A solar system mostly generates direct current as power output which is not feasible for usage in an on-grid or off-grid electrical network.
Are you wondering how this DC power output is converted into a usable form of power?
Simply put, a solar inverter is the device you are looking for that converts the DC power output of a solar panel into a usable form of alternating current power output.
Here is what you are about to learn regarding solar inverters:
- What Solar Inverters Are.
- Their Role and Importance in a Solar System.
- Working of Solar Inverters in a Solar System.
- How they are Different from Normal Inverters.
- Their Durability.
- Significance of an Efficient Solar Inverter.
If you’ve got solar panels or are looking to invest – inverters are a key part of the setup you’ll get all you need to know here.
What is a Solar Inverter?
It is used to convert the photovoltaic solar cell’s varying direct current (DC) power output into an alternating current (AC) power output.
A solar inverter is also called a photovoltaic (PV) inverter. It is basically an electrical converter device.
One of the most essential components of a solar system is the solar inverter.
Simply said, without the inverter, an abundance of solar energy is generated that you can store, that is if you have a solar battery, but this abundant solar energy cannot be used to power your systems.
As a result, the solar inverter is sometimes referred to as a solar system’s “doorway.”
Why Do You Need AC Power Output?
The AC power output matches the frequency of utilities that require this power to efficiently function.
The AC power is a viable source of power that can be fed into both, a commercial electrical grid network or a local off-grid electrical network.
This AC electricity may then be routed into your home to power your appliances or to charge your batteries.
A battery management system is built into new hybrid inverters. A high-quality inverter with a reliable convection cooling system is required for long-term solar power installations.
Do Solar Inverters Ensure Clean Power?
Solar panel inverters are in charge of continuously tracking the voltage of your solar array to determine the maximum power at which your solar panels can function, ensuring that the system always generates the most and cleanest power.
While off-grid inverters use less expensive modified sine wave technology, grid-connected home solar inverters provide a more pure sine wave of AC energy, ensuring that your sensitive home equipment runs smoothly and effectively.
How Does A Solar Inverter Work in A Solar System?
The DC electricity generated by the flow of electrons within the solar cells is received by the solar inverter, which converts it into AC power output and then sends out the converted power to the fuse box.
When this AC energy reaches the switchboard, it may be supplied to the house or company to power all of the appliances as needed.
Excess power from the fuse box is subsequently routed to a battery storage system or back into the grid, depending on the user’s consumption and system configuration.
Where is the Inverter Placed?
While solar panels are installed either on a rooftop or an open space, a solar inverter is installed in the exterior region of your house or organization like in a garage, laundry, or any place where its noise cannot be heard too strongly.
A solar inverter is not installed in a conventional manner like a solar panel.
This is to shield it from the elements while also keeping it near to the power supply. An inverter should always be in the shadow for optimal performance.
What Are The Different Types of Solar Inverters?
Stand-alone inverters, grid-tied inverters, and battery backup inverters are the three major types of solar inverters.
Grid Tie Inverter
It is a type of inverter that is connected to the grid directly. A grid-tie inverter transforms direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) that may be injected into a power system.
To optimally transmit power into the grid, grid-tie inverters must mirror the precise phase and voltage of the grid sine wave AC waveform. Grid-tie inverters are designed to shut down automatically if there is a lack of grid power.
Grid-tie inverters are used in solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric systems, and the grid.
Inverters with a Battery Backup
Solar inverters include battery backup inverters. They exist to transfer energy from solar batteries to the grid by transferring the charge from the charger to the grid.
Anti-islanding protection is required for some battery backup inverters, which provide alternating current power in the event of a power disruption or loss.
Self-contained inverter
Stand-alone inverters are a type of solar inverter that is designed for isolated installations.
This is typically used to describe an off-grid power system with a battery. A stand-alone inverter transforms DC electricity from solar batteries to AC power.
Anti-islanding protection is usually not required because these do not interact with the power grid in any manner.
How Many Solar Panels Are Required for a 1.5KW Inverter?
The amount of panels depends on the power capacity of a single panel. Now let’s assume that your single panel power is 300 watts.
If you connect five panels of 300 watts each to this inverter then it will generate 1500 watts or 1.5KW of power which is the rated efficient capacity of this inverter and you can use it.
Similarly, if you have a single panel capacity of 500 watts, you would require only 3 panels to collectively generate 1.5KW of power output which could operate the inverter.
Can Solar Power Systems Work Without A Battery Backup?
Solar panels provide energy that is directed to an electrical grid network for usage, and they do not need to produce enough electricity to power a whole family because power grid deficits may be made up.
The following are some of the benefits of installing solar electricity without a battery backup:
- Electricity bill savings
- Installing it is less expensive and it is better for the environment.
- There are fewer parts to maintain.
However, the fact that it will not deliver electricity during a blackout or power loss is a big drawback.
Batteries are used in a battery backup arrangement because they allow electricity to be stored for later consumption.
The size of the battery banks varies, and they are charged by solar panels as well as the electrical grid.
The benefit is that the lights remain on even if there is a power loss. It is, however, more expensive to install and maintain since there are more components.
If you reside in an area with a consistent and dependable power supply, a solar power installation system without battery backup will save you money.
What are Hybrid/Battery Inverters?
A hybrid inverter is a single unit that combines a solar inverter and a battery inverter. This is a very cost-effective technique to enable load shifting or energy self-use.
It enables the storage of off-peak or solar energy in a battery for subsequent usage during peak hours. These all-in-one inverters, on the other hand, will not work during a power loss, such as a blackout.
They also offer limited functionality and monitoring capabilities. You’ll need backup power from an interactive inverter or UPS if you require a hybrid inverter capable of running your complete home during a power outage.
What Are the Features of A Good Solar Inverter?
It is necessary for a good solar inverter to be highly efficient. Due to the high cost of solar cells, we must attempt to increase the inverter’s efficiency in order to optimize the usage of solar cells and improve system efficiency.
Many power plants go unsupervised and unmaintained for long periods of time.
This necessitates an inverter’s circuit construction, component selection, and different protection features;
- Input DC polarity and protection
- AC output short circuit protection
- Overheating
- Overload protection
The input voltage of the inverter must be adaptable throughout a large range. Because of the load and sunshine intensity, the solar cell’s terminal voltage varies.
The terminal voltage of a battery changes greatly, especially as it ages. A 12V battery’s terminal voltage, for example, can range from 10V to 16V.
This necessitates the inverter’s ability to operate normally over a wider DC input voltage range.
Since the inverter is an expensive part of the solar panel kit, it is important to compare only the reputable companies and measure up the ratings against each other. A lower-priced inverter could cost you in the long run.
For How Long is A Solar Inverter Durable For?
With so many solar inverter manufacturers, it’s difficult to know how long a solar inverter will survive, let alone choose the finest inverter for your solar energy needs.
The durability of a solar inverter depends on the type of Solar Inverter you use.
One needs to understand that the lifespan of most solar inverters might be significantly less than that of the solar panels, depending on the kind, brand, and model.
In comparison to solar panels, solar inverters require more electrical components to convert DC energy into AC.
These components are more heat-sensitive than any other portion of the PV system, making them significantly more vulnerable to failure.
String inverters have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. If put in a cool, well-ventilated location away from direct sunlight, some can survive up to 20 years. Indirect sunlight, weather-rated string inverters can survive up to 15 years.
Microinverters and power optimizers are relatively new technology, and manufacturers anticipate them to outlast their 25-year guarantees.
However, they haven’t been around for a long enough time for their true life spans to be determined.
Off-grid battery-based PV inverters, on the other hand, have significantly shorter life spans, ranging from 2 to 10 years depending on the manufacturer.
What Is the Difference Between Solar Inverters and Regular Power Inverters?
If you are considering purchasing an inverter for your house or company, the first question that comes to mind is what is the difference between a solar inverter and a conventional inverter?.
This problem does not have a specific solution since everything from the services to the inverter battery varies in both the advantages and disadvantages.
As a result, before making an investment decision, you should elaborate on and understand the distinctions in specific.
A power inverter, often known as an inverter, is a device that uses transformers, switching, and power circuits to convert Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC). And this is the fundamental purpose of an inverter, whether solar or conventional.
A home UPS or inverter takes DC electricity from the batteries and converts it to AC power that appliances can use. Some common differences between regular and solar inverters include:
- Regular inverters generate power from fuel, gasoline, or electricity as their primary source. Sun inverters use solar energy as a source of power.
- Ordinary inverters, which are often found in homes and workplaces, take electricity from the grid via normal power supply and store it in a battery. When the electricity goes out or organizations experience a power outage, the UPS kicks in automatically and supplies power until the normal supply returns. The solar inverter takes power and converts DC to AC, but it does so from grids connected to photovoltaic solar modules rather than from power grids provided by energy agencies.
- The primary function of a typical inverter is to convert current DC to AC. It also uses power to charge the battery. Solar inverters work similarly to conventional inverters, but they have the added function of charging the battery using solar panels. They also operate in hybrid mode, which means they charge the battery with both electricity and solar panels.
- The style of performance is another important distinction between regular and solar inverters. A typical residential UPS/inverter system consists of an inverter and batteries that are connected to the mains electricity. When the UPS/inverter system receives power from the grid, it uses the network’s electricity to charge the cells. When the electricity is turned off, the inverter takes the DC power from the cells and converts it to AC, which is then used by appliances. If the network fails to provide power, an automatic switch detects this and switches the UPS to battery mode.
An off-grid solar-powered system, on the other hand, consists of solar panels, a charge controller, batteries, and an inverter.
Solar panels are used to charge the cells, and the inverter serves the similar goal of converting DC to AC.
It may also be turned into an automatic switch that detects when the grid is not delivering enough electricity and switches the linked home’s power source from the grid to batteries.
Sources;
- carbonTRACK. (2021). What is a solar inverter? Retrieved from https://carbontrack.com.au/blog/solar-inverter/
- GEYA. (2021). The Working Principle And Characteristics Of Solar Inverter. Retrieved from https://www.geya.net/2021/07/05/the-working-principle-and-characteristics-of-solar-inverter/?gclid=Cj0KCQjws4aKBhDPARIsAIWH0JVqJXS0vdAbsnsuWsJfT2BCf9wpgqYk99v6C4f9ivgsZpQXxBv90IYaAiuLEALw_wcB
- Hahn, D. (2020). How a solar inverter works in your home solar system. Retrieved from https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/what-are-solar-inverters
- Kongstruction1. (2019). What Is The Difference Between Inverter and Solar Inverter? Retrieved from https://www.perthsolarpowerinstallations.com.au/difference-inverter-solar-inverter/
- SOLAR, C. (2021). Can A Hybrid Solar Inverter Work Without Batteries. Retrieved from https://www.choosesolar.com.au/can-hybrid-solar-inverter-work-without-batteries/
- Wilson, K. (2021). How Long Do Solar Inverters Last? ( 2021 Guide ). Retrieved from https://thosesolarguys.com/how-long-do-solar-inverters-last/
