What is a solar power inverter?

A solar power inverter’s primary purpose is to transform the DC (direct current) electricity generated by solar panels into usable AC (alternating current) electricity for your home. Because of this, you can also think of a solar inverter as a solar “converter.”

Do solar panels need a power inverter?

Houses are wired to operate on alternating current (AC) power. Every photovoltaic solar energy system for use with household electricity requires a way to transform the direct current (DC) energy created by the solar panels to AC power. The power inverter your home’s solar energy array requires will depend on several factors.

What are the different types of solar inverters?

To recap, there are three kinds of inverters: string inverters, microinverters, and power optimizers. They all transform the power your solar panels generate from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). This makes the energy usable for your home. Here’s a few things to look for when shopping for inverters

What is a microinverter solar PV system?

Solar PV systems with microinverters have a small inverter installed at the site of each solar panel. Rather than sending energy from every panel down to a single inverter, microinverter systems convert the DC solar energy to AC energy right on the roof.

Can a string inverter power a solar panel?

Modern solar inverter and panel technology allows individual panels to continue producing power even if a part of the panel is shaded, but without module-level power electronics, string inverters can only optimize power output at the string level, not at the individual panel level.

How do I choose the right solar inverter type?

There are two categories to consider when deciding on the right solar inverter type: the solar inverter technology, and the type of solar power system the inverter is for. String inverter: A string inverter is a single, standalone unit that converts power from a whole string (or strings) of solar panels.