Solar inverter

A solar inverter is a crucial component of a solar power system. Its primary function is to convert the direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the type of electricity used by most household appliances and the electrical grid.

Here are some key points about solar inverters:

  • Conversion Process: Solar panels produce DC electricity when exposed to sunlight. However, most household appliances and the electrical grid operate on AC electricity. The solar inverter converts the DC electricity generated by the solar panels into AC electricity, making it compatible with home appliances and the grid.

String Inverters:

 These are the most common type of inverters. They are connected to multiple solar panels, typically arranged in strings, and convert the DC electricity from each string into AC electricity.

Microinverters

Microinverters are installed on each individual solar panel, rather than being connected to multiple panels in a string. This allows for greater efficiency, as each panel operates independently of the others.

Power Optimizers

Power optimizers are similar to microinverters in that they are installed on each panel. However, instead of converting DC to AC electricity, they optimize the DC electricity output of each panel before sending it to a central inverter.

  • Efficiency: The efficiency of a solar inverter is an important consideration, as it affects the overall performance of the solar power system. Higher efficiency inverters can convert more of the DC electricity generated by the solar panels into usable AC electricity, resulting in greater overall system efficiency.
  • Monitoring and Control: Many modern solar inverters come with built-in monitoring and control features that allow homeowners and installers to monitor the performance of the solar power system in real-time. This includes tracking energy production, identifying any issues or faults, and optimizing system performance.
  • Grid Connection: Solar inverters are typically connected to the electrical grid, allowing excess electricity generated by the solar panels to be exported to the grid. In some cases, solar inverters may also incorporate grid-tie functionality, which allows them to synchronize with the grid and ensure that the electricity produced by the solar panels is in phase with the grid’s electricity supply.
  • Safety Features: Solar inverters include safety features such as overvoltage protection, overcurrent protection, and ground fault detection to ensure the safe operation of the solar power system and protect against electrical hazards.

Warranties

String inverters come with warranties of about 10 years and Microinverters come with 25-year warranties that match your solar panel warranty. That means your entire system is warrantied for the whole 25 years!

Which inverter is right for me?

While most solar companies still offer the older string inverter technology to their customers, more and more homeowners are opting for Micro Inverters to take advantage of their vastly improved efficiency, reliability, and a more significant improvement to the resale value of their home.

System Monitoring

String inverters do not have individual panel monitoring where Micro Inverters have extensive monitoring capabilities.
The example image below shows a large solar array and each blue rectangle represents an individual solar panel. Not only is the individual panel output shown but also the overall output for day, week, month, and lifetime.

Overall, solar inverters play a critical role in solar power systems by converting the DC electricity generated by solar panels into usable AC electricity, enabling homeowners and businesses to harness the power of the sun to meet their energy needs.