Editing Power inverter (section)

{{short description|Device that changes direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC)}}
{{Redirect|Inverter|the logic gate|Inverter (logic gate)|other uses}}
[[File:Müllberg Speyer - 2.JPG|thumb|An inverter on a free-standing solar plant]]
[[File:Müllberg Speyer - 6 - Rückseite der östlichen Solarpanele.JPG|thumb|Overview of solar-plant inverters]]
{{Power engineering}}

A '''power inverter''', '''inverter''', or '''invertor''' is a [[power electronics|power electronic]] device or circuitry that changes [[direct current]] (DC) to [[alternating current]] (AC).<ref>''The Authoritative Dictionary of IEEE Standards Terms, Seventh Edition'', IEEE Press, 2000,{{ISBN|0-7381-2601-2}}, page 588</ref> The resulting AC frequency obtained depends on the particular device employed. Inverters do the opposite of [[rectifier]]s which were originally large electromechanical devices converting AC to DC.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inverter frequently asked questions |website=powerstream.com |url=https://www.powerstream.com/inFAQ.htm |access-date=2020-11-13}}</ref>
 
The input [[voltage]], output voltage and frequency, and overall [[electrical power|power]] handling depend on the design of the specific device or circuitry. The inverter does not produce any power; the power is provided by the DC source.

A power inverter can be entirely electronic or maybe a combination of mechanical effects (such as a rotary apparatus) and electronic circuitry.
'''Static inverters''' do not use moving parts in the conversion process.

Power inverters are primarily used in electrical power applications where high currents and voltages are present; circuits that perform the same function for electronic signals, which usually have very low currents and voltages, are called [[electronic oscillator|oscillators]].