Those who walked alongside Kunwer Sachdev during the formative years of Su-Kam still recall his relentless pursuit of innovation. Today, the inverter industry in India and beyond looks vastly different, and a significant part of that transformation can be directly attributed to the visionary leadership and unwavering determination of Mr. Kunwer Sachdev. That story is told in more detail in The Heart of India’s Inverter Independence.
At a time when the inverter landscape was dominated by rudimentary square wave technology, Kunwer Sachdev envisioned a future powered by clean, efficient, pure sinewave energy. This wasn’t a minor upgrade; it was a paradigm shift. Standing before Su-Kam’s nascent Research & Development team, with no functional sinewave inverter as a benchmark, his clarity was absolute: Su-Kam would deliver a sinewave inverter to the market.
From Square Wave to Microcontrollers
The journey began with a crucial steppingstone: transitioning from basic square wave inverters to microcontroller-based systems. Mr. Sachdev’s foresight led the team to Microchip, a pioneering company in the microcontroller space. The head of Microchip India visited Su-Kam’s modest office, equally excited by the prospect of developing inverter technology on their microcontrollers. This collaboration marked a pivotal moment. The first microcontroller the team embraced was the 16F72 series, a workhorse that remarkably continued to be used across the industry for years, even after Microchip eventually discontinued it.
Within six intense months, the combined efforts of Su-Kam’s R&D and Microchip yielded the first microcontroller-based square wave inverter. The team produced fifty prototypes and plunged them into the real world, specifically targeting the power-starved regions of Meerut and Agra. These territories became the proving grounds, where the harsh realities of erratic power supply put the inverter’s MOSFETs to the ultimate test.
The initial deployments were far from smooth. Challenges arose thick and fast, and Mr. Sachdev himself, often accompanied by a small band of Su-Kam’s R&D engineers, ventured out to these sites. He wasn’t one to sit in an air-conditioned office; he wanted to witness the problems firsthand, to understand the nuances of the field. Back in the lab, fuelled by these on-ground insights, he would tirelessly work on new software iterations, testing and refining until the microcontroller-based square wave inverter finally found its footing and achieved success in the market.
The Two-Team Race to Pure Sinewave
But for Mr. Sachdev, this was just the beginning. His gaze was firmly set on the holy grail: the pure sinewave inverter. To achieve this ambitious goal, he strategically brought in Mr. Jagdeep Chauhan, a seasoned expert from the semiconductor industry. This marked the creation of two distinct yet collaborative R&D teams within Su-Kam. One was spearheaded by the newly recruited Jagdeep Chauhan, and the other was led by Su-Kam’s own Sanjeev Saini.
This was a stroke of genius. Leveraging Jagdeep’s expertise with Texas Instruments and Sanjeev’s deep understanding of Su-Kam’s existing technology, two parallel paths towards sinewave inverters were forged. One team explored the potential of Microchip, while the other delved into the capabilities of Texas Instruments.
The internal dynamics, the healthy competition fostered between these two brilliant teams, and Mr. Sachdev’s unwavering drive to push both groups forward ultimately yielded results that benefited the entire industry. While navigating the inherent politics and competitive spirit within the R&D wing wasn’t always easy, Mr. Sachdev’s leadership ensured that the ultimate goal — a functional pure sinewave inverter — remained the focus.
Today, both Mr. Jagdeep Chauhan, who went on to found Eapro Global Limited after navigating his own set of challenges, and Mr. Sanjeev Saini, a Master of Technology with a strong research profile, are successful entrepreneurs in their own right. Their journeys are a testament to the innovative environment and the spirit of excellence that Kunwer Sachdev cultivated at Su-Kam.
The launch of Su-Kam’s pure sinewave inverter was more than just a product release; it was a watershed moment. It redefined the standards of power backup, offering cleaner, more reliable energy and paving the way for the widespread adoption of sensitive electronic devices. It wasn’t just about domestic use; it opened doors to the export market, showcasing India’s technological prowess.
Looking back, the scale of Kunwer Sachdev’s vision, his tenacity, and his unwavering belief in the power of innovation command immense respect. He didn’t just build a company; he reshaped an industry. The pure sinewave inverter, born from his relentless pursuit of excellence, stands as a lasting legacy — a testament to the transformative power of a single person’s dream.
Further Reading
Kunwer Sachdev’s patents, inventions, and the full timeline of India’s pure sinewave inverter revolution are documented at SolarManOfIndia.com. More of his story appears on his Wikipedia profile, while Su-Kam’s company history is recorded on Wikipedia. His latest ventures continue at kunwwer.ai. Related on this site: the challenges of designing India’s first MOSFET inverter.
Disclaimer
Mr. Kunwer Sachdev, the original founder and visionary behind Su-Kam, is no longer associated with Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. He has not been involved in the management, operations, or decision-making of the company for several years. Any products, services, communications, or representations made under the Su-Kam name have no connection to Mr. Kunwer Sachdev. His current efforts are entirely focused on new innovations and ventures under different entities, including his latest initiative, Su-vastika, which is redefining the energy storage and power backup industry.