Inverters are a crucial part of any solar energy system. Their purpose is to convert the DC electricity the panels absorb from the sun into a usable form of electricity known as AC electricity, which is what powers everything in your home.
Choosing the right solar inverter for your home technology for your Solar PV System is one of the most important decisions to make when going Solar.
There are two main types of inverters they are known as a string inverter and a micro-inverter. In a string inverter each 6 to 12 panels are attached to an inverter, meaning the system would only produce as much electricity as its least productive panel. In homes with minimal to no shading this inverter would be perfect to invest in! However, with a micro-inverter you can eliminate such an issue and maintain high efficiency, as in a micro inverter an inverter will be installed to the back of every single solar panel. Watch the video below to learn more about the difference between these options.
Microinverters are classified as Module-Level Power Electronics (MLPE), indicating that they are installed at the "module" or solar panel level. To process the electricity produced by each solar panel in your array, you will install one microinverter.
String inverters, on the other hand, are designed to process solar power from several panels at the same time. String inverters are also known as central inverters, and work by connecting “strings” of panels that are linked together into one central site where the DC/AC conversion takes place.
The physical size of a microinverter, as the name implies, is much smaller than that of a string inverter. Typically tucked away on the underside of your solar panels, microinverters usually operate while hidden in plain sight below a rooftop array.
Although it is rarely a problem for most residential properties, string inverters do require more space than microinverters, as they are physically larger and must be installed in a well-ventilated outdoor area. In instances where the exterior wall or yard space is extremely limited, microinverters could eliminate the need for a difficult string inverter installation.
When comparing microinverter vs string inverter efficiency in full sunshine, it has been found no performance differences between the two.
Having said that, microinverters are generally regarded as a more efficient technology as compared to the restrictions of string inverters to function in a few specific situations.
Both microinverters and string inverters can be purchased with life expectancies and warranties of 20 years or more. When considering all of today's technology, most microinverters are predicted to live longer than normal string inverters, and MLPEs are far more likely to work for decades.
The industry standard for a string inverter warranty period is approximately ten years. Knowing that most solar panels last 25 to 30 years, a string inverter is more likely to need to be replaced in the middle of your solar system's lifespan than a series of microinverters with 20- or 25-year warranties.
Replacing a string inverter is typically a simple task that requires little time or effort. When installed on the ground level, maintenance professionals may typically walk up to the required components and replace the old with the new in a short period of time.
Whereas with a microinverter system, a part repair normally necessitates access to the rooftop solar array, and a worker may need to temporarily uninstall the panel on which it is installed.
A microinverter-based system will cost more upfront than a solar array with a central string inverter. Even if you add power optimizers to your string inverter, a microinverter system will most certainly cost more.
When considering long-term value, the cost vs. ROI of microinverters may tell a different picture for homeowners ready to go solar. If a string inverter needs to be replaced in the middle of a panel's lifetime, the cost of a new string inverter outside of the warranty period may increase the total system cost.
Here at Palmetto Energy Solutions, we make sure that we customize your solar systems to fit your home needs, this is why we offer a string inverter and a micro-inverter.
Some homes require a micro-inverter others might work just as effecient with a string inverter, hence without the additional cost of a micro-inverter. However, we do recommend micro-inverters in order for you to get the highest return on investment and reduce your electric bill by more than 40%. However, despite Micro-Inverters being the more efficient and innovative, they might not be the right choice for your rooftop and home needs.
*Let our solar experts be the judge of which solar inverter you need by booking a free solar consultation with our team.
Solar panels may be on top, but it's the inverter that does all the real work. Enphase Microinverters offer the most advanced inverter technology on the market, which means higher production, greater reliability, and unmatched intelligence.
The Enphase System is flexible, so you can design a system to fit today's budget and energy needs, and expand it later as your needs evolve. Want to add more panels to your household, or a solar battery? With microinverters, it's no problem.
Here at Palmetto Energy Solutions, we make sure to meet your needs and demands, this is why we offer two different series from Enphase. Both series are just as reliable and of high quality. Through your first free solar consultation with our team, our solar experts will study your home needs and help you decide which micro solar inverter option from Enphase fits your needs more! BOOK NOW
The high-powered smart grid-ready Enphase IQ7 Microinverter dramatically simplifies the installation process while achieving the highest system efficiency.
IQ 7 Series Microinverters extend the reliability standards set forth by previous generations and undergo over a million hours of power-on testing, enabling Enphase to provide an industry-leading warranty of up to 25 years.
Enphase's newest IQ8 Microinverters are the industry’s first grid-forming microinverters with split-phase power conversion capability to convert DC power to AC power efficiently.
The brain of the semiconductor-based microinverter is the proprietary application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which enables the microinverter to operate in grid-tied or off-grid modes. This chip is built in advanced 55nm technology with high-speed digital logic and has super-fast response times to changing loads and grid events, alleviating constraints on battery sizing for home energy systems.
To understand more, and decide whether an IQ 7 Microinverter fits your need, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Your first consultation is free of charge!
SolarEdge recognized the potential that inverters could offer as smart energy managers while helping the world decarbonize its energy production, which is why they are dedicated to constantly improve the way we produce and consume energy by offering reliable and innovative inverters to the market.
Going solar requires a lot of asking, and getting answers to all the questions that may come across the mind! This is why we prepared our Solar Guide for 2024, helping in what homeowners need to know during and before going solar.
In order to understand the solar inverter specifications, you will need to know what does each term mean. Clipping/Scalping, Inverter Efficiency, Maximum Power , MPP, MPPT, Optimizer and Peak Power Point are important inverter terms you need to know!
The first cause of solar inverter failure is electro-mechanical wear on capacitors. Inverters use capacitors to give a smooth power output at different current levels; nevertheless, electrolytic capacitors have a shorter lifespan and age faster than dry components. This can cause inverter failure.
Proper installation is crucial to extending the life of your inverter battery. It should be kept in a well-ventilated, dry location away that is free from direct sunshine and heat.
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