Before Buying solar panels and inverter, not many homeowners know about solar inverters or how it plays a role in a solar panel system. Might you have questions like What are solar inverters? How do solar inverters work? What are the different types of solar inverters?
Let’s break it down for you, if you have decided to go for solar, choosing the right solar equipment is a crucial job as being unknown about the products and features. The most important piece of solar equipment is the solar panels, as they will produce power and the next most important piece of equipment is a solar inverter.
Inverters are an important part of any solar installation system they are the brains of that solar system. Despite the fact that the inverters mainly work to convert the DC power which is produced by the solar panel system into AC power. Inverters enable monitoring so the installers and the owners can see how your system is performing. Before looking at some different types of solar inverters, let us understand the role of inverters
What Is The Role Of Solar Inverters?
What many homeowners don’t know about how the solar panels work and how the solar energy produces a form of electricity that most homes cannot use because the electricity generated from the solar panels is direct current (DC) and most the homes use alternating current (AC) electricity.
But you will raise a question in mind how does DC electricity produced by the solar panels get converted into AC electricity?
Here is where solar inverters come into play a vital role.
Solar inverters turn all the DC electricity produced by solar panels into usable power for your home. It converts DC power into alternating current, which flows back and forth very rapidly. This AC current is sent through your electric/fuse/breaker box and can be used by all home and other electrical appliances.
Different types of solar inverters
There are multiple types of solar inverters available to Australian homeowners. These types of inverters are string (or central) inverters, power optimizers + inverters, hybrid inverters, and micro-inverters. Before choosing the right inverters for your solar panel system, you need to analyze the different types of solar inverters advantages and disadvantages. It’s, more importantly, to understand these differences as we as the pros and cons of each different type of solar inverter.
Straight string inverters
String inverters are also known as central inverters, and it’s the oldest and most common type of solar inverter you found outside on a wall of the house. It works by connecting a string of solar panels to one single inverter, which converts the total DC input or the electricity generated from solar to AC output.
Pros: String Inverters are the oldest & most reliable solar inverters. The best advantage of having string inverters is the least expensive solar inverter option.
It allows easier access to monitor, repair, or replace the inverter. String inverters are low-cost, durable, and easy to maintain.
Cons: These solar inverters are reliable but they are less efficient at optimizing your solar power output. String inverters are connected to the entire string of solar panels and due to that shading on one solar panel will cut the power output from the entire string. As it is the oldest solar inverter it has the inability to monitor individual solar panel performance.
Optimized string inverters
Power optimisers are located on the backside of each solar panel, they work in conjunction with the string inverter (central inverter) which converts DC input to AC output. Power optimizer inverters are an upgraded version of the standard string inverter systems, it will add value at a much cheaper price than the microinverter.
Pros: The major benefit of having a power optimiser solar inverter is that it decreases the impact of shading on individual panels which produced DC electricity from each individual solar panel. Here, if one solar panel is shaded it will not degrade the output of the entire solar panel.
These solar panels allow individual solar panel monitoring, which means that any issues with solar output can be diagnosed more easily. It allows homeowners also to see the detailed levels of monitoring of each solar panel.
Cons: Power optimisers inverter are more expensive than the string inverter, but they are still very less expensive than the microinverters. Because of having this on solar panels, it is difficult to repair and replace them.
Hybrid inverter
A hybrid inverter also known as a multi-mode inverter is capable of managing the electricity output of solar panels and charging a battery system. It also operates the mains grid supply. Hybrid inverters can simultaneously manage inputs from both solar panels and battery storage.
Pros: All in one inverter solution for battery storage systems and for grid-connected solar. It also can install without using batteries for future expansion. The hybrid inverter is a standalone power system.
Cons: Hybrid solar inverters are less efficient than dedicated solar panels or battery inverters. These solar inverters prices are higher in comparison to a standard string solar inverter.
Pros: The major benefit of having a power optimiser solar inverter is that it decreases the impact of shading on individual panels which produced DC electricity from each individual solar panel. Here, if one solar panel is shaded it will not degrade the output of the entire solar panel.
These solar panels allow individual solar panel monitoring, which means that any issues with solar output can be diagnosed more easily. It allows homeowners also to see the detailed levels of monitoring of each solar panel.
Cons: Power optimisers inverter are more expensive than the string inverter, but they are still very less expensive than the microinverters. Because of having this on solar panels, it is difficult to repair and replace them.
Microinverter
Microinverter is the latest inverter technology, you will be amazed that microinverter inverters are becoming the popular choice for residential and commercial installation because the microinverter is a device that is mounted under the solar panel, instead of having a big inverter that is mounted at the side of a house. It converts directly DC to AC from the backside of each solar panel. With Microinverters you don’t require to install a string inverter because each microinverter takes care of DC conversion on the spot at the backside of the solar panel.
Pros: The most advantage of having a microinverter is that it converts directly DC to AC on each panel, so the shading on individual panels will be minimally impacted. Microinverters are also easy to expend with solar system expansion. It also allows solar panel power generation monitoring for each solar panel and it is easy to diagnose and accurately.
Cons: Microinverters are the most expensive among the all-solar inverters. You may face a little more difficult when you need to repair or replace any microinverter from the solar panel because installation is on the backside of the panel.
Depending upon the type of inverter, you can decide your priorities and get the work done by a trusted solar retailer/services. The big inverters and small inverters both pose different uses, and are utilized according to the needed requirements. With this device by your side, you can always take a look at the analytics associated with and affecting the overall functioning of the solar panel system. This later gives you pre-information about the status of the device and possibly could also help you to take care of those expensive solar energy system components as well. So, lots of mindful investments and money-saving could be on the way for you. There are multiple types of inverters in which If you opt for the ideal solar inverters alongside the best solar panels.
