Today’s Inverters are designed in two different modes.
1. Modified Sine Wave
2. True Sine Wave.
Modified Sine Wave inverters are not quite the same as power coming from the power company electricity. They are though, lower cost, very efficient and will run most appliances, although there are some notable exceptions. Modified sine wave inverters are a good choice for smaller sized PV systems and budgets
True sine-wave inverters deliver top quality AC power (better quality than the Utility Company). Because they work well with any appliance, they are becoming the standard for larger household power systems.
Not only are there two different modes, there are three main types of inverters.
1. Off Grid inverter: This inverter is generally a Modified Sine Wave inverter but not always. The purpose of a "Off Grid inverter is to simple convert DC power from your batteries, wind generator or petroleum generator with no need to ever connect to the grid and sell power back.
2. A true Sine Wave inverter can have a dual purpose, Convert your DC energy from your batteries, start your petroleum generator automatically to charge your batteries or simply sell power back to the utility company. See our links to State statutes on Net Metering.
3. Grid Tied Inverter. This type of inverter only does one thing. It take the power that your solar panels produces and it puts in back into the Utility Companies lines. This type of inverter is a special type of inverter, It is in constant harmony with the power grid. If the power in your area should go out, A Grid Tied Inverter will automatically shut off. This is to save the lives of utility crewmen working on the line. This type of inverter also means that if the power goes out, you WILL NOT have power also. It is kind of had to think about, I you spent all this money and the power goes out, and they you sit with no power.