Modular power inverter with software control

1. A power inverter comprising:

a control board comprising:

a processor that generates an AC waveform from a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal according to instructions or data stored in a memory associated with the processor; and

an output of the control board at which a signal having the AC waveform is provided;

a power supply module (PSM) that is connected to the control board, comprising:

an input connected to the output of the control board at which the AC waveform signal is provided; and

an output at which an AC power signal is provided on a channel of the power inverter;

a case that surrounds the control board, the PSM, and a second PSM, the case comprising, on its exterior, a power connector that provides power on a plurality of independent power channels, and a control board connector,

wherein

each PSM has a predefined power rating at which it can provide power indefinitely; and

each PSM can provide power at greater than the predefined power rating if a condition is met.

2. The inverter of claim 1 , further comprising:

a separate ground fault interrupter (GFI) on each power channel wherein tripping a GFI on one channel allows power to be provided on another channel.

3. The inverter of claim 1 , wherein the condition is operating at the greater power for only a limited time.

4. The inverter of claim 1 , wherein the condition is operating another PSM at lower than the predefined power rating.

5. The inverter of claim 1 , wherein the processor stores algorithms that manage the use of greater power by a PSM.

6. The inverter of claim 1 , wherein power output is only enabled on a channel when something is plugged in to the channel.

7. The inverter of claim 1 , wherein the PSM comprises a push-pull totem pole section that drives the PSM output.

8. The inverter of claim 1 , wherein the PSM comprises a flyback power supply that provides a flyback boost.

9. The inverter of claim 1 , wherein the frequency is completely controlled by the processor.

10. The inverter of claim 1 , wherein the waveform is completely controlled by the processor.

11. The inverter of claim 10 , wherein the processor compensates for load distortion by adjusting a shape of the waveform in response to heavy loads.

12. The inverter of claim 11 , wherein the compensation is a sharpening of a wave peak.

13. The inverter of claim 11 , wherein the compensation operates in open-loop mode.

14. The inverter of claim 11 , wherein the heavy load is determined by a measure of temperature.

15. The inverter of claim 1 , wherein the PSM comprises a hold-down cover located generally on an opposite side of components from a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the components are mounted.

16. The inverter of claim 1 , wherein the PSM is attached to a heat sink comprising air channels, and the heat sink is attached to a case surrounding the control board and the PSM.

17. The inverter of claim 16 , further comprising a temperature-controlled fan that blows air through the air channels.

18. The inverter of claim 16 , further comprising thermal pads positioned directly between the heat sink and components of the PSM.