Types Of Solar Inverters
Solar panels produce energy in regard to the type of inverter that is used.
There are four main types of solar inverters available today.
String inverters
This is the most common type of inverter used in the market today as it is the first option that homeowners will settle for when installing solar panels. It is easy to install the string inverter and also inexpensive. A string inverter is connected to several solar panels and in cases where the solar panel system has more than a few panels, a complicated setup is required to get everything working well.
- A string inverter works great if the solar panels are installed in a uniform area that receives equal sunlight.
- The main problem with string inverters is that if one or two panels experience shade or some issue, it will affect the entire operation of the system.
Micro Inverters
A micro inverter is the opposite of a string inverter. These inverters are connected to each solar panel individually. This means that each panel will work independently when it comes to energy production.
- This makes micro inverters ideal when the solar panel installation area is not uniform and the panels receive varying amounts of sunlight. Because each panel operates on its own, the shaded ones will not affect the performance of the others.
- As much as micro inverters are more expensive compared to string inverters, they cover the cost by ensuring better efficiency especially for installations that are complicated with shading and other issues.
Power Optimizers
Power optimizers are often called the 'middle ground' between string inverters and micro inverters. These devices are attached to individual solar panels, just like micro inverters. However, instead of converting direct current into alternating current, they just 'optimize' the current before it is sent to a central string inverter.
- This configuration provides some of the advantages of micro inverters, including panel-level monitoring and better performance in shading situations while retaining the cost-effectiveness of a central string inverter.
Backup Inverters
A backup inverter is used in systems that use batteries. They convert the DC current stored in batteries into AC current for home usage. These inverters are important in solar power systems particularly in areas where the grid is not stable or during power outages.
Backup inverters can be integrated into a solar panel system that uses a battery to store excess energy for later use. This allows homeowners to have a reliable and continuous energy source even when there is no sunlight.
Industrial Applications Of Solar Inverters
Reduced Energy Costs
One of the most important applications of solar inverters in industries is the reduction of energy costs. In an inverter wholesale business, inverters are the main elements of solar systems that convert the DC current produced by the panels into AC current for home and industrial use.
- This will enable industries to use the free solar energy rather than the expensive grid energy, which leads to significant savings in electricity bills.
- Over time, these savings can be substantial, giving a good return on the initial investment put on solar infrastructure.
Increased Energy Independence
Solar inverters give industries more independence when it comes to energy sourcing.
- By generating their own electricity, industries can decrease reliance on traditional power sources and the grid.
- This is particularly important in areas which are prone to power outages or fluctuations in energy prices.
Grid Parity
Grid parity is the point at which the cost of generating electricity from renewable sources, such as solar power, equals or becomes cheaper than the cost of purchasing electricity from the grid.
- With advancements in inverter technology and the decreasing cost of solar panels, more industries have the potential to generate their own solar power at the same cost or even cheaper than grid electricity.
- This allows them to have more control over their energy costs and reliability, which in turn can promote wider adoption of solar power in industrial settings.
Supports Sustainability Goals
In the modern world, consumers and businesses are more focused on sustainability and environmental protection.
- With solar inverter systems, industries can effectively promote sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint.
- This helps meet regulatory requirements, such as emissions standards, and improve corporate social responsibility.
Technological Innovations
The need for higher efficiency and reliability has led to a rapid technological advancement in the solar inverter space.
- This includes smart inverters that can communicate with the grid, inverter monitoring and control systems, and systems that can be integrated with energy storage solutions.
Product Specifications And Features Of Solar Inverter Kit
Key Features
There are several features that are important in an AC DC inverter kit for a solar system.
- Energy conversion: solar inverters perform maximum energy conversion to ensure maximum energy extraction from the solar panels.
- Waveform: It is important to ensure the inverter has a good waveform to eliminate any potential damage to sensitive electronic devices.
- Monitoring features: This includes wireless capabilities for system performance and efficiency tracking.
- Data logging: This feature enables historical performance tracking for the solar systems.
- Durability: The solar inverters are designed to meet extreme conditions and they therefore have high durability.
- Warranty: They feature long warranties as they are considered long-term performance products.
How To Install
- The installation of a solar inverter kit for a solar system involves several steps, starting with choosing the right location away from any external obstructions such as trees.
- Then mount the inverter onto a solid structure close to the main electrical panel.
- The next step is connecting the solar array to the inverter using DC cables. These cables are first routed from the solar panels to the inverter location.
- After that, connect the inverter to the battery if it is a hybrid inverter and then link the inverter AC output to the building's electrical system.
- Install grounding and safety components like fuses, circuit breakers, and grounding wires to prevent electrical accidents.
- Ensure all connections are tight and secure and use a torque wrench on the terminals to secure them.
- Finally, power on the inverter and set it up as necessary to start monitoring and generating power.
Maintaining The Solar Inverter Kit
- Measurement and monitoring is an important first step in the maintenance of solar inverter kits because the first thing that should be done is to check the performance of the solar system.
- Regular cleaning is important because solar panels attract dirt, debris, and dust and this may reduce their efficiency.
- Check on the cables and connections to ensure they are tight and secure and there is no wear and tear.
- Once a while, conduct a thermal imaging scan to identify hotspots on the solar panels.
- In case the solar system has failure detection technology, use it to identify faulty hardware parts in the system.
- Once power electronics components are detected to have failed, replace them immediately. Operating the system with faulty components can lead to further damage.
- Battery maintenance involves checking the state of the battery and replacing it once its usage period is complete.
Quality And Safety Certifications For Solar Inverters
Safety Standards
Safety standards for solar inverters are designated to protect people, property, and the environment from potential hazards associated with these devices.
- The most important of these safety standards is the UL 1741 general standard and the UL 1996 standard for photovoltaic inverters.
- Almost all modern grid-tied inverters comply with this standard, as it is a mandatory requirement for the inverter to be marketed in the United States.
- Other important safety standards are Intersolar, SNEC, and Solar Power international which are all related to inverter safety and performance.
Performance Standards
They are used to guarantee the efficiency and dependability of inverters under normal operating conditions.
- The IEC 61683 standard, which is a popular inverter performance standard, is responsible for the measurement of the efficiency of the inverter.
- In this case, both peak efficiency and the efficiency at different operating points are accounted for.
- The other performance standard is the IEC 61727 and 61727-1, which is related to the requirements for inverters to be connected to utility power.
International Standards
As the name indicates, these certifications are subjected to international benchmarks like the ISO 9001 standard for quality management systems.
- They play an important role in fostering a culture of continual improvement and customer satisfaction.
- They also include standards for testing and certifying inverters, such as the IEC 61683 and IEC 61730.
Importance Of The Certifications
- The aforementioned certifications are useful as they ensure that solar inverters meet the required safety, performance, and reliability.
- They help the buyers or users have trust in the product performance and quality and ensure consistency across different models.
- They also facilitate compliance with government regulations and policies on renewable energy.
Q&A
Q1. How does an inverter work in a solar system?
After the solar panels capture the sunlight and generate the direct current electrical energy, the inverter's work begins. The inverter then transforms this direct current into the alternating current, which is the type of electricity used in homes and businesses.
Q2. What type of inverter is best for solar?
A part of the preference will be given to the hybrid inverters because of their increasing integration capability with battery storage systems.
Q3. What are the three main types of inverters?
The three most common types of inverters are string inverters, micro inverters, and power optimizers.
Q4. What is the main function of a solar inverter?
The main function of solar inverters is to convert the direct current electricity generated by the solar panels into alternating current.
