Pure Sine vs Modified Sine Inverters for Boats
Ready to buy? Browse our marine inverters and inverter chargers from Magnum, Victron Energy, Xantrex and Go Power, or read on to pick the right type.
Inverters are used to convert DC power from a battery bank into AC power, allowing you to use household electronics (e.g. TVs, microwaves, fans, power tools) no matter the environment, weather, or distance from shore. An inverter enables the comforts of a modern lifestyle without the costly purchase and installation of a generator.
Designed to convert direct current into AC, a marine inverter from eMarine can supply the power you need for appliances and electronics onboard your boat. With a reliable marine wave inverter from eMarine, you can enjoy your TV, coffee maker, toaster oven, and other conveniences while sailing.
Inverter Types
eMarine sells several types of inverters:
Modified Sine Wave
Modified sine wave inverters are often cheaper, roughly emulating an AC waveform. This is perfect for the majority of simple household electronics, such as coffee makers, toasters, or microwaves. You risk damaging sensitive electronics if you try to run them with a modified sine inverter, so use caution before you make any inverter purchase.
Modified wave inverters are a more budget-friendly choice, although they are sometimes subject to a bit of "buzz," or electrical noise.
Pure Sine Wave
Pure sine wave inverters are more expensive, but they produce a much cleaner and less "noisy" AC waveform. This allows for a pure sine wave inverter to power sensitive electronics. In short, if you intend to power laptops, computers, printers, dimming lights, or televisions with an inverter, you should ensure it's a pure sine wave inverter.
Pure sign wave inverters run more quietly and tend to be more efficient for certain applications like running air conditioning. However, they come with a higher price point than their modified counterparts.
Battery Charger
Some inverters will operate as both an inverter and battery charger, recharging the battery bank when grid power is available and automatically switching into an inverter mode when the grid power is lost keeping your priority circuits always powered.
Don't be afraid to contact us if you need help selecting the perfect inverter for your energy needs!
Explore:
For a 12V boat, the Magnum MS2000 marine inverter charger combines a pure sine wave inverter and a 100A charger in one unit.
If you have two AC sources, a Victron inverter charger such as the Quattro 5000/120V has two inputs with automatic transfer switching.
If your inverter has failed, our Fort Lauderdale inverter repair service tests and repairs Xantrex and Magnum units.
Comparing brands? Read Victron vs Magnum vs Xantrex: choosing a marine inverter charger.
Ready to choose? Compare every marine inverter and inverter charger we carry, from 200W to 15kW.
Need the whole system designed, not just the inverter? eMarine works as a marine systems integrator in Fort Lauderdale.