The Difference Between Generator and Inverter are discussed here on the basis of various factors like voltage, their time period of starting, noise and pollution, source of power, starting, capacities, their installation, duration of the power outage, backup power supply, fuel storage, maintenance, size and weight of the machine, space requirement, maximum power output, parallel operation and their cost.
The Difference between Generator and Inverter in the tabulated form is given below.
| BASIS | GENERATOR | INVERTER |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage | Generator directly produces 120 volts, at 60 hertz supply frequency | The Inverter converts 12 Volt power into 120 volts AC power. |
| Time period of starting | It takes considerable time to start when there is a power outage. | It restores power supply immediately and take no time to start as soon as power is cut off. |
| Noise and pollution | Generator makes noise and also produce smoke. | Inverter is soundless and pollution free. |
| Source of power | It requires power sources like kerosene, diesel,natural gases or petroleum to run. | Inveter works on battery and thus charges its battery with electricity itself. |
| Starting | Generator requires effort to start. | Inverter starts on their own. |
| Capacities | They are available in high capacities. | Available in lower capacities. |
| Installation | The generator is started from the setup already installed or established. | Requires installation and wiring system. |
| Duration of a power outage | The generator is at advantages where there is a long power outage. | Convenient to the places where there is a short power outage. |
| Backup power | No backup is required. | Inverter needs a backup of generators for the places where power cut is of long duration. |
| Fuel storage | Requires storage of fuels. | There is no requirement of storage of fuel. |
| Maintenance | The engine of the generator requires maintenance at regular interval of time. | It requires almost no maintenance. |
| Space | Requires much space and is kept outside the home or office. | Requires less space and is kept inside the home or office. |
| Size and Weight | The Generators are large in size and shape and they are also heavy in weight. | Inverters are compact in size and they are light in weight and portable. |
| Maximum power output | Generator vary greatly in their rated wattage from 500 to 50000 W or more. | Inverters are available in 1000 to 4000 W. |
| Parallel Operation | Do not offer this option. | Inverter can be linked to another identical unit to double the power capacity. |
| Cost | Generator price is less as compared to the inverter. | The Cost of the inverter is high. |
Electricity plays a major role in our day to day life. Without the power or electricity one cannot imagine his or her life. Thus, if the power supply goes off, all the electrical and electronics equipments stop working. Hence, a power backup is required to continue the work without any disruption. Generators and Inverters play a vital role as a power backup devices.
A Generator is an electrical machine which converts mechanical energy into electricity. It provides electricity to homes, industries, offices, etc. when there is no power supply. Generator use coal, natural gases, oil as a source of power supply. Hence, its maintenance becomes a problem, but one of it advantage is that it can operate for longer duration of time.
The Inverter is a device which converts direct current available in the form of the battery to the alternating current. The battery should be charged regularly or it should be always on the ON condition, so that it automatically, charge itself. It needs wiring to connect the equipment which one needs to run at the time of power cut so that the equipment starts automatically.
Difference Between Generator and Inverter
- Generator directly produces 120 volts AC supply, at 60 hertz supply frequency, whereas the Inverter converts 12 Volt DC power into 120 volts AC power.
- The Generator takes considerable time to start when there is a power outage. Inverter restores power supply immediately and take no time to start the supply of power.
- Generator makes noise and also produce smoke which causes both noise and air pollution. Inverters are soundless and pollution free.
- Generator requires power sources like kerosene, diesel, natural gases or petroleum to run. Inveter works on battery and thus charges its battery with electricity itself.
- Generator requires manual effort to start whereas Inverter starts on its own as soon as there is a power cut.
- Generators are available in high capacities whereas Inverters are available in lower capacities.
- The generator is started from the setup already installed or established. Inverter requires installation and wiring system.
- The generator is used where there is a long power outage problem, whereas the Inverters are suitable for the places where there is a short duration power outage.
- Inverter needs a backup of generators for the places where power cut is for a longer duration, whereas in case of the Generator there is no need of any backup facility.
- Generator requires storage of fuels whereas in the inverter there is no requirement of the fuel storage.
- The engine of the generator requires maintenance at regular interval of time. Inverter requires almost no maintenance.
- Generator requires much space and it is kept outside the home or office, whereas the Inverter requires less space and is kept inside the home or office.
- The Generators are large in size and shape and they are also heavy in weight as compared to the Inverter.
- Generator vary greatly in their rated wattage from 500 to 50000 Watts or more whereas, the Inverters are available in 1000 to 4000 W.
- Inverter can be linked to another identical unit to double the power capacity if required, but in case of the generator this facility of parallel operation in not possible.
- Inverters are more costly as compared to the generator of the same rating.
Hence, the generator is different from inverter.