Specifications

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Alternating current (AC)
Thetypeofelectricitysuppliedbytheutilitycompany.
Theuniquecharacteristicofthisformofelectricityisthat
itreversesdirectionatregularintervals.Forexample,
230V50Hzpowerreversesow50timesasecond,
hencetherating50Hz(cycles).
Amp (A)
Aunitofmeasureoftheowofelectricalcurrent.
Amp hour (Ah)
Oneampofelectricalcurrentowingforonehour.
TheunitAhisanexpressionofthecapacity(size)
ofabattery.
Current
Therateofowofelectriccharge,usuallyexpressed
inamps(oramperes).
Direct current (DC)
Thetypeofelectricitystoredinbatteriesandgenerated
bysolarelectricdevices.Currentowsinasingle
direction.
Electrolyte
Aconductivemediuminwhichtheowofelectricity
takesplace;thisistheliquidfoundinsidestorage
batteries.
Grid
Whenusedinreferencetoutilitypower,itreferstoa
systemofelectricaltransmissionanddistributionlines.
Off-grid
Anelectricalsystemthatisnotconnectedtoautility
distributiongrid.
Ground fault protection (GFP)
Ashockhazardprotectiondevicethatlimitstheow
ofelectricalcurrenttoearth.Usuallyrequiredinwet
locations,e.g.foroutdoor,kitchen,andbathroom
circuits.
Hertz (Hz)
Thefrequency,ornumberoftimespersecond,thatthe
owofACelectricityreversesitself.Alsoreferredtoas
cycles(seealternatingcurrent).
High battery voltage protection
Acontrolcircuitthatdisconnectschargecurrentowing
tothebatterybeforevoltagereachesadangerouslyhigh
threshold.Preventsdamagecreatedbyexcessgassing
(orboiling)ofelectrolyte.
Idle current
Theamountofelectricalcurrentrequiredtokeepan
inverterreadytoproduceelectricityondemand.
Inrush current
Thepeakcurrentanapplianceortoolwilldrawatthe
instantitstartsup.
Kilowatt (kW)
Onethousandwattsofelectricity.Ten 100-wattlight
bulbsuseonekWofelectricalpower.
Kilowatt hour (kWh)
OnekWofelectricalpowerusedforonehour.Mostgrid
connectedelectricalmetersmeasurekWhforbilling
purposes.