverters have very sensitive error detection circuitry.need to buypass it..

[fuhrer]

Re: Inverter Tester

bypass i mean..sorry