Xantrex Technology RS2000 manual Parallel Wiring, Resistive Loads, Series Wiring, Sine Wave, Volts

Terminology

Parallel Wiring	A group of electrical devices, such as batteries or PV modules,
	wired together to increase current, while voltage remains constant.
	Two 100 amp-hour 12 VDC batteries wired in parallel form a 200
	amp-hour 12 VDC battery bank.
Resistive Loads	Toasters, coffee pots, and incandescent lights are examples of
	resistive loads. They use a resistive heater element to generate heat
	or light.
Series Wiring	A group of electrical devices, such as batteries or PV modules,
	wired together to increase voltage, while current remains constant.
	Two 100 amp-hour 12 VDC batteries wired in series form a 100
	amp hour 24 VDC battery bank.
Sine Wave	The standard waveform of electric utility AC power. A sine wave
	is a rounded, smooth waveform alternating above and below zero
	volts.
Surge Capacity	The amount of current an inverter can deliver for short periods of
	time. Most electric motors draw up to six to ten times their rated
	current when starting. An inverter will “surge” to meet these
	motor-starting requirements. Most Xantrex inverters have surge
	capacities at least twice their continuous ratings.
Transfer Switch, AC	A switch that selects between two sources of AC power and
	isolates those sources from each other.
Volts	A unit of measure of electric potential. Voltage is often explained
	using a liquid analogy, comparing water pressure to voltage. For
	example, a high pressure hose would be similar to high voltage.
Watt(s)	A measure of true electrical power. Watts are calculated by
	multiplying volts times amps for resistive loads. For non-resistive
	loads, watts are calculated by multiplying volts times amps times
	power factor. (P=I × V, where P=power, I=current, V=volts)
Watt Hour (W/h)	Electrical power measured over a period of time. One watt hour of
	electricity is equivalent to one watt of power being consumed for
	one hour. A 3-watt light operated for 2 hours would consume 6
	Wh (watt hour) of electricity.
Volt-amps	A measure of the “apparent” power equivalent to the true power
	(watts) in resistive loads, but exceeding watts in non-resistive
(VA)	loads. VA is calculated by multiplying volts times amps without
	using power factor.

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