Overall, when speaking about solar energy for the home, you get many benefits when installing a solar power system, including decreased electricity bills, carbon footprint, and increased home value.
In the event you plan to turn to solar energy, you should know that a solar inverter is one of the critical parts of the solar energy system. A solar inverter is a smart home monitoring and energy management system. In many cases, solar inverters are located outside of the house in different extreme weather conditions, including rain, snow and heat. So, sometimes, as a result of humidity and temperature fluctuations, solar inverters may have issues. That’s why it is better to locate your solar panel inverter inside the garage and out of direct sunlight. In addition, solar inverters consist of many electronic parts and perform various functions. Thus they can fail more often than other components of your solar panel system.
Let’s First Find Out What The Solar Inverters Are Responsible For?
Solar Inverters Key Functions
We already know that solar inverters are an essential component of your solar panel system. They convert direct current (DC) electricity produced by the solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity. The AC is the power your home appliances and devices need for functioning. While solar systems get smarter, the number of operational functions of solar inverters increases. They provide additional advanced capabilities and services, like data monitoring and utility control, operating on an optimal performance level. Moreover, they become smaller in size and more practical.
Besides power conversion, solar inverters are also in charge of power outage maximization. They track solar array voltage to identify the maximum power the solar modules can operate at. Modern solar inverters also have grid-support functions. They can ride through small disturbances and, in the event of a voltage change, switch into standby mode and turn off if only the disturbance takes too long. It will ensure you there are minimal voltage fluctuations on the grid system.
With a solar power inverter, you can track the power output of the solar system. You can also diagnose the system, find errors, and view energy production information with your computer, smartphone, or other devices. Solar inverters usually communicate through wifi or Bluetooth.
Solar panel systems can use one or more inverters to convert electrical energy. There are generally few factors that play an essential role in the amount of electricity production:
- The number of hours of available direct sunlight
- The angle, direction and condition of the roof
- The solar system sizing
- The geographical location and weather conditions, including shading
In case you have a solar battery storage system and a smart inverter, you can rely on an inverter to operate without the grid support if there is an outage.
When speaking about solar panel installation, the solar inverter’s size is an integral part. So, we will discuss how to determine the solar inverter sizing.
How To Choose The Solar Inverter Size?
Solar inverters come in different sizes. The installers from solar panel companies take into account the solar array size and your geography.
The solar array size is the main factor in determining the relevant solar inverter size. The inverter should have the capacity to manage the power that the array generates. Thus, choosing the inverter size, get a solar inverter that will handle the maximum power that your solar panel system can produce. Generally, if your solar system is 10 kilowatt (kW), the inverter must be about 10,000 W.
In most cases, there is a list of sizing of solar inverters and solar arrays. Solar manufacturers may cancel the solar inverter warranty in case the solar array size does not pair with the inverter according to the listed guideline.
Geography is critical in solar inverter sizing because of the impact on solar energy production. In sunnier areas with high temperatures reducing solar panel efficiency, you will likely need smaller inverters.
Accordingly, consult expertized and qualified solar panel companies concerning the inverter installation. Specialized solar inverters will design the best solar array and solar inverter sizes, taking into account your electricity needs, geographic location, solar equipment and your own needs.
How Much Do Solar Inverters Cost?
Solar power system installation comes with installation and maintenance costs that vary depending on the house and location. Besides, over time solar inverter manufacturers provide more value with less price.
Usually, solar inverters cost from USD 1,000 to USD 1,500. The inverter cost should be about 6 percent of the overall solar system installation cost. When choosing an inverter, keep in mind that a good inverter is reliable and will function without wasting too much energy. A qualified and certified solar inverter can last for many years, while a cheap inverter can have a short life and even cause fires.
With solar innovations and solar equipment progress, the solar inverter price will go down, maintaining its reliability, efficiency and other essential factors when choosing a solar inverter.
Author of a publication: Irene Abgaryan
