People across the United States are growing increasingly interested in solar power and other renewable sources of energy. Solar systems are now more common, more affordable, and more efficient than they were several decades ago. To boot, the U.S. government has passed several pieces of legislation that offer tax credits and other incentives for people who install home solar systems.
While a solar system is made up of many components, the solar power inverter is perhaps the most crucial. So what is this piece of equipment, and how does it work? Let’s take a look.
What Is a Solar Power Inverter?
A solar power inverter is a type of electric converter that takes the direct current electricity generated by your solar panels and converts it into alternating current. Alternating current is the standard flow of electricity used by domestic appliances and electric circuits. Essentially, it turns sunlight into renewable power for your home.
How Solar Power Inverters Operate in Your Home Solar System
When the sun shines down onto your solar panels, they absorb the light and send the energy to the photovoltaic cells. This energy produces direct current, which is then sent directly to the inverter. From there, the energy will be converted into alternating current then sent into your home or stored in a solar battery.
Types of Solar Power Inverters
- Battery inverters: A battery inverter is a good choice if you need to fit your inverter into an existing solar system, or if you want your battery to be in a separate spot than your solar panels.
- Microinverters: Microintervers are about the size of a small book, making them a convenient option if space is a concern. You’ll need one microinverter per solar panel, and each inverter optimizes one solar panel efficiently. Due to their many advantages, Green House Solar designs the vast majority of our systems with microinverters.
- String inverters: String inverters are another choice for residential solar systems, and they’re called this because they’re connected to a string of solar panels.
- Central inverters: The largest type of inverter, a central inverter is used for commercial or industrial purposes, in systems that require hundreds of kilowatts of volume.
Are Solar Power Inverters Weather Proof?
Certain solar inverters are weatherproof, while certain types aren’t. The placement of your solar inverter is important, and if you need extra protection from the weather we recommend installing a weather-proof cage. Speak with your solar installer to learn more about which solar inverters are weatherproof, and which choice is best for your property.
If you’d like more information about solar power inverters, to learn which one would operate best with your home solar system, please contact our team at Green House Solar today or visit us at: https://greenhouse.solar/