Origins and uses

Square waves are universally encountered in digital switching circuits and are naturally
generated by binary (two-level) logic devices. They are used as timing references or "clock
signals", because their fast transitions are suitable for triggering synchronous logic circuits
at precisely determined intervals. However, as the frequency-domain graph shows, square
waves contain a wide range of harmonics; these can generate electromagnetic radiation or
pulses of current that interfere with other nearby circuits, causing noise or errors. To avoid
this problem in very sensitive circuits such as precision analog-to-digital converters, sine
waves are used instead of square waves as timing references.
In musical terms, they are often described as sounding hollow, and are therefore used as
the basis for wind instrument sounds created using subtractive synthesis. Additionally, the
distortion effect used on electric guitar clips the outermost regions of the waveform,
causing it to increasingly resemble a square wave as more distortion is applied.
Simple two-level Rademacher functions are square waves.

Not All Waveforms are the Same

Inverter technology has advanced far beyond what was available only a decade ago. The
first electronic inverters to be introduced were basic square wave inverters. This type has
the most limited application and is not recommended for televisions or computers.
As time and technology progressed, a second generation power inverter became popular
and was called a "modified square wave" or "quasi-sine wave" inverter. It could be more
accurately called a modified-square wave inverter. The "modified-square wave" can
regulate RMS (Root Mean Squared) voltage but not peak voltage. This type of inverter will
not properly power electronic loads.
Today's technology has produced the most sophisticated power inverters on the market --
true sine wave. Exeltech Inverters deliver the exact output voltage and waveform that
exists in home and office environments, guaranteeing that electronic devices will receive a
highly regulated sine wave. This inverter provides smooth, continuous power, without noise
and voltage spikes which could effect performance or ultimately damage expensive
electronic equipment.
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Square Wave Inverters
This type of inverter is the simplest and least expensive on the market. Computers,
televisions, induction motors, transformer loads and even light bulbs are not recommended
to run on this waveform, because square wave has a high harmonic content. It is not
appropriate for operating sound equipment such as stereos, televisions, nor can it
efficiently run capacitor start motors, induction motors and transformer loads. While higher
quality brands approach 75% efficiency with some loads, typical efficiencyes are less than
60%. Standby current drain is in excess of 4 amps, which will drain a car battery in one day
even when nothing is plugged into it. In addition, reliability fo these inverters is poor. Due
to the lack of any protection circuitry short of a fuse, certain kinds of overloads and short
circuits can seriously damage both the inverter and the equipment.
Output voltage regulation of square wave inverters is poor, usually plus-or-minus a nominal
15 percent. As loads change, outputs can fluctuate as much as 50 volts, from 90 to 140 volts
AC. Eventually this will damage sensitive equipment. Another characteristic of this type of
inverter is it's lack of surge power. This shortcoming is evident when trying to power
motorized appliances and tools. Motors are particularly difficult because they can draw
three to four times their average power while starting; thus an inverter's lack of surge
capability can result in an inability to power motorized equipment.
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Quasi-Sine Wave Inverters
While quasi-sine wave inverters are an improvement over square wave inverters, they still
represent a compromise. They do maintain correct RMS (Root Mean Square) * voltage for
most input voltages, but will only have the correct peak voltage for one input voltage.
Quasi-sine wave inverters can be fairly efficient, with some units attaining better than 90%.
They may also have high surge power capabilities, and indeed are the correct selection for
running some types of motors and incandescent lighting.
The main disadvantage of a quasi-sine wave is that peak voltage output varies with battery
voltage. When a vehicle's engine is started, or the load is changed on the battery, peak
output voltage changes in direct proportion to input voltage. For example, when the
vehicle is not running and battery voltage is approximately 12 volts, output peak voltage
would be approximately 140 volts AC. When the car is started, the alternator will drive the
battery up to 14.5 volts. This drives peak output voltage of the inverter up to 185 volts AC.
In addition, most alternators put out some noise voltage which may be as high as three
volts. This will show up on the output of most inverters as 38 volts of noise. Most
entertainment equipment cannot filter out this noise. Consequently, this noise is either
heard or seen. The output of these inverters will multiply any noise on the input by a factor
of about twelve. This shows up vividly on television screens. Expensive electronics should
not be exposed to this noise. In fact, operation of some electronic equipment on a square
or quasi-sine wave inverter may void the manufacturer's warranty for this equipment.
* Output
Many inexpensive electronic devices such as portable televisions, VCR's, and stereos have
virtually no internal regulation of their power supplies. They rely on AC line power to have
correct peak and RMS voltage to run properly, and are not designed to run on inverter
power. As the battery wears down, causing AC voltage to fall, the picture size on most
televisions will decrease. Tuners on televisions and radios may drift off frequency causing
reduction in volume and an increase in static.
These inverters may appear extremely efficient but this can be misleading. Only 70% to 80%
of the energy output from this type of inverter is 60 Htz. The remaining energy is in odd
harmonics of 60HTZ (180Hz, 300Hz, 420Hx etc. on to infinity). What is important is total
system efficiency. If the load cannot use this harmonic energy, it is wasted. This may limit
total system efficiency to 60-70%.
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Sine Wave Inverters
This is the output from Exeltech Power Inverters and is the correct waveform on which all
electronic equipment, televisions, and computers are designed to run. There are different
types of sine wave inverters. Most others are of a ferroresonant design which creates a sine
wave at the expense of surge power, weight, efficiency and cost. These are mainly used in
Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS's) in fixed locations, They filter the output voltage
well.
Other manufacturers start with a square wave inverter and filter out everything but the
fundamental 60HTZ sine wave. These units are tremendously inefficient (40% to 60%), and
extremely heavy (40 lbs. for a 500 watt unit).
Exeltech Power Inverters are small, light weight, and output a perfect sine wave. This type
of inverter can handle instantaneous currents, of nearly three times RMS current rating.
They are reliable, incorporating the latest advances in electronic technology. The output
waveform is the exact shape on which all electronics were designed to run. No matter what
the input voltage, (within the limits of normal operation; 10.5 to 17 Vdc*), output voltage
will be 120Vac RMS and 170 Vpeak, the same as utility power.
Output voltage is doubly regulated so it is impossible for noise from a vehicle's electrical
system to be transferred to the output waveform. A true sine wave inverter guarantees that
all it's output energy is 60Htz. Harmonically sensitive loads such as electronic motors will
run quietly and efficiently.
* For a 12VDC system
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Inverter Output Waveforms
A comparison of waveforms is necessary to understand the differences between the various
types available.
The following contains graphs of three different DC input voltages to three different types
of power inverters followed by a discussion of each case.
(A) Represents a vehicle with the engine stopped: Battery voltage at 10.5 Vdc.
(B) Represents a vehicle running under typical load conditions: Battery at -13.8 volts with 1
volt alternator whine plus 3 volts of rectification spikes.
(C) Represents a vehicle under running condition with a high output voltage regulator of 16
volts.

To illustrate the effect of each of these conditions with each inverter type, three different
loads will be used:
- A simple 100 watt light bulb which is only sensitive to RMS voltage
- A TV set which represents and electronic load sensitive to frequency,
 peak voltage, RMS voltage, and waveform
- A motor and relay, sensitive to waveform and RMS voltage.
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Input Conditions
VDC = 10.5V

(A) Below are waveforms for low voltage at the battery. This condition is
indicative of a battery just before it dies.
SINE WAVE

Vpk=170 Volts, Vrms=120Volts

As displayed in the graph, the Exeltech inverter is putting out exactly correct voltages. The
TV picture is perfect and the 100 Watt light bulb is still putting out 100 watts. The motor
and relay are running cool and quiet.
QUASI-SINE WAVE

Vpk=120 Volts, Vrms=120 Volts

At this point, the quasi-sine wave inverter has degenerated to a square wave output. The
100 watt light bulb will still put out 100 watts and the picture will look fairly good, but it
will not totally fill the screen. The relay and motor are running fine, but have an audible
buzz and are running hot.

SQUARE WAVE
Vpk=95 Volts, Vrms-95 Volts
The square wave inverter has a low output voltage at this time, The light bulb is only
putting out approximatley 67 watts, the TV picture will only fill in 3/4 of the screen, the
motor may not even start, the relay may not energize, and there will still be an audible
buzz.
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INPUT CONDITION
V=13.8
3Vp-p= rectifier spikes from alternator
1Vp-p= of alternator whine
.5Vp= random ignition noise

(B) Below are waveforms operating with a normal battery charger.

SINE WAVE
Vpk=170V, Vrms=120V
The Exeltech inverter is putting out exactly correct voltages. TV picture is perfect, and the
100 watt light bulb is putting out 100 watts. The motor and relay are running cool and
quiet.

QUASI-SINE WAVE
40V Noise, Vpk=180V, Vrms=120V
The quasi-sine wave inverter has correct peak voltage and correct RMS voltage. The light
bulb output is correct. The TV picture appears correct but the power supply is being
bombarded by 200V current spikes occurring at a 120HZ rate. There may be audio and video
noise in the TV due to the harmonics of 60HZ. These frequencies fall into hearing range and
can pass through TV circuits to the speaker. The motor and relay will have proper RMS
power but will be running hotter and will be buzzing due to harmonic energy.
 SQUARE WAVE
30V Noise, Vpk=125V, Vrms=125V
The square wave inverter is powering the bulb to near nominal levels. Since peak voltage is
not high enough, all the power supplies in the TV are too low, dropping out of regulation.
This allows all noise and harmonic energy of the waveform to pass into the audio and video
circuits. The best of these inverters are only 1% frequency controlled, which may lead to
hum bars rolling through the screen and herringbone patterns in the video. The motor and
relay have adequate power and are running hot and buzzing.
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INPUT CONDITION
VDC= 16 volts
3Vp-p rectifier spikes from alternator
1Vp-p of alternator whine
.5Vp random ignition noise

(C) Below are outputs indicative of a running vehicle, battery fully

charged. This is typical of many vehicles and charging systems
with poor regulation.

SINE WAVE
Vpk=170V, Vrms=120V
Exeltech inverters put out exactly correct voltages. The TV picture is perfect, the 100 watt
light bulb is putting out 100 watts, and the motor and relay are running cool and quietly.

QUASI-SINE WAVE
 40V Noise, Vpk=220V, Vrms-120V
Now peak voltage is too high but RMS voltage is correct. The light bulb output is correct.
The TV is receiving peak voltage that is too high, therefore the screen may be "ballooned".
The supplies are being bombarded by 220V pulses at a 120 HZ rate. All harmonic energies
are still there and potentially getting into audio circuits. The motor and relay are running
but getting hot and are buzzing.

SQUARE WAVE
30V Noise, Vpk=145, Vrms=145V
The square wave inverter is over powering the light bulb, which will result in reduced life.
Peak voltage to the TV is still low, as are the low voltage supplies. All the noise arguments
from the previous pages are still valid. The motor and relay are now extremely hot and are
buzzing.
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Only the Facts

There is another vintage of modified square wave inverters which can be identified by their
light weight (approximately 100 watts per pound). These inverters are an improvement over
other modified square wave inverters, but they have other problems. They are less
expensive to produce than square wave inverters but are usually more expensive. The
output peak voltage is never correct -- only 145 volts. This is done to minimize harmonic
energy and improve efficiency. These inverters have incorrect waveforms, incorrect peak
voltage and a high harmonic energy that destroys audio. Line and load regulation on these
units is typically poor, which means they will not supply their rated power when running on
batteries alone.
Exeltech power inverters properly power any type of load efficiently and effectively. It's
stable, regulated sine wave output provides unequalled performance when compared to any
other inverter of its size on the market.
Exeltech power inverters are truly the "wave" of the future.
The above "WAVE FORM FACTS" is wholly copyrighted by Exeltech and has been included
verbatim from their booklet as it is an excellent reference work. Ben Baker, John Goetz and
Gary Chemelewski have done an excellent job in compiling and presenting this information.