In many homes today, an inverter has become almost a necessity to keep the lights and fans running during power cuts. While it is a comfort during outages, something I started noticing is that in several households, electronic devices like printers, routers, televisions, and other gadgets tend to develop complaints in their circuit boards more frequently when part of the wiring is connected to an inverter. At first, this looked like just bad luck or poor product quality, but after looking closer and discussing with technicians, it became clear that the root cause lies in the way inverter power behaves.
The electricity we normally get from the power grid is a smooth sine wave, but not all inverters supply that kind of clean power. Many cheaper or older models produce a stepped or modified waveform, which is fine for simple devices like lights and fans but not so healthy for sensitive electronics. Gadgets that rely on delicate circuit boards and power supply components can get stressed by this kind of supply, and over time their parts weaken or fail. Another common issue is voltage fluctuation. When the power switches between mains and inverter, there can be a small spike or sudden variation in voltage, which again is not good for delicate circuits.
One more point often missed is related to wiring. In many homes, only a part of the wiring is connected to the inverter, while the rest remains on direct mains. If the neutral line is not handled properly during this setup or if earthing is weak, it can cause small imbalances in voltage between the two sides. This imbalance may not be visible to us, but it can make gadgets run under more stress than intended. Apart from this, inverters under heavy load can sometimes dip or overshoot their output, leading to irregularities that affect devices like printers or routers which are quite sensitive to stable supply.
A very simple way to check whether your inverter is giving proper voltage is by using a multimeter. Set the multimeter to measure AC voltage and first check the normal mains supply between live and neutral, which should show around 230 volts. Then, during a power cut when your inverter is running, check the same points again. If you notice a big difference from the normal value or any unstable fluctuations, it is a sign that the inverter is not giving the most stable output. Also, measure between neutral and earth to confirm that the voltage is near zero, as a high reading here usually means the wiring or earthing needs attention.
As a basic precaution before doing any kind of check or even when leaving gadgets unused, it is always best to unplug the device from the mains completely. Never keep it plugged in when the device is turned off, even if the switch is off, because sometimes current can still pass through faulty neutral or bad wiring. Simply removing the plug when not in use can avoid unnecessary risks and save the device from unseen electrical stress.
What becomes clear from these observations is that inverters, while convenient, can also introduce risks to modern electronic devices if not chosen or managed carefully. The way power is delivered, the type of waveform, wiring practices, and even small fluctuations can quietly affect sensitive gadgets over time. By being aware of these factors and taking simple precautions such as proper wiring, good earthing, and unplugging devices when not in use, households can avoid unnecessary damage and expense. Understanding how inverter power interacts with electronics helps ensure that comfort during power cuts does not come at the cost of repeated failures in valuable appliances.