{"schemaVersion":1,"slug":"bidirectional-inverter-charger","name":"Bidirectional inverter-charger","kind":"symbol","abbreviation":"INV/CHG","aliases":["inverter-charger","battery inverter-charger","combined inverter and charger"],"category":"microgrid-systems","drawingTypes":["SLD","Schematic"],"referenceFamilies":["IEC","IEEE / ANSI","Manufacturer"],"summary":"A battery converter that charges from an AC source and inverts back to AC, with an internal transfer relay for the load.","description":["An inverter-charger contains one bidirectional power stage between a battery and an AC output, together with an internal transfer relay connecting the AC input to the output when a valid source is present. With the source available it passes power through and charges the battery; without it, it opens the relay and inverts from the battery.","Drawings show a converter box with DC and AC marks, a bidirectional arrow, an AC input from the grid or generator and an AC output to the load. The transfer relay may be drawn inside the boundary as a changeover contact, and some units have a second output that drops during battery operation.","The symbol does not show the internal neutral-earth relay many units use when inverting, which matters for earthing and residual current device operation. Power assist settings, which let the inverter add battery power to a limited generator supply, are also invisible on the drawing."],"readingNotes":["Look for the internal transfer relay and any neutral-earth relay.","Check whether a second output is shed on battery operation."],"drawingChecklist":["State inverter VA, charger current and battery voltage.","Show AC input, outputs and earthing arrangement.","Reference input current limit settings."],"distinction":"An inverter-charger has an internal transfer relay and charger; a plain DC-to-AC inverter only converts battery power to AC.","facts":[{"label":"Energy flow","value":"Bidirectional"},{"label":"Internal switching","value":"AC transfer relay"},{"label":"Earthing detail","value":"Neutral-earth relay often fitted"},{"label":"Preview","value":"Independent educational illustration; consult the applicable standard and project legend for the exact graphic"}],"references":[{"sourceId":"pub-object-victron-multiplus-ii","relevance":"Public inverter-charger product and document page."},{"sourceId":"pub-object-victron-quattro","relevance":"Public dual-input inverter-charger documentation."}],"related":["hybrid-inverter","dc-to-ac-inverter","battery-power-conversion-system","ga-battery-inverter-charger"],"artwork":"s28-bidirectional-inverter-charger","publishedOn":"2026-10-28","updatedOn":"2026-10-28","provenance":"independent-public-research","plainEnglish":{"title":"What does Bidirectional inverter-charger mean?","introduction":"An inverter-charger contains one bidirectional power stage between a battery and an AC output, together with an internal transfer relay connecting the AC input to the output when a valid source is present. With the source available it passes power through and charges the battery; without it, it opens the relay and inverts from the battery.","example":"Drawings show a converter box with DC and AC marks, a bidirectional arrow, an AC input from the grid or generator and an AC output to the load. The transfer relay may be drawn inside the boundary as a changeover contact, and some units have a second output that drops during battery operation.","drawings":"The symbol does not show the internal neutral-earth relay many units use when inverting, which matters for earthing and residual current device operation. Power assist settings, which let the inverter add battery power to a limited generator supply, are also invisible on the drawing.","terms":[{"name":"DC","meaning":"Direct current: electricity flowing in one direction."},{"name":"AC","meaning":"Alternating current: electricity whose direction changes periodically."},{"name":"Normally open / normally closed","meaning":"The contact state in the normal condition defined for the drawing."}],"diagram":"flow","steps":["Identify the device and form","Read the connections and state","Check the equipment reference"],"caption":"A guide to reading this reference. The original symbol illustration and its drawing notes appear below; these boxes are not a wiring diagram.","sources":[{"label":"MultiPlus-II official product and documents","url":"https://www.victronenergy.com/inverters-chargers/multiplus-ii"},{"label":"Quattro official product and documents","url":"https://www.victronenergy.com/inverters-chargers/quattro"}],"detail":"A battery converter that charges from an AC source and inverts back to AC, with an internal transfer relay for the load. An inverter-charger has an internal transfer relay and charger; a plain DC-to-AC inverter only converts battery power to AC.","profileId":"reviewed-symbol-20261028"},"url":"https://eloragrid.ai/symbols/bidirectional-inverter-charger","illustration":{"url":"https://eloragrid.ai/tools/electrical-library/illustrations/bidirectional-inverter-charger.svg","scope":"Original educational concept; not an official standard graphic or product footprint","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"sources":[{"id":"pub-object-victron-multiplus-ii","title":"MultiPlus-II official product and documents","publisher":"Victron Energy","url":"https://www.victronenergy.com/inverters-chargers/multiplus-ii","type":"manufacturer","scope":"Public product-family identity and official mechanical/document resources; no vendor geometry reproduced.","checkedOn":"2026-10-13","reuse":"link-only","relevance":"Public inverter-charger product and document page."},{"id":"pub-object-victron-quattro","title":"Quattro official product and documents","publisher":"Victron Energy","url":"https://www.victronenergy.com/inverters-chargers/quattro","type":"manufacturer","scope":"Public product-family identity and official mechanical/document resources; no vendor geometry reproduced.","checkedOn":"2026-10-13","reuse":"link-only","relevance":"Public dual-input inverter-charger documentation."}]}