Most inverters now have internet connection capability, so you can keep an eye on your system using apps or web browsers, even when you’re away. (We go in to the technical detail below.) There are different ways to achieve this and advantages for each approach. to change the DC current from the panels in to AC current so that it’s compatible with everyday appliances and exporting to the national grid.to maximise the available energy being generated from your panels.it’s an intelligent piece of kit that connects to your system and should be placed where you can easily get at it. Both of which may affect your choice of inverter.Ī good quality solar energy inverter is an essential part of your panel set up. Using software like PV Sol takes in to account variations in different solar panels and local weather conditions. This is because inverters are more efficient when working at their maximum power and most of the time the array is not at peak power. Inverter sizes are expressed in kW which is normally sized lower than the kWp of an array. You may have one installed that appears to work fine, however when either the voltage or current reaches extremes of light levels or temperature (temperature affects the solar panel’s voltage) then your inverter may not be able to generate as much as it should. Voltage and current ranges vary from inverter to inverter. Having said that, Chinese manufactured inverters are gaining ground and many Chinese brand inverters are becoming just as reliable as their European counterparts.It’s easy to choose the wrong inverter that will reduce the yield of a Solar PV system. Chinese Vs European Solar Invertersĭue their reliability and consistent build quality, European brands are favoured amongst solar engineers. Because the output of solar panels will decrease slightly over their lifetime, a smaller inverter will operate more efficiently than a large one (once the panel output begins to decrease). Inverter efficiency is low when operating at low power levels, so you might be better suited with a smaller inverter. Solar panels often operate below the nominal rated power amount, as optimal solar generation conditions do not occur frequently. Reasons for under-sizing an inverter could include the fact that smaller inverters cost less, therefore you could save money with an undersized inverter, and performance may not be compromised. For example, you have 5.5kW of solar panels and a 5kW inverter. Some solar engineers may select an inverter that could be up to 15% smaller than your solar panel array size. If not, the warranty will be considered invalid. For example, you might install 3kW of solar panels and a 6kW inverter, allowing double the amount of solar panels to be added at a later date.īe sure that the inverter is oversized within the inverter manufacturers recommendations. Over-Sizing InvertersĪn oversized inverter makes sense if additional solar panels are going to be added onto a system in the future. Micro-inverter warranties range from 10 years to 25 years. Paying more for a 10-year warranty is highly recommended. Most string inverters have a warranty of 5 years. Power Optimisers See how each panel is optimised with micro-inverters in the video below. Solar panels can be individually monitored for performance The micro-inverter will maximize each solar panels output, therefore panels will not need to be adjust to lower levels if other panels in the system are not performing. Inverter efficiency ranges from 95 to 96.5%. An AC cable connects all the panels and sends the electricity through to your switchboard. The main difference is that they convert DC electricity from just one panel into AC. Micro-inverters (much smaller inverters) have been on the market since the 1990's, but only became competitive with string inverters in early 2010. One micro inverter is attached to the back of every solar panel installed and they perform the same function as string inverters. Offer monitoring access at the inverter and remote access They allow for flexible solar panel configuration Cables connected to the solar panels run through wall cavities, through to the inverter. For a residential solar power system, a string inverter can be mounted on a garage wall or close to a switchboard. String inverters have been around a lot longer than micro-inverters. There are two types of inverters on the market today, string inverters and micro-inverters. Investing in an expensive inverter will be money well spent higher quality inverters produce more yield of AC electricity and will last longer. Inverter manufacturers specify a percentage of DC electricity that they can convert to AC electricity, often around 94%. A small amount of loss can occur during this process. Selecting a quality solar inverter is important if an inverter fails the whole system will shut down.An inverter converts electricity from solar panels, DC through to AC.
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