What to do When Inverter Shows Overload?

When an inverter shows overload, it usually indicates that the power demand from connected appliances exceeds its capacity. Once such a situation arose with me, and I didn’t know what to do when inverter shows overload. From my experience, I learned that if your inverter displays an overload warning, it's high time to fix it in order to prevent damage to both the inverter and also the connected devices.

Why Inverter is Showing Overload?

My brother who is an electrical engineer by profession explained that this situation can arise due to simple user errors, which include plugging in too many devices, internal faults, or faulty sensors. Once in a while, high ambient temperatures or software glitches can also induce false overload warnings, making it necessary to find the root cause of the issue so as to avoid potential damage.

This is what to do when the inverter shows overload:

1. Switch the Inverter off: The first step my brother asked me to immediately turn off the inverter and disconnect all connected devices to prevent further pressure on the device.

2. Check Connected Appliances: He then asked me to check each appliance that was connected to the inverter. As many times a fault in device might draw excessive power which causes the overload. To check which appliance is causing the fault plug devices back in one by one to identify which one is causing the fault.

3. Check the Battery and Wiring: I was asked to inspect the inverter for loose connections and worn out cables. He argued that a weakly or poorly maintained battery can also cause insufficient power supply, hence forcing the inverter to overwork.

4. Reset the Inverter: After I had confirmed no visible signs of damage. My brother asked me to  reset the inverter by unplugging the unit, waiting for a few minutes and then switching the power switch back on. Then I reconnected the appliances cautiously after observing the inverter’s smooth performance.

5. Check for Overheating: My brother also explained that a lot of times high ambient temperatures can affect the inverter’s performance, reducing it, which might lead the inverter to take even the normal loads as overloads. I also made sure to keep the inverter in a space offering adequate ventilation and not exposing it to extreme heat.

What Happens if You Overload an Inverter? 

My brother said that overloading an inverter can cause overheating, random automatic shutdowns, sometimes even permanently damaging the internal components. Continuous overload on an inverter may also cause damage to the connected appliances. Hence it becomes extremely important to monitor the load and ensure it is within the inverter’s rated capacity.

This was all about what to do when inverter shows overload. Even after these troubleshooting steps the overload warning persists, it may be internal faults or firmware issues. In such cases, consult a professional technician to diagnose and fix the problem. 

Read More